The Rochester Epidemiology Project Turns 60 in 2026
In 2026 the REP celebrates 60 years of support for clinical research. Over 3,600 papers have been published reporting research about medical conditions that affect people of all ages. Many of these papers have been published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, which turns 100 years old this year. On our shared anniversary, we highlight key REP papers published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings..
Article: Mayo Clinic Proceedings

Low Muscle Density Derived from Abdominal CTs is Associated with More Falls
Drs. Jennifer St. Sauver and Andrew Rule, and their multidisciplinary research team used artificial intelligence (AI) tools to obtain measures of fat, muscle, and bone from abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans from the Rochester Epidemiology Project. They then studied associations between these body composition measures and risk of falls. They found that lower muscle density was associated with an increased risk of falls in both middle aged and older adults. These data suggest that AI tools can be used to obtain extra clinically useful information on patients beyond the clinical reason for the CT scan. In addition, these data suggest that interventions to improve muscle density could reduce fall risk as early as middle age.
Article: Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Digital Health

Emergency Department Visits Frequently Lead to Cancer Diagnosis
A team of Mayo Clinic Researchers, led by Mark E. Sherman, M.D., analyzed data from nine rural U.S. Midwest counties included within the population-based Rochester Epidemiology Project (2015–2021). Looking at the medical data for more than 200,000 participants, analysis suggests that age, socioeconomic factors, and general health contribute greatly to overall and cancer-specific mortality after an emergency room visit.
Article: Cancer Prevention Research

Parkinson Disease Linked to Living Near Golf Courses
Studies remain consistent reporting that living near golf courses may increase your risk for Parkinson Disease. Lead author, Brittany M. Krzyzanowski, Ph.D., and the study team conclude in their recently published article that people who lived within 1 to 3 miles of a golf course are at the greatest risk of Parkinson Disease, and that the risk generally decreased with increased distance.
Article: JAMA Network Open

Air Pollution and Parkinson Disease in a Population-Based Study
A new study links the risk of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) to air pollution. The study also showed that the progression of the disease is worsened by air pollution. This case-control study found that PD cases had a higher historical exposure to particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller (PM-2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) that did matched controls without PD. In PD cases alone, they also found that these exposures were associated with more severe forms of PD, including dyskinesia.
Article: News Medical – Life Sciences

Risk of Incident Melanoma Among Individuals With Low-Count Monoclonal B-Cell Lymphocytosis
It is estimated that 8 to 10 million Americans age 40 and older have an excess of cloned white blood cells that negatively impacts their immune systems. People with this condition (called monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis [MBL]) do not experience any symptoms, but a new study shows they have an elevated risk for health issues, including melanoma, a form of skin cancer.
Article: Inside Mayo Clinic Research

Women With a History of Preeclampsia Exhibit Accelerated Aging and Unfavorable Profiles of Senescence Markers
New research suggests that having high blood pressure during pregnancy is a marker of accelerated aging, as measured by blood and urine markers.
Article: Inside Mayo Clinic Research

Sinusitis linked to 40% increased risk of rheumatic disease
Lead author Vanessa Kronzer, M.D., and senior author, Cynthia Crowson, Ph.D., report in their article that persons with a history of sinusitis have a 40% increased risk of subsequent diagnosis of rheumatic disease. The risks were increased most for a blood clotting disorder (antiphospholipid syndrome) and a condition known as Sjögren’s syndrome that affects the body’s production of fluids like spit and tears.
Article: RMD Open