Mayo Clinic Examines Women's Health and Neurologic Disease

Wednesday, April 09, 2003

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic is conducting a research study on normal aging and neurologic diseases involving women from Rochester and the surrounding communities within Olmsted County. The purpose of this research study is to better understand the causes of neurologic diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Participants will be asked to complete a telephone interview that will assess medical history and the presence of neurologic diseases. After the telephone interview, qualified participants may be asked to take part in a brief neurologic examination at Mayo Clinic. The examination would include a brief general-health survey; an examination of cognitive and functional abilities; and an assessment of walking, muscle strength, coordination, agility, reflexes and sensory functions.

"Neurologic diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, are progressive and disabling conditions that become very common with the advancement of age," says Demetrius Maraganore, M.D., a Mayo Clinic neurologist and lead researcher of the study.

Women over the age of 18 who live in Olmsted County are potential candidates for study participation. Potential candidates, including residents of nursing homes and assisted-living facilities are being contacted by mail regarding this study. "The public's involvement in this research project will be extremely valuable," Dr. Maraganore notes.

Reimbursement will be offered to those who participate, and there are no direct monetary costs to being involved in this research study. Study participation is optional, and all information obtained from the study will be kept confidential and used for research purposes only.

Contact:
Richard D. Hurt, Jr.
507-266-2166 (days)
507-284-2511 (evenings)
e-mail: newsbureau@mayo.edu

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