Few Clinical Trial Options for Senior Citizens

As this article recently released from the University of Michigan states “Americans over the age of 65 represented 12.5 percent of the U.S. population in 2009—about one in every eight Americans—and by 2030, that number is expected to almost double. This population accounts for 34 percent of personal health care expenditures, with the majority of spending attributed to individuals with chronic diseases.”

It is true that many clinical trials exclude older populations from participating. In the not so distant future, researchers will have to begin designing trials that do exclude based on old age, or better yet trials that are specifically designed to enhance the quality of their lives. This population tends to suffer from chronic diseases and ailments, memory and cognitive impairment, reduced mobility and lack of energy. Every year that technology and medicine evolve, our life spans lengthen.  But as retired mature, adults with 30+ years to look forward to, our society will need to come up with a way to enhance the lives of and engage the older members of our society.

As evidenced here, and in this Psychology Today article, keeping active both mentally and physically are a good foundation.  Clinical trials that investigate simple things seniors can do to increase awareness, concentration and basic physical health would be a great start.

There are over 1,000 trials for the elderly investigating quality of life and various kinds of treatment.

Here is the link for trials listed on clinicaltrials.gov:

Help spread the word and get the people you know and love involved and engaged!