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Einstein Aging Study

A Comprehensive program dedicated to the study of Normal Aging, Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. Click here to access the NIH Reporter project details.

Welcome to the Einstein Aging Study​

We would like to introduce you to an exciting research study at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. With the support of the National Institute on Aging, doctors and scientists at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine have been studying the aging process for over 20 years. Specific issues we are interested in are:

  • Developing approaches to improve the health of individuals over the age of 60

  • Promoting successful brain aging and cognitive vitality

  • Preventing diseases that affect memory loss

  • Preventing falls and promoting the maintenance of independent functioning

  • Providing education and information regarding the aging brain to families and the community

Please read through the website to learn more about the study, how to become an important part of our research, and the benefits of participation.

Brain Bank Program​

The Einstein Aging Study scientists are trying to understand how normal aging, Alzheimer's disease and other disorders affect the brain and how changes in the brain give rise to changes in behavior. Directly examining the brain remains one of the very best ways to learn about brain diseases. By confirming the diagnosis of dementia through autopsy, family members will gain a better understanding of their relative's illness and of the brain changes that have affected their loved one. Many families find comfort in knowing that something positive can result from a very difficult situation.

Our internationally recognized team of neuroscientists have made major contributions to our understanding of the mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease. These insights have contributed to improvements in diagnosis and the development of new treatments. These and future discoveries would not be possible without the generosity of our study volunteers. Many of our study participants volunteer for our Brain Bank Program by agreeing to leave their brains to science. We encourage our healthy participants to consider donation because we learn as much from the brains of healthy individuals as we do from those with disease.

If you decide to participate, you are free to change your mind at any time and withdraw your consent.

The best time to make plans for contributing brain tissue is well in advance of death, with full consideration given to the donor and the family.

Community Outreach and Educational Awareness​

The Einstein Aging Study (EAS) offers a variety of services that go beyond the scope of research. These services include community outreach and educational programs.

Outreach​

The doctors and professionals associated with the EAS provide the community with lectures and discussion groups. These talks are given at local senior citizen centers and primarily focus on aging and memory function.

EAS weekly support groups provide family members and friends with effective ways of coping with individuals who have memory impairment.

Participants enrolled in the EAS have access to our physician referral list. These physicians have proven to be effective in dealing with various medical conditions associated with aging.

The professionals associated with the EAS provide information to the media to keep the public informed of research advances.

Educational Awareness​

The EAS offers a complete in-house library of educational and informational materials concerning Alzheimer's and other degenerative neurological disorders.

Aging and Discovery, the EAS newsletter, provides a review of our study's activities. It is also a forum for sharing information about EAS research with the public. Families and subjects enrolled in the EAS are placed on our mailing list.

The EAS cooperates with the Alzheimer's Association and other such organizations to provide various services and education to families.

Gait and Mobility Project​

The ability to walk independently is a marker of successful aging. Disturbances in gait and mobility in older persons are associated with diseases of the nervous system, and may serve as early warning signs of adverse outcomes such as falls, nursing home placement, and dementia. The overall goal of the Gait and Mobility Project is to define walking patterns and mobility changes seen with normal aging as well as with disease in older persons.

Subjects who participate in this project will be assessed using tests of mobility, strength, walking skills, and ability to walk and talk at the same time. These tests are designed to examine balance and study the brain centers involved in the control of walking. We will also correlate the information gained from these tests with information gained from other aspects of the study including neuropsychological testing and laboratory data.

The Memory Project​

Memory complaints such as 'senior moments' are common as we grow older. These complaints mostly result from normal aging changes, but less commonly may be due to dementia. Understanding the memory processes involved in normal aging and dementia will provide valuable insights into identifying, treating, and eventually preventing dementias.

The Memory Project investigates age-related changes in learning and memory. Participants in this study return at 12 month intervals to perform tasks that range from the very simple to the complex.

These tests include memory for number sequences, words, sentences, and stories. Other tasks may include visual and auditory problem solving. We examine how performance on these tasks relate to normal aging and diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and other dementing illnesses. We also relate the performance on laboratory measures to performance of day-to-day activities.

The Risk Factor and Neuroimaging Project​

With the rapid aging of the American population, chronic illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease which result in memory loss and loss of functional independence will become increasingly common. It is important to identify ways of preventing these diseases and maintaining cognitive vitality. The focus of this project is to identify factors which would influence development of dementia in normal older adults as well as identify factors that are associated with successful aging.

This project enrolls volunteers from the community and follows them with health assessments and tests of brain function. All volunteers are evaluated by a neurologist and then participate in a series of neuropsychological tests which assess memory, thinking, attention, language, and the ability to function. Thereafter, participants are seen for a follow-up evaluation each year. In addition, blood will be drawn each year to measure potentially important markers that may be related to brain health. Selected subjects are asked to undergo a research MRI to measure brain structure and function.

The comprehensive information collected on study participants is stored in a computerized database. This detailed data provides researchers with information on changes in biology, neurology, neuropsychology and behavior that accompany aging in health and disease.