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Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) is an ongoing research program that started in 1958. It aims to understand how people age in many different ways. There are no specific interventions or drugs being tested. Instead, you would join as a healthy volunteer and have follow-up visits for life. During these visits, researchers will evaluate many physical aspects of your health, brain function, mood, personality, and social life. The goal is to learn more about the aging process and how people can age successfully. The study is currently ongoing and is looking to enroll up to 10,000 participants aged 20 to 120 years, of all genders.

Study design
This is an observational study, meaning researchers are watching and collecting information rather than testing a specific treatment. It aims to enroll up to 10,000 participants.
What's involved
You would have multi-day follow-up visits for life. These visits involve extensive evaluations of physical parameters, cognitive function, and collection of blood samples and other specimens.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants are followed indefinitely with serial evaluations over time, for life.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT00233272

Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

Recruiting
Not specifiedAges 20+Observational
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
~10,000 participants
Updated 2026-09-01 on ClinicalTrials.gov

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
The major aim of the BLSA is to characterize the aging process in its multifaceted aspects.
Measured over Ongoing

Conditions

Aging

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AgingFrailty

NCT00233272

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • National Institute of Aging, Clinical Research Unit

    Baltimore, Marylandstudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Luigi Ferrucci, M.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Who to contact

Jeannie M Ruffolo, R.N.
[email protected]
(410) 350-7389
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

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Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

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Eligibility criteria

Exclusion

Age greater than or equal to 20 years of age
Weigh less than or equal to 300lbs and/or body mass index (BMI) is less than or equal to 40
Do not have established genetic diseases
Are able to perform daily self- care without assistance
Are able to walk independently for at least 400 meters without assistance and without developing symptoms
Are able to perform normal activities of daily living without shortness of breath (walking or climbing stairs)
Do not have cognitive impairment based on screening tests and in the absence of any drug treatment
Do not have a history of cardiovascular disease (including angina, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular diseases, uncontrolled hypertension)
Do not have a history of diabetes (requiring any medical treatment other than diet and exercise)
Do not have active (any activity in the last 10 years) cancer, except for locally limited basal or squamous cell cancer
Do not have clinically significant hormonal dysfunction (Laboratory values out of range despite supplementation and/or drug treatment)
Do not have a history of neurological diseases or birth defects (other than minor anatomical abnormalities, which do not affect physical and/or cognitive function)
Do not have a history of kidney or liver disease (associated with reduced kidney or liver function)
Do not have a history of severe gastrointestinal (G.I.) diseases
Do not have muscle-skeletal conditions due to diseases or traumas (that cause pathological weakness and/or chronic pain)
Do not have a history of severe psychiatric conditions (associated with behavioral problems or requiring chronic medical treatment)
Do not have any medical condition that requires absolute and continuous need for long term treatment with antibiotics, corticosteroids, immunosuppressors, H2 blockers and/or proton pump inhibitors, or pain medications
Do not have important sensory deficits (legally blind and/or any condition that precludes the participant from being tested with standard neuropsychological tests or providing informed consent)
Able to read and speak English
Do not have joint replacements due to arthritic changes (joint replacements due to previous trauma are ok) or do not have 2 or more joint replacements for any reason
Agree to genetic (DNA/RNA) sample collection, analysis, and storage at Visit 1
HIV virus infection
Hepatitis B or C
Syphilis
WBC \> 12,000/mcrL
Platelets \< 100,000 or \>600,000 /mcrL
Hemoglobin \< 11 g/dL
Creatinine \>1.5 mg/dl or calculated creatinine clearance \< 50 cc/min
Bilirubin \> 1.5 mg/dl (unless higher levels can be ascribed to Gilbert s disease)
ALT, AST or alkaline phosphatase twice the normal serum concentration
Corrected calcium \< 8.5 or \> 10.7 mg/dl
Albumin \< 3.1 g/dl

What this trial measures

  • The major aim of the BLSA is to characterize the aging process in its multifaceted aspects.Ongoing

    Characterization of the aging process