NCT00233272

Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

Recruiting now Last updated 27 March 2026

What this trial tests

trial in Aging in 10,000 participants. Currently enrolling.

Timeline

3 February 2014

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Status	Recruiting now
Study type	OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment	10,000
Start date	3 February 2014
Sites	1 location across United States

Conditions studied

• Aging — all drugs for Aging →

Sponsor

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Who can join

Adults 20 to 120, any sex, with Aging. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

Background:

\- The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) is a clinical research program on human aging that began in 1958. Volunteers of different ages join the study when they are healthy, and have follow-up visits for life. Visits last for multiple days. Participants are evaluated for many physical elements as well as for brain function. Physical tests are given. Information on mood, personality, and social aspects of life is also collected. This program has contributed more than any other research project to our understanding of aging.

Objectives:

\- To characterize the many aspects of the aging process and learn how people can successfully adapt to aging.

Eligibility:

\- Healthy individuals at least 20 years old.

Design:

* Participants will receive a booklet and video describing the tests they will take.
* During a 3-day visit at the study hospital, participants will take the following tests:
* Urine will be collected for 24 hours. Blood samples will be taken. A small piece of muscle tissue may be collected by a needle.
* A medical questionnaire and a physical exam will be given.
* Participants hearts will be tested, including with blood pressure tests and electronic monitors. They will breathe into a tube to test their lungs.
* Participants will perform several exercises, including treadmill walking.
* Vision, hearing, and taste will be tested.
* Bone and joint X-rays may be taken.
* Imaging tests will be given, such as an MRI.
* Participants will answer questions to test their mental abilities.
* Participants will return for follow-up visits every few years for life. The tests listed above will be given at every visit.

Publications & conference data

8 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

1. Personality and risk of Alzheimer's disease: new data and meta-analysis.
   Terracciano A, Sutin AR, An Y, O'Brien RJ, et al · · 2014 · cited 211× · PMID 23706517 · DOI 10.1016/j.jalz.2013.03.002
2. Personality Associations With Amyloid and Tau: Results From the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging and Meta-analysis.
   Terracciano A, Bilgel M, Aschwanden D, Luchetti M, et al · · 2022 · cited 42× · PMID 34663503 · DOI 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.08.021
3. GIP contributes to islet trihormonal abnormalities in type 2 diabetes.
   Chia CW, Odetunde JO, Kim W, Carlson OD, et al · · 2014 · cited 33× · PMID 24712564 · DOI 10.1210/jc.2013-3994
4. Sex differences in the association between amyloid and longitudinal brain volume change in cognitively normal older adults.
   Armstrong NM, Huang CW, Williams OA, Bilgel M, et al · · 2019 · cited 26× · PMID 30927602 · DOI 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101769
5. The association between personality and plasma biomarkers of astrogliosis and neuronal injury.
   Terracciano A, Walker K, An Y, Luchetti M, et al · · 2023 · cited 16× · PMID 37210782 · DOI 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2023.04.011
6. Associations Between Female Sex Hormones and Skeletal Muscle Ageing: The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.
   Critchlow AJ, Alexander SE, Hiam DS, Ferrucci L, et al · · 2025 · cited 13× · PMID 40296368 · DOI 10.1002/jcsm.13786
7. A plasma proteomics-based candidate biomarker panel predictive of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
   Chia R, Moaddel R, Kwan JY, Rasheed M, et al · · 2025 · cited 5× · PMID 40830661 · DOI 10.1038/s41591-025-03890-6
8. Vitamin D deficiency and airflow limitation in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Ageing.
   Moberg M, Elango P, Ferrucci L, Spruit MA, et al · · 2015 · cited 4× · PMID 26173468 · DOI 10.1111/eci.12498