George W. Comstock Center for Public Health Research and Prevention
The George W. Comstock Center for Public Health Research and Prevention
The George W. Comstock Center for Public Health Research and Prevention, located at 1100 Dual Highway, Hagerstown, Maryland, was established by the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health as a research field center for multiple studies and clinical trials.
Community members, faculty, and staff of the Johns Hopkins Comstock Center continue to advance knowledge about health and prevention. The current studies build on nearly a century of community-based research collaborations between Johns Hopkins University and Washington County. Currently, our largest studies focus on heart disease and aging (ARIC), cancer (CLUE), and promoting cognitive health among elders (ACHIEVE).
Current Events at the Comstock Center (updated 06/28/23):
- The ARIC Study is seeking new participants to become part of the ARIC Generation 2 Study. Potential participants must be aged 50-80 years of age with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Please contact the Comstock Center at 301-791-1847 for more information.
- ARIC Visit 10 continues through November 2023. This visit includes blood pressure measurements, bloodwork, interviews, physical function testing, gait mat, and other tests. Our ARIC recruiter will be calling participants to schedule their Visit 10 appointment throughout Summer 2023.
- Johns Hopkins Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health Director Frank Lin, MD, PhD, will present results of the Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elder (ACHIEVE) study at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Amsterdam on July 18, 2023. The main focus of the ACHIEVE study was to learn if treating hearing loss in older adults can reduce the cognitive decline that often precedes dementia. The study randomized 977 older adults ages 70-84 years with untreated hearing loss, assigned them to a hearing intervention program or a health education control intervention, and followed them for three years with tests of thinking and memory. Other areas being studied are how treating hearing loss affects brain structure, mental health & well-being, physical function, and health care use. Papers about each of those areas will be published over time.