Experts urge older adults to join clinical trials to close research gap

Older adults are frequently excluded from clinical trials, a gap that leaves many age-specific health conditions without adequate research. Local experts are urging residents to view these studies as a primary option for accessing new medical advancements rather than a final step in treatment.

Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician, advises participants to focus on the scientific objective of a study. She recommends asking what specific question the trial is designed to answer rather than assuming the trial is a direct solution for an individual's symptoms. "I think the first thing we have to do is not think about, ‘Can this clinical trial help me?’ but ‘What is this clinical trial trying to answer?’" Rogers said.

Rogers stated that trials provide early access to therapies, devices, and medicines that may not be available to the general public for years. She noted that many studies offer close monitoring by specialists and can cover travel costs or provide direct payment to participants. The National Institutes of Health maintains a list of trials that compensate participants, a resource that helps individuals evaluate potential benefits.

Aging expert Amy O'Rourke emphasized the importance of understanding study mechanics before enrolling. Participants may receive a placebo or the active drug, so expectations should focus on contributing to research rather than guaranteeing personal improvement. "You might be the one getting the placebo, you might get the drug itself," O'Rourke said. She also highlighted the social benefits, noting that clients in local trial groups found value in support groups and access to community resources provided by social workers.

Gerontologist "Sam" Cradduck explained that medication metabolizes differently in older populations compared to younger ones. Without adequate representation of older adults in trials, new drugs are developed without full knowledge of how they affect this demographic. "Medication metabolizes so differently in our older community than it does in our younger community, so without having them as participants, they’re often walking blind," Cradduck said. She added that new medicines cannot receive approval without undergoing clinical trials.

Cradduck addressed the common fear of being a test subject, explaining that by the time a study reaches this stage, the treatment has undergone extensive prior testing. "You’re not a guinea pig," she said. "By the time it’s reached this point, it has been thoroughly tested repeatedly." Residents can find studies through ClinicalTrials.gov, their personal physicians, or academic centers and disease-specific organizations that conduct their own research.