Tailoring protocols to successfully recruit and retain older adults in a longitudinal study of sleep and cognition.

Many studies attest to the challenges of recruiting and retaining older adults in longitudinal studies. This article presents the methods used by the Physiological Research to Improve Sleep and Memory project to recruit and retain 115 adults (age 70 and older) in a 2-year study that involved annual administrations of two neurocognitive test batteries and two nights of polysomnography. Strategies built on knowledge obtained from participant informants and the use of tailored, individualized protocols are described. Together, these strategies enabled participants to become vested in the research process and to fully participate in all aspects of the study.