new volunteers
The Park Aging Mind Lab Relies on Participants Just Like You to Conduct our Research
Participating in a study is a great opportunity to be part of the scientific process and help advance our understanding of aging and the brain. Your time and commitment is the backbone of our lab.
Why You Matter So Much
Our volunteers are the essence of our research efforts. Your time and commitment are critical to the work that we do. It is absolutely critical that you keep your appointments and continue your participation as requested.
The First Step
If you are interested in participating, please complete the DLBS New Participant Survey and someone will get back to you shortly! If you haven’t heard back from us within a week, give us a call at 972-883-3700.
What to Expect
First a Phone Call
If we are enrolling people with your profile, we will set up a time to get a little more information about you via a telephone call to determine if you qualify for the study.
Once You Are Enrolled…
If you qualify after the phone interview, the research coordinator will tell you more about study requirements and set up your first visit to our research lab located about a mile north of UTSW.
You Will Be Compensated for Your Time
All research participants receive modest compensation for participating.
You Will Be Given Detailed Information About the Study and Be Asked to Sign A Consent Form
You will receive detailed information about the purpose of the study and its benefits and risks. You will be given a copy to take home with you, and you may terminate your participation at any time.
The Data We Collect About You Is Heavily Protected
There are extensive restrictions about securing the data we collect. We meet all HIPAA standards and have developed numerous firewalls and restrictions within our lab to protect your data.
Most of our Studies Have at Least Two of the Components Described Below
Questionnaires and Cognitive Tasks
You will be presented with computer games as well as paper and pencil tasks that help us figure out the state of your cognitive system. Most participants find that they enjoy performing these tasks.
An MRI at the UT Southwestern Advanced Imaging Research Center
For this procedure, you would be asked to lie quietly inside a large, doughnut-shaped magnet for about 60 minutes. Your head will rest in a special helmet-like holder to help you keep from moving it. To see your living brain in action, we will ask you to make yes/no judgment about words (Does the word describe a living thing?) and pictures (Does the scene have water in it?). We always provide free valet parking.
Pet Scan
There is a sticky, plaque-like protein that forms in the brain as we age, called beta-amyloid. For the first time in history, we can see amyloid on the living brain, and this is the purpose of the PET Scan. The PET scan will allow us to take a picture of the beta-amyloid deposits on your brain. To do this, you will need to have a very fine needle inserted into a vein in your arm with a small amount of the imaging agent, florbetapir F 18, will be injected. Approximately 50 minutes after the injection of florbetapir F 18 you will then be placed in the PET scanner for a 10 minute brain scan. During the PET scan procedure, you will lie quietly on a small table while the camera around you takes pictures of your brain. A member of our staff will be close by during the procedure. We will give you a follow up call approximately 48 hours after your visit.
Please Keep Coming Back
We typically invite participants to come back for a second or third round of participation a few years after your initial testing. This allows us to see how the brain and aspects of behavior change over time. It is critical that we have people keep coming back to keep the funding for the project going. Thus far, we have excellent return visits. We appreciate the time you spend with us! If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at: 972-883-3700
CURRENT VOLUNTEERS
Why You Matter So Much
Our volunteers are the essence of our research efforts. Your time and commitment is critical to the work that we do. It is absolutely critical that you keep your appointments and continue your participation as requested.
What You’ve Helped Us Learn
You have taught us so much about aging and we still have more to learn.
Please Keep Coming Back
We typically invite participants to come back for a second or third round of participation a few years after your initial testing. This allows us to see how the brain and aspects of behavior change over time. It is critical that we have people keep coming back to keep the funding for the project going. Thus far, we have excellent return visits. We appreciate the time you spend with us! If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at: 972-883-3700
Have You Made Any Recent Changes to Your Email or Phone Number?
Please keep in touch! We’d love to send you invitations for our appreciation events, keep you updated on what we learn, and contact you for future participation opportunities. If you have an questions, or would like to let us know about recent changes, please call us at 972-883-3700 or send us an email at parklab@utdallas.edu
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