Study Participants
Welcome All MESA Participants!
MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) is an important medical research study that involves more than 6,000 men and women from six communities in the United States. One strength of the study is that it includes a diverse range of races and ethnicities including Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, and White individuals.
The MESA study began in 1999 as an investigation of the early stages of a disease called atherosclerosis, also known as "hardening of the arteries". Over the last 20+ years, the study has grown and made meaningful contributions to numerous fields, including brain health, lung health, and the impacts of factors like neighborhoods, air pollution, sleep, stress, and nutrition on health. You can learn more about MESA's discoveries in the News section of this website.
We completed the seventh MESA exam in June 2024 and are now conducting the third MESA MIND exam, called MESA MIND-C, for eligible participants. This exam focuses primarily on cognitive function to better understand how managing risk factors can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias. It also centers around understanding new ways in which heart health may play a role in protecting memory and thinking abilities as we age.
The MIND-C exam revolves around a cognitive assessment and includes more familiar elements like health questionnaires, blood pressure measurements, physical function test, and blood tests, as well as the option to wear a monitor to measure blood sugar at home. You can choose to wear the blood sugar monitor or not. For more information about the study procedures and their role in MIND C, reach out to your Study Coordinator.
About MESA
What is MESA? Learn about MESA, its Field Centers, and answers to frequent questions.
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