Costa Rica long-lived older adults follow-up (Wave 4)
Official title: Costa Rican Longevity and Healthy Aging Study (CRELES): Wave 4
Funded at University of California Berkeley · NIH-11468150 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We will re-contact Costa Rican adults aged 70 and older (and their spouses) to collect health, thinking, and blood information to find what helps people live longer and stay mentally sharp.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $431,988 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AG091512-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11468150 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are Costa Rican adults aged 70+ who took part in earlier CRELES waves, plus their current spouses regardless of age.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not live in Costa Rica or who were not part of the CRELES panel are unlikely to be enrolled or directly benefit from this wave.
What this research studies
If you joined CRELES before, researchers will try to re-interview you and your spouse in this fourth wave to continue a long-term look at aging in Costa Rica. The visit includes a detailed interview, physical health measurements, a blood draw for biomarkers, cognitive performance tests, and informant interviews using the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP). The team expects to attempt interviews with over 3,500 surviving panel members and will link information to vital records for long-term outcomes. Findings aim to show which health, social, and biological factors relate to longevity and lower dementia risk in this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Results could point to real-world factors that protect against dementia and support healthier, longer lives in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Other long-running population cohorts and the HCAP approach have successfully identified dementia risk and protective factors, so this approach builds on proven methods.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dow, William H — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Dow, William H
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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.