Why older adults are missing from new drug studies

Older adults in Harris County and across the United States are often excluded from clinical trials, even though many medical conditions affect this demographic more frequently. Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician, stated that this exclusion leaves many seniors without access to new treatments that are currently being developed.

The lack of inclusion has led to a specific criticism in the medical community. Aging expert Amy O’Rourke noted that older people are sometimes labeled as "evidence free." This term describes the gap in research data because few studies include participants in this age group.

Gerontologist "Sam" Cradduck explained that medication does not affect all age groups in the same way. She stated that drugs metabolize differently in the older community compared to the younger community. Without older participants in studies, doctors are often prescribing treatments without a clear understanding of how those patients will respond.

Cradduck emphasized that clinical trials are a required step for any new medicine to reach the market. A new medication cannot be approved by regulators without undergoing these studies. She argued that participation is necessary to ensure future treatments are safe and effective for everyone.

Many prospective participants worry about being experimental subjects, a concern Cradduck addressed directly. She stated that by the time a treatment reaches the clinical trial stage, it has been thoroughly tested repeatedly. She reminded participants that adverse effects are common with all prescribed medications, not just those in trials.

Rogers advised individuals to shift their perspective from seeking a cure to understanding the scientific question a trial is designed to answer. She suggested that trials offer access to tomorrow's medicines today. Participants may receive close monitoring, access to specialists, and sometimes financial compensation for travel or time.

O’Rourke noted that participants should know they might receive a placebo rather than the active drug. She shared that clients who joined a local clinical trial group found value in the social support and community resources provided by the study. The National Institutes of Health maintains a list of trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov is a primary resource for searching for studies.