Longevity Study Seeks Younger Participants of Ashkenazi Jewish Descent

The LifeLong Research Study, conducted by the Institute of Aging Research and the Center for Epigenomics at Einstein, is working on understanding how we can use genetic and genomic approaches to gain insights into healthy aging and longevity. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the study will also focus on cellular age-related changes that could contribute to worse outcomes among the aging population.

Participants need only provide a small blood sample and complete a survey

The study is an extension of the longevity studies led by Dr. Nir Barzilai, director of Einstein’s Institute for Aging Research. For more than 20 years, Dr. Barzilai and his team of researchers have relied on the Ashkenazi Jewish community to advance understanding of the biology of aging and to make discoveries that may lead to healthier lives for all aging adults. Insights from aging studies like this may help to understand why older people are more vulnerable to illnesses like COVID-19 than younger people.

Earlier studies of healthy aging have focused on centenarians because many of these individuals have delayed onset of diseases or avoided them altogether. However, in order to understand the process and progression of aging, it is necessary to compare centenarians to younger individuals.

"Aging doesn't start when you turn 65. It starts from the day you are born or possibly even in utero,” explained Dr. Sofiya Milman, director and co-investigator of Einstein’s Human Longevity Studies and LifeLong Study. “In order to understand the biology of aging we need to study young individuals.”

Why Only Study Ashkenazi Jews?

Although shrouded in history, it’s believed that the number of founders of the Ashkenazi Jewish population is extremely small. One study reported that approximately 40% of today's Ashkenazi population come from just four "founding mothers." For this reason, to date, all participants in the Institute of Aging Research’s longevity studies have been of Ashkenazi descent.

Because they have genetic backgrounds that are relatively homogenous, it is easier to spot differences in the Ashkenazi Jewish population, increasing the probability for genetic discovery. This factor has made Ashkenazi Jewish individuals important contributors to aging research. Although the LifeLong study is limited to participants who are Ashkenazi Jews, the results of the research will be applicable to everyone.

Younger Participants Sought

A current focus of the study is on the epigenetics of aging. Dr. John Greally, director of Einstein’s Center of Epigenomics, is investigating how the properties of cells within the immune system change with aging. One model his group is exploring is whether chronic exposure to the body’s stress hormones throughout a lifetime may cause the cellular changes found in aging.

Funded by the National Institute for Aging and working in collaboration with the New York Genome Center, the Greally group’s study is applying innovative genomic assays to assess these cellular changes. In order to identify age-associated genomic changes, his group is adding samples from a younger group of Ashkenazi Jewish men and women, between the ages of 20 and 40. Additionally, because age is a major risk factor for severe COVID-19, the study now includes a focus aimed at determining how age-related changes in immune cell function might contribute to these adverse outcomes.

“While we’re hoping to get participants from Einstein and Montefiore, anyone who is between 20 and 40 years of age and of Ashkenazi descent can take part,” said Dr. Greally. “Our recruitment team can go into the community to collect samples from study participants. We want to make it as easy as possible for individuals to volunteer their time.“

Research During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Dr. Greally added, “Our study team recently received the go-ahead to continue our recruitment of study participants, which most research studies were required to stop during the peak of the pandemic here in New York to protect those taking part and personnel. We’re currently within 100 recruits of our goal and have begun seeking volunteers again. To ensure the highest level of protection, we’ve developed a strict protocol that volunteers and our personnel must follow, since maintaining safety from COVID-19 is of paramount concern.”

What Must Participants Do?

To participate in the study, individuals must be between the ages of 20 and 59, with the greatest immediate need for participants aged 20 to 40. Participants also must have four grandparents of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and be in good health.

Study visits typically take place in the Van Etten building on the Einstein campus or on the Moses campus at Montefiore. In addition to following the COVID-19 safety protocol, all that’s needed from participants is a blood sample—for which there’s no need to fast beforehand—and completion of a brief medical (personal and family history) questionnaire.

For those individuals who may be working from home as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and prefer not to travel, study staff also can arrange to make at-home visits. “We ask that you review our protocol for home visits so that you know what to expect and what is required to keep you and our personnel safe,” said Dr. Milman.

By getting involved in the LifeLong study, participants play an active role in helping Einstein researchers to understand how people age and how potential interventions may help people live longer, healthier lives while possibly avoiding or delaying age-related disease. Participants also receive a copy of their blood counts, which offers useful information that they can share with their doctor, and they receive a $50 gift card.

“It was really easy to participate,” said one woman, who learned about the study from an acquaintance who had taken part after learning about the study through her job at Montefiore. “I enjoyed talking with the staff, and it was great to get a $50 gift card for my time.”

How Can I Take Part?

If you’re thinking about participating, following are some tips to prepare for your study visit:

Be prepared to respond to our health-safety check questions concerning exposure to COVID-19 within the past 14 days
Wear a face mask, whether at our clinic or during your at-home visit. Study staff also will be required to wear a face mask to protect participants, and will wear gloves when taking blood. (Hand sanitizer will be available for your use, since hand washing also is recommended for maintaining safety.)
Drink plenty of water before the blood draw. (The researchers will draw 4 to 5 tablespoons of blood, roughly one-eighth of what one gives during a blood donation.)
Ask your parents or relatives questions about their health, such as the ages of your grandparents and any major illnesses they may have had.
Consider telling a friend, partner, or spouse; if they’re also eligible, they may decide to participate in the study as well.

For more information about participating in the LifeLong study, or our study visit safety protocols, please call 718-839-7986, or email lifelongstudy@einstein.yu.edu.

Posted on: Friday, December 11, 2020

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