The University of Queensland is asking older people, both "healthy" and those with disorders, 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 aged 50 or older willing to participate in leading-edge research into social and health issues.

In 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 provide invaluable resource for researchers, as well as an 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, they will 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. "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 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 2002 Chancellor's Fund Appeal.

Research team

Associate Professor Linda Worrall www.uq.edu.au/uqresearchers/researcher/worrallle.html

Funding
Funds being sought

Email
aca@uq.edu.au

Web link
www.uq.edu.au/aca

On this site

Go to top