National survey of memory and aging in South Africa
Project 4 - HAALSI National
This project measures memory and thinking skills among older adults across South Africa to find how common dementia and mild cognitive impairment are and how they relate to health and socioeconomic factors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11115836 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I join, researchers will collect questions about my memory, thinking skills, health, and daily life using a Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP). They will add a nationally representative group to an existing community sample so results reflect the whole country. My visit may include interviews, brief cognitive tests, and questions about my medical history, lifestyle, and household situation. The team will combine these national data with more detailed community data to estimate how common dementia and mild cognitive impairment are and what social or health factors are linked to them.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults living in South Africa, especially older adults who can answer questions about their memory, health, and daily activities.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate medical treatment or younger individuals outside the study age range or outside South Africa are unlikely to gain direct clinical benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could give health officials and doctors clearer information about how many people in South Africa have dementia and what factors raise or lower that risk.
How similar studies have performed: Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocols and Health and Retirement Study methods have been used successfully in other countries, but this is the first nationally representative application in South Africa.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Canning, David J — Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Canning, David J
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.