American Lung Association Lung Health Cohort Research Study is seeking participants in one-of-a-kind

The American Lung Association Lung Health Cohort Research Study will track 4,000 young adults (aged 25-35 at time of enrollment) at the age of peak lung health. Scientists across the country will follow these young adults for five years after their initial interviews to evaluate how their environment, lifestyle and physical activity habits affect respiratory health. People interested in participating can contact National Jewish Health at 303-270-2418.

“Historically, lung health has been studied only after the appearance of chronic lung disease. There is a critical need to better understand how a young adult’s lung function declines over time,” said Barry Make, MD, pulmonologist and principal investigator for the Lung Health Cohort at National Jewish Health. “In addition, here in Colorado, our residents face lung health threats like air pollution, smoke from forest fires, teen vaping and respiratory viruses like flu, COVID-19 and RSV. By studying the lung health of young adults, we can determine how these factors impact respiratory function and develop ways to prevent lung disease or catch it earlier.”

Here are some details about the American Lung Association Lung Health Cohort Research Study:

• It will follow 4,000 young adults at the age of peak lung health, from 25 to 35 years old at time of enrollment, in Denver, as well as 26 other sites across the US, painting a clear picture of lung health across the country.
• Each participant will be tracked for five years, to start, focusing on measures of lung function, respiratory symptoms, and information, including where they live, where and what they do for work, health behaviors, fitness, biomarkers and chest imaging.
• This study will use low-dose CT scans, which will show any signs of lung injury or abnormalities.
• The Lung Association's Airways Clinical Research Centers (ACRC) Network will conduct the research, working closely with researchers at National Jewish Health. ACRC is the largest national non-profit clinical network dedicated to asthma and COPD research.

The longitudinal study is made possible through a grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
 

About the American Lung Association

The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, which has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Platinum-Level GuideStar Member, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.

National Jewish Health is the leading respiratory hospital in the nation delivering excellence in multispecialty care and world class research. Founded in 1899 as a nonprofit hospital, National Jewish Health today is the only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to groundbreaking medical research and treatment of children and adults with respiratory, cardiac, immune and related disorders. Patients and families come to National Jewish Health from around the world to receive cutting-edge, comprehensive, coordinated care. To learn more, visit njhealth.org or the media resources page.