The Amish are helping scientists understand the genetic influence on diseases.

A study called the Collaborative Amish Aging and Memory Project, or CAAMP, is being conducted with help from Amish populations in Elkhart, LaGrange and Adams Counties, as well as in Ohio.

The Elkhart Truth reports that CAAMP is a long term study of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, autism and age-related macular degeneration. The close genetic ties within Amish communities make it easier to pinpoint genetic data in regards to these diseases, as does the low use of alcohol and tobacco, which can impact results.

The role of the Amish in these long term studies was a topic of discussion last week in Ohio.