The majority of our participants join the Emory Healthy Aging Study before joining EHBS. If you are interested in expediting your enrollment process, please email healthybrainstudy@emory.edu to speak with one of our recruiters.

We review your responses to the Emory Healthy Aging Study health history questionnaire to determine if you are eligible. We are looking for generally healthy individuals, who live close to the Atlanta area, and are between the ages of 50 and 75.

If you qualify for the EHBS a research coordinator will contact you if you are deemed eligible to participate in the study. Screening eligibility may take several months. If you have additional questions about your eligibility, you may contact us at healthybrainstudy@emory.edu.

You will be asked to complete between 2-3 study visits every two (2) years.

Currently, the study does not have an expiration date so you may participate for as long as you wish.

Each visit will last less than four (4) hours.

Yes, we can divide the visit based on the most convenient schedule for you.

Teletesting (2-2.5 hours): These visits are conducted M-F at 9:00AM, 9:30AM, 1:00PM and 1:30PM
Fasting (1.5-2 hours): Conducted M-F at 8:30AM, 9:30AM, 11:30AM and 12:30PM
MRI (1-1.5 hours): Conducted M-F and some Saturdays at 8:00AM, 9:30AM, 11:00AM, 1:30PM, and 3:00 PM

Currently, we offer teletesting and fasting visits Monday through Friday. We have some availability for MRIs to be completed on the weekend.

6 Executive Park Dr. NE
2nd floor Atlanta, GA 30329.
You may park in the back of the building or in the parking deck. Once parked, enter the building and travel down the entrance hall until you get to the elevator in the center of the building - take the elevator to the 2nd floor, where you will check in at the front desk.

Yes, you will be compensated for your time. You will receive up to a total of $225.00 in gift cards for completing your study visit - $150 for the fasting visit and $75 if you complete the MRI.

No, we do not release any study results to participants unless we discover a problem that is medically actionable, or treatable. This is done because it takes a while to discover the meaning of research results. We also do not disclose any information to providers outside of our study. Furthermore, all specimens collected from you will be de-identified, so the providers on the team will be blind as well.

Your samples and information may be used to help create new diagnostic tests, medicines, or other commercial uses.

The main purpose of research is to gain knowledge. It is not necessarily intended for personal benefit, although the knowledge we gain will be used to help others in the future.

Some participants may develop cognitive concerns over the duration of the study. Participant cognitive testing results are reviewed on a monthly basis during a meeting with study leadership. If concerns about your cognitive status arise during your participation in the study, we will contact you to discuss results and provide recommendations. We will also ask you to bring a study partner to future visits. The study partner will be asked to participate in the consenting process and complete various questionnaires.

Yes, you must fast for three (3) hours from food and two (2) hours from caffeine. However, please drink plenty of water before your arrival! For MRI and teletesting visits do not require fasting from food, however we do ask that you fast 2 hours from caffeine for the MRI.

Please drink plenty of water before your arrival! It is important to be well hydrated for your blood draw and lumbar puncture!

On the day of your fasting visit, dress in comfortable clothing with loose fitting sleeves. You will be moving to multiple rooms throughout the day, and some procedures require you to sit or lie still for lengths of time. There will be no physical exercise component, so it is not necessary to bring athletic wear. Additionally, please refrain from wearing lotion, compression socks, or pantyhose, as these affect our ability to perform the cardiovascular procedures. On the day of your MRI visit, please do not wear any pins in your hair or clothes or eye makeup. You will be asked to change into scrubs to complete the MRI. Additionally, please do not wear or be prepared to remove any and all jewelry. Please wear comfortable clothing.

Yes, please take your medications as usual.

Not at the present time. You must be willing to undergo a lumbar puncture to participate in the study. Most participants report the lumbar puncture is not nearly as bad as it seems.

Please direct them to email healthybrainstudy@emory.edu to speak with one of our recruiters.