The National Institute on Aging (NIA) awarded a $420,947 Project Grant under the Aging Research program (CFDA 93.866) to the Regents of the University of Michigan to conduct preliminary work towards developing a longitudinal, population-based study on aging in Guatemala. The key objectives of this R21 project are to:
Select and translate key survey modules, including those focused on cognition and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), into Mayan languages.
Pilot test the survey modules and data collection procedures in a sample of 200 Guatemalan adults aged 45 and older.
Develop strategic plans to launch a nationally representative longitudinal aging study in Guatemala, including an ADRD-focused substudy.
As part of this effort, the University of Southern California (USC) will serve as a sub-awardee to maintain the data collection and programming aspects of the research. This 2-year project, funded from January 2025 to December 2026, aims to lay the groundwork for a larger R01 study that will establish the longitudinal aging research platform in Guatemala.