What is the Purpose of this Study?

The purpose of this study is to better understand how aging affects the heart, brain, and muscles, as well as how these changes may lead to conditions such as heart failure, memory loss and dementia, frailty, and muscle weakness. By studying imaging scans, blood samples, walking and strength tests, and tissue samples, researchers hope to identify early signs of disease and find new ways to prevent or treat these conditions in the future. Participants will be 55 years old or older with risk factors for and/or symptoms of heart failure who are part of the Women’s Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) cohort, or they will be adults from the Arlington Study of Healthy Aging (ASHA) who represent healthy aging or early risk for these conditions. Another purpose of the study is to measure biomarkers (substances in the blood and, in some cases, small samples of muscle or heart tissue). Biomarkers are biological molecules found in blood, body fluids, or tissues that can be a sign of a condition or disease. Study procedures include questionnaires about health, blood draws, magnetic resonance imaging scans, walking and strength tests, memory testing, and (only for some participants) muscle or heart biopsies.

Eligibility

Where can I participate?