Mexican Health and Aging: tracking memory and health in older adults
Official title: The Mexican Health Aging Study (MHAS)
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Science Center · NIH-11480855 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Following adults 50 and older across Mexico over time to learn how aging, memory, and dementia change and affect people’s lives.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Science Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 1999 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $688,720 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AG018016-20S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11480855 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are Mexican adults aged 50 or older living in the community (urban or rural), including prior MHAS respondents.
✕Less likely to help
People younger than 50, those living outside Mexico, or those expecting direct clinical treatment from participation are unlikely to receive personal health benefits.
What this research studies
I would join other Mexican adults aged 50+ for regular interviews, health questions, and memory tests repeated over many years. The project uses a nationally representative sample and includes Mex-Cog, a cognitive module aligned with international protocols so findings can be compared across countries. Researchers collect survey data, health measures, and cognitive testing to study life-course factors, social disparities, and events like COVID that influence aging and dementia. The long-term follow-up lets them track who develops memory problems and what social or health factors predict changes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify dementia risk and care needs among Mexican older adults and inform better prevention, diagnosis, and public-health planning.
How similar studies have gone: Yes — long-running studies like the U.S. Health and Retirement Study and related Harmonized Cognitive Aging Protocol efforts have successfully tracked aging and dementia trends using this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Science Center
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wong, Rebeca — University of Texas Hlth Science Center
- Study coordinator: Wong, Rebeca
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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.