[Broadening of opportunities for research with older persons: adaptation of the Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act]

Older persons represent a growing proportion of the population. However, few of them participate in medical research. Moreover, amendments have been proposed to the Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act (WMO) concerning the participation of vulnerable subjects such as older persons. In light of these changes, the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport sought to develop a guideline to improve the quality of research involving older persons. This guideline will also be a tool for researchers to enhance the inclusion of older persons in their medical research. It focuses on six aspects to consider when setting up a research project: recruitment, informed consent, attrition, reluctance to participate, proportionality between the burden for participants and the benefits for the investigator, and societal relevance.