The Amish Research Center is conducting a wellness study among Plain communities and is looking for participants in Pinecraft, Fla., in February. The study is seeking to learn more about genetics and health among Amish, Plain Mennonites and Brethren.

“The goal is to identify different gene changes in the Anabaptist population and seek to understand how these gene changes affect health,” Braxton Mitchell, co-director of the Amish Research Center and principal investigator of The New Wellness Study, said. “The information may lead to improvements in healthcare.”

The Amish Research Center was founded in 1995 by Dr. Alan Shuldiner from the University of Maryland. Finding the genetic causes of diabetes was the original goal of the clinic located in Lampeter, Pa., in Lancaster County. Since that time, the mission has expanded to include more.

“The scope of research has expanded to include conditions related to cardiovascular health, bone health, lifespan and mental health,” explained Mitchell.

Staffed by research nurses and Amish liaisons, the center is affiliated with the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.  

Low biodiversity in the Amish population has, according to Mitchell, made the group ideal for genetic studies. “The Amish carry fewer genetic variants overall,” he said.

“However, this reduced diversity has led to an enrichment of certain disease-causing variants that are rare in other populations. For example, 13% of Lancaster Amish carry a pathogenic variant in the APOB gene associated with familial hypercholesterolemia, a condition that causes dangerously high cholesterol and greatly increases the risk of early heart disease.

“The Amish are also enriched for protective variants, such as one in the APOC3 gene that accelerates triglyceride breakdown and reduces heart attack risk. The combination of a distinct genetic background and lifestyle offers a rare opportunity to uncover novel risk and protective factors,” Mitchell said.

A similar study was conducted in the past with primarily Amish in Lancaster County. The new study will enlarge the group to include Mennonite and Brethren populations as well as a larger geographic area.

“This is what led us to Pinecraft, Florida, where we can include participants from throughout the United States,” Mitchell shared. “In 2023, we partnered with the DDC Clinic in Ohio and the Community Health Clinic in Indiana. We are entering the last year of this five-year study with the goal of obtaining 7,500 participants.”

The process, according to the research team, is simple and will take less than an hour to complete. After signing a consent form, participants will answer questions about their health, medications and family history. They will have measurements taken including blood pressure and heart rate, height, weight, body fat and measurements of waist and hips. They will also have blood drawn for clinical blood tests and research purposes. All information documents as part of the study are kept completely confidential.

The blood that is drawn will be tested at no cost to participants. They will also receive a copy of the results that they can use to get more insight to any current or future health conditions. Mitchell noted that the blood test results will give them an overview of their current health and include glucose level and diabetes risk, kidney and liver function, thyroid function, cholesterol levels, and a complete blood count to screen for anemia or infection. In addition, the results will be reviewed by the study doctor who will provide suggestions for follow-up of any abnormal results.

The team noted that, in addition to Pinecraft, a popular vacation destination for Plain Anabaptists near Sarasota, the Amish Research Center has offered this study in other areas of Pennsylvania and regions of New York. “We have been fortunate to have found a contact person or representative in each area who has assisted us in determining the best place to set up a clinic for several days, and they have helped us spread the word in their community,” Leslie Drummond, a member of the Amish Research Center’s nurse staff, explained. “We have conducted the study in private homes, fire halls and community buildings.”

As a way to make sure the study meets its goal of 7,500 participants, the group is eager to speak with anyone whose Plain community might have an interest in the New Wellness Study to discuss the possibility of the study coming to their area. Interested participants should contact the clinic.

This article originally appeared in The Closer Look section of The Budget on December 24, 2025. Used with permission.