Healthy Aging in Egypt (AL-SEHA)
Official title: A Longitudinal Study of Egyptian Healthy Aging (Al-SEHA)
Funded at American University in Cairo · NIH-11194396 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project follows older adults across Egypt over time to track health, thinking skills, and social and environmental factors that influence aging.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | American University in Cairo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cairo, Egypt) |
| Project start | September 20, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $523,204 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG081305-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11194396 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are Egyptian adults aged about 50 and older from diverse regions and backgrounds, including urban and rural communities.
✕Less likely to help
People under the study age range, residents living outside Egypt, or those seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct personal medical benefit from participation.
What this research studies
You would be invited as an older adult living in Egypt to join a national, long-term survey called AL-SEHA that is modeled on the U.S. Health and Retirement Study. Researchers will collect information about your health, memory and thinking, daily activities, work, income, and environmental exposures like air pollution through interviews and tests over multiple visits. They may also take basic measurements and ask for permission to use medical records or store biological samples for future research. The study will follow people for years to understand how social, economic, and environmental factors affect aging and dementia risk in Egypt.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could help shape better health programs, policies, and early detection efforts for dementia and other aging problems in Egypt.
How similar studies have gone: Similar large cohort surveys like the U.S. Health and Retirement Study and other international HRS-style projects have successfully tracked aging and informed policy, but AL-SEHA is the first national longitudinal effort of its kind in Egypt.
Where this research is happening
-
American University in Cairo
Cairo, Egypt Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Salama, Mohamed — American University in Cairo
- Study coordinator: Salama, Mohamed
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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.