Older people helping in leading-edge research

The University of Queensland is asking older people to play an important role in helping research into the ageing process.

The Australasian Centre on Ageing, based at UQ, is setting up a database or registry of people 50 and older who are willing to participate in leading-edge research into social and health issues.

It what’s believed to be an Australian first, the 50+ registry, as it is to be known, aims to include “healthy” older people as well as older people with known disorders such as dementia, Parkinson’s Disease or stroke.

Centre director Professor Helen Bartlett says the 50+ registry will be an invaluable resource for researchers, as well as opportunity for participants to learn more about themselves.

“It is a recruitment system that respects the wishes of participants, and gives them an opportunity to have projects explained to them in terms they understand, ” Professor Bartlett said.

“And we don’t envisage only a passive role for participants, who can provide the Centre with advice about what they consider to be important ageing issues.”

For researchers, the 50+ registry makes it considerably easier to recruit older people – a process which can be difficult and time consuming. “In fact lack of research participants has compromised the results of several studies,” Professor Bartlett said.

Researchers wanting access to the database must get ethical clearance. Participants will be informed of a proposed study and asked whether they want to participate. Personal details are only forwarded to researchers once consent has been given.

The database will be updated regularly, and an annual meeting is proposed to bring the participants together.

“The 50+ registry not only helps researchers, it also gives something in return – connecting older people into a community network,” Professor Bartlett said.

It is hoped funding for the $30,000 project will be raised in the Chancellor’s Fund Appeal 2002 – The University of Queensland’s annual fund-raising campaign.

You can support the 50+ registry project through the Chancellor’s Fund Appeal 2002 by calling the Development Office at 07 3346 3900 or through the donation website.

Media: for more information contact Professor Helen Bartlett on 07 3346 9080 or Peter McCutcheon at UQ communications on 07 3365 1088