Family First: A Tradition of Discovery
The Bogalusa Heart Study was one of the first ever longitudinal studies to find that cardiovascular risk factors were detectable even at a young age, despite notions that heart disease had little to do with children or young adults. Beginning in 1972, over 12,000 children and young adults were recruited for a study that would one day change the way researchers think about heart health and metabolic development over a lifetime. However, what began as a study of individuals soon evolved into something even more impactful: a family tradition of discovery. Siblings, cousins, friends, children, and eventually grandchildren began to participate, transforming the Bogalusa Heart Study into a rare and invaluable example of multi-generational health research.
Who Are the Families Behind the Bogalusa Heart Study?
Often, when younger participants were recruited for the study, it was common to see their relatives and close friends follow along. That’s why, more than fifty years later, our team is still finding strong roots and connections to the original participants of the study.
Consider the story of Mr. Everett Watson, who dedicated 31 years of his career to working with the Bogalusa Heart Study, and his daughter, Nicole McGehee, who joined the study as a participant in elementary school.
Reflecting on her experience, Nicole shared, “At first, it meant skipping class and getting breakfast. As I got older, I realized how important the study is and how the research they are doing can help me and possibly others.”
Phylis Cothern, a longtime participant, field research assistant, and lab manager, whose mother was hired as a nurse for the study when it first began also plays an important part in the study. Phylis not only carries on the family legacy but also honors the deep-rooted commitment to community that the study represents.
With many of her family members also being participants, it’s clear how profoundly the Bogalusa Heart Study has impacted local Bogalusa families. Phylis, like many others, recognizes that inside that family tradition, “this research results in valuable information that could save lives.”
The Importance of Multi-Generational Health Studies
These family research stories not only foster connection and compassion within the Bogalusa Heart Study community but also foster understanding of the importance of multi-generational health studies. What started as a longitudinal study for cardiovascular risk factors quickly expanded into a larger collection of scientific discoveries, innovations, and ongoing research. The benefit of these studies encompasses many aspects of community-building and scientific discovery, ultimately creating meaningful, lasting effects on the Bogalusa community.
Learning about heart health can save lives. To learn more about the study or find more stories about its history, click here.