Update from the Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study (MSLS)
The y (MSLS) of aging, cardiovascular disease and risk factors for lower cognitive performance and cognitive impairment began at Syracuse University in 1975 (Merrill F. Elias (“Pete”) (PI). Merrill transferred his research grant to the University of Maine (Orono) when he joined the faculty as Professor of Psychology in 1977. Active data collection was conducted for 35 years on continuous funding from the National Institute on Aging and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health.
Participants in the study are persons from the entire adult age-span living primarily in the communities represented by Central New York. One must follow longitudinal study subjects wherever they go, and thus the MSLS now includes residents of many other states including Maine. The longitudinal study paradigm (following the same individuals at prescribed intervals over time) is the ideal design for the study of aging. The MSLS has involved collaborations with investigators in other institutions in the United States, as well as foreign and U.S. institutions, including the University of Oxford and the University of South Australia, and the Framingham Heart Study (Boston University Medical School).
At this point in time over 187 peer-reviewed publications have resulted from this study and multiple faculty, students and scientists have used the trove of data in the study. As many as seven longitudinal waves of data are available for over 1000 community participants and cross-sectional data are available for 2,472 study participants. These data include risk factors for cardiovascular disease, prevalence and incidence of cardiovascular disease, clinical cognitive performance measures, and personality and lifestyle measures. Recent waves of the study include many psychosocial variables, demographic variables, information on medications, and extensive data on cardiovascular risk factors and events such as diabetes, stroke, kidney disease, obesity, smoking, homocysteine, APOE-e4 genotype, nutrition, and physical activity.
Though funding from research grants ended in 2012, the study has continued to the present time in its data analysis and paper phase.
Merrill F. Elias, PhD, MPH, Director of the MSLS and Professor of Psychology Emeritus at the University of Maine (91), is affiliated with the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering and the Institute of Medicine. Michael A. Robbins, PhD, Associate Research Professor of Psychology, has served as co-investigator and co-Director of the MSLS since 2001. Thomas W. Pierce, PhD, Professor of Psychology Emeritus at Radford University, worked with the MSLS as a Research Assistant while earning his PhD in Psychology at the University of Maine.
Two recent publications have important implications for the importance of taking blood pressure at home.
Title: Screening for postprandial hypotension: the importance of home blood pressure monitoring.
Authors: Merrill F. Elias, Thomas W. Pierce, Michael A. Robbins
Journal: American Journal of Hypertension, 2026.
Postprandial hypotension is commonly defined as a fall in systolic blood pressure of 20 mmHg within 2 hours after finishing a meal. It can contribute to dizziness, fainting, falls, stroke, and fatigue, yet many patients experience no obvious symptoms. The authors argue that patients can use home blood pressure monitoring to identify blood pressure drops after meals that are often missed during routine office visits. Their recommendation is that home blood pressure monitoring should become a routine component of screening for postprandial hypotension, especially because traditional clinic measurements frequently miss these meal-related blood pressure drops. A structured home monitoring protocol, combined with detailed contextual notes, can improve detection, guide treatment decisions, and enhance hypertension management.
Title: Blood Pressure Lowering and Glaucoma: One Size Does Not Fit All
Authors: Craig J. Brown and Merrill F. Elias
Journal: American Journal of Hypertension (2025)
The authors argue that blood pressure (BP) targets should be individualized for patients with glaucoma. While intensive BP control (such as the targets recommended in the SPRINT trial) reduces cardiovascular risk, the authors contend that it may unintentionally increase the risk of vision loss in some glaucoma patients by lowering blood pressure too much — particularly during sleep.
Recommendations include adjusting the target for BP control for glaucoma patients, encouraging physicians to periodically review home BP logs in at-risk glaucoma patients and reviewing medications, dosages and best time of day for administration.
More complete information about the MSLS can be found at the following link: