Aligning international aging surveys with the Health and Retirement Study
Harmonization of Cross-National Studies of Aging to HRS (NIA)
This project helps researchers make aging surveys from many countries use the same questions and data so we can learn more about aging and dementia worldwide.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11385807 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, teams from many countries will work together to match survey questions and methods so data can be compared across places. The project will run virtual and in-person harmonization meetings, support small pilot tests of new survey items or methods, and hold conferences to share new ideas. It will help new national surveys start using the same standards and will publish reports and data summaries for researchers. By making international data easier to combine, the work aims to reveal patterns in aging and dementia across different countries.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults or people affected by aging-related health issues (including dementia) who participate in national aging surveys or could be recruited into such surveys.
Not a fit: People with health issues unrelated to aging (for example, pediatric conditions or short-term acute illnesses) are unlikely to see direct benefits from this survey-harmonization work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could speed up discoveries about risk factors, care needs, and health differences in older adults by making international aging data easier to use together.
How similar studies have performed: Many HRS-family and related international aging surveys have already produced important findings, so this builds on a successful history of harmonized survey research.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weir, David R. — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Weir, David R.
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.