Contrary to what some researchers expected, a study led by the University of Minnesota found that older and younger patients fare just as well after receiving bone marrow transplants. The study was presented at the American Society of Hematology meeting in San Francisco Monday by University researchers Brian McClune and Daniel Weisdorf, who is also director of the Blood and Marrow Transplant program. This study analyzed the ages and outcomes of more than 1,000 patients aged 40 and older who received a bone marrow transplant for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia, known as AML and myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS. Weisdorf said he was a little surprised about the results of the study. âÄúI think we were all surprised,âÄù he said. âÄúWeâÄôre not arguing that transplant patients are better candidates when theyâÄôre 60 than theyâÄôre 40, but we saw no measurable statistical difference.âÄù Armand Keating, secretary of the American Society of Hematolog y, was also involved with the research. He said he was surprised by the results as well. âÄúThe only factors that were important were the extent of the disease and the status of the patient,âÄù he said. âÄúIt looks like older patients do just as well as their younger cohorts.âÄù Blood and marrow transplants are normally not offered to older patients due to concerns about their well-being after the transplant, Weisdorf said. âÄúItâÄôs intense and itâÄôs complicated treatment,âÄù he said, âÄúso in the past people were reluctant to apply such therapy to older adults.âÄù Weisdorf said he is presenting the results of this study to the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services, citing that Medicare does not cover the cost of a bone marrow transplant for patients with MDS. âÄúThatâÄôs not a deliberate decision by Medicare by any means, itâÄôs just that no one has presented sufficient compelling data to Medicare,âÄù he said. Weisdorf said Meidcare should cover treatments for MDS. âÄúThere is no curative therapy for myelodysplastic syndrome except a donor transplant,âÄù he said. âÄúBecause the average age of the disease is in the 60s, people have not explored transplants in large numbers.âÄù The average age of someone with AML is 65. Keating said because of this, there needs to be attention placed on treatment of older adults. âÄúThe reason that this is of significance is because blood and marrow transplantation is not offered to these people by and large,âÄù he said.