Aging, memory, and health in South Africa
Health, Aging and Dementia in South Africa: A Longitudinal Study (HAALSI)
Researchers are following adults aged 40 and older in South Africa to learn how aging, chronic diseases, and infections like HIV affect thinking and memory over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11382369 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I join, the team will follow me and others over many years with regular interviews, memory and thinking tests, and health checks including blood-based biomarkers. They will link survey information with medical records and track health events and deaths to see how conditions such as HIV, heart disease, and diabetes relate to memory problems. Some participants also complete an expanded cognitive protocol and extra lab tests to look for biological signs of dementia. The results are meant to guide better prevention, diagnosis, and care for people with memory loss in South Africa.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults aged about 40 years and older living in the Agincourt area of South Africa or similar communities who can take part in interviews, cognitive tests, and provide biological samples.
Not a fit: People outside the study area, those younger than the enrolled age range, or those seeking immediate clinical treatment rather than long-term research follow-up are unlikely to get direct medical benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve early detection, prevention, and care strategies for dementia and related conditions in South Africa.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier HAALSI waves and other international cohort studies have successfully tracked aging and dementia risk factors, though actionable prevention and treatment options in low- and middle-income settings remain limited.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Berkman, Lisa F — Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Berkman, Lisa F
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.