How Medical Research Impacts People From All Walks Of Life
by Jessica L. Giffin, MPH, CHES, CIC, YMCA of Metro Denver
Did you know that in Denver, neighborhoods that are only two miles apart can have a difference of 10 years in average lifespan for residents? Or that depression and childhood obesity rates are four times higher in certain neighborhoods?
There are so many different factors that can influence someone’s health — diet, lifestyle and the environment where you grew up or currently live in. Despite this fact, health care often takes a “one-size-fits-all” approach and struggles to understand the differences that make us each unique. That’s where the All of Us Research Program comes in.
The All of Us Research Program is funded by the National Institutes of Health and seeks to enroll one million or more people from across the United States to help speed up medical research. The YMCA of Metro Denver is a proud partner with All of Us. It’s programs like the YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program and Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring that are products of medical research and it’s the goal of the YMCA to continue to provide robust programs that meets the needs of the people who need them most.
Now YOU can have the opportunity to be reflected in health research!
What can you expect by participating in the All of Us program? People who join will share information about their health, habits, and what it’s like where they live. By developing a diverse database and resource that researchers can use to study precision medicine, we are creating a future where health care is tailored to you.
As a member of the community, you can play a role in the fight for equitable medical research and its value in creating life-changing programs, medicines and other solutions that reflect the diversity of the people who need them.
In times like these, we can see the importance of health research. It is the efforts of the NIH, along with many others, that help researchers learn more about all kinds of conditions and illnesses — including COVID-19 — and their impact on people from all walks of life.
You have the power to drive health research. Without you, it won’t be All of Us. If you are interested in learning more, visit www.denverymca.org/all-us-research-program.