Longitudinal health and aging study in Kenya
Official title: The Longitudinal Study of Health and Ageing in Kenya (LOSHAK): A Population study of Health, Wellbeing, Economics, and AD/ADRD in Older Kenyan Adults
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11537818 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large, long-term study in Kenya will track health, well-being, economics, and aging in adults 45 and older to understand rising aging needs and risk factors for dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $3,207,366 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AG093721-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11537818 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults aged 45 and older living in Kenya who can participate in ongoing surveys, blood draws, and wearable sensor assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who are unable to participate in long-term follow-up or wear sensors may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project will create LOSHAK-Core to follow Kenyans 45+ over time, collecting survey data, blood biomarkers, and wearable sensor information. It harmonizes methods with global aging studies to compare findings and inform health and economic planning. The study partners with the Kenyan government and local research institutes to build a nationally representative picture of aging and cognitive health in East Africa.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study will provide policymakers and clinicians with detailed data to plan aging services and dementia prevention efforts in Kenya and similar settings.
How similar studies have gone: Similar harmonized aging studies have yielded valuable insights into aging, cognition, and health trajectories in other countries.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ehrlich, Joshua Robert — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Ehrlich, Joshua Robert
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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.