The Framingham Heart Study has spent 75 years fundamentally changing the way the medical field understands heart disease, and it was recognized Monday that three generations of participants in a small city have touched countless lives around the world. was recognized for saving and improving the situation.

“Much of what we specifically learned from this study has become common knowledge,” said Monica Bertagnoli, director of the National Institutes of Health.

“Americans, not just doctors, now understand the risk factors for heart disease, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, lack of exercise, an unhealthy diet, and an unhealthy weight,” the NIH director added. “And just as importantly, we learned that we can change these risk factors and that doing so can save lives.”

Researchers, physicians, and participants gathered in Framingham on Monday to celebrate the 75th anniversary of this monumental research study, the longest-running cohort study in the history of biomedical research.

The study began in 1948 with more than 5,200 men and women in Framingham and is now in its third generation of more than 15,400 participants, many of whom are descendants of the original participants.

This has reshaped the way the medical field understands heart health and cardiovascular disease, particularly creating an understanding of risk factors and preventive treatments.

According to the speakers, the Framingham Heart study has become “must read” for medical students and continues to grow, providing robust data to understand the brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, lungs and more. It is said to be provided to researchers. Civil servants praised the participants for their significant contributions to the field.

“It’s really amazing to be a part of it, to be a part of history, to be a part of something so global,” said Philippe Ottaviani, a third-generation participant and city council president. Ta. “It put us on the map.”

Ottaviani said his daughter will be part of the fourth generation and continue a long legacy of research.

Participants said this research has become an integral part of the Framingham community and local history and culture.

“My parents thought this research was very important and were very passionate about it,” said Richard Tyrrell, who was recruited into the study’s second generation at age 21 and has been participating in research for nearly 60 years. “And we knew our neighbors, we knew people who were also members, and we knew the children of members who thought it was important.”

The first generation to do this research really cut out a cross-section of the town: “doctors, lawyers, factory workers, milkmen, housewives, school nuns,” and very many of his generation. of children were trafficked for their experiences and beliefs. Their parents said, Tyrrell said. It all brought together a wide range of groups around a common mission.

“It wasn’t just us. It was an interconnected group of people who were all committed to the proposition that we were doing good,” Tyrrell explained.

“This is a good thing,” said Anne Nicholson, a former member of the study’s Omni cohort, which expanded the study in 1994 to better study minority participants. “I really love this research.”