The National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) is a longitudinal study which extends our understanding of the mechanisms through which the trajectories of social connectivity and health are intertwined in an aging population. The project is unique among nationally representative studies of older adults in the breadth and detail of health data collected, incorporating physical, psychological, sensory, functional, cognitive and social measures. In particular, we have unparalleled longitudinal measures of changes in the structure of social networks and relationships of respondents and their partners throughout the study as well as information on Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRDs). We propose to conduct in-home interviews in 2020?21 (Wave 4 [W4]) with all surviving respondents and their spouses/partners from the first three waves (W1-W3), providing 15 years of follow-up and four waves of data on this important cohort (aged 72-100 at W4). For innovations introduced in W2? a multi-domain measure of cognition (the MoCA-SA), detailed olfactory assessment, complete data from spouses/partners, an accelerometry study of sleep and daily activity, and more comprehensive measures in all domains?W4 will provide a third data point needed to model changes in health, associations, and causal relationships between them. We will enhance the data with new measures of cognition, including item response times, proxy reports, and diagnosis of ADRDs; linking to administrative data files, such as Medicare; and objectively measuring, concurrently, all five classic senses. As one example, W4 will allow the testing of key hypotheses regarding cognitive changes from normal function through dementia, providing important insights into Alzheimer's disease. With these data, we aim to extend our understanding of the mechanisms through which the trajectories of social connectivity and health are intertwined in an aging population. Additionally, we will develop a framework for enrolling the oldest NSHAP subjects into internal and external investigator initiated studies addressing novel social, behavioral, and clinical questions (such as neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease and related dementias) in representative samples of this historically understudied population. With its rich and novel measures of social networks and of the biological, physical and psychological components of health?all measured longitudinally from both partners in a couple?NSHAP is uniquely poised to bridge the gap between large, epidemiological studies of social relationships and health and experimental studies of the mechanisms involved.

Public Health Relevance

The National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) is a longitudinal study which extends our understanding of the mechanisms through which the trajectories of social connectivity and health are intertwined in an aging population. In 2020-21, NSHAP W4 will collect information on the health and wellbeing of Americans ages 72 to 100 and their partners. This study will provide clinicians and policymakers with information on the causes of health problems, including dementias such as Alzheimer's disease, among older adults, which can be addressed through medical practice and public policy.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01AG043538-06
Application #
9521307
Study Section
Social Sciences and Population Studies B Study Section (SSPB)
Program Officer
Patmios, Georgeanne E
Project Start
2013-09-01
Project End
2023-02-28
Budget Start
2018-07-15
Budget End
2019-02-28
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2018
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
National Opinion Research Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
069512291
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60637
Zhong, Selena; Pinto, Jayant M; Wroblewski, Kristen E et al. (2018) Sensory Dysfunction and Sexuality in the U.S. Population of Older Adults. J Sex Med 15:502-509
Liu, Hui; Waite, Linda; Shen, Shannon (2016) Diabetes Risk and Disease Management in Later Life: A National Longitudinal Study of the Role of Marital Quality. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 71:1070-1080
Correia, Camil; Lopez, Kevin J; Wroblewski, Kristen E et al. (2016) Global Sensory Impairment in Older Adults in the United States. J Am Geriatr Soc 64:306-313
Huisingh-Scheetz, Megan J; Kocherginsky, Masha; Magett, Elizabeth et al. (2016) Relating wrist accelerometry measures to disability in older adults. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 62:68-74
Liu, Hui; Waite, Linda J; Shen, Shannon et al. (2016) Is Sex Good for Your Health? A National Study on Partnered Sexuality and Cardiovascular Risk among Older Men and Women. J Health Soc Behav 57:276-96
Qato, Dima M; Wilder, Jocelyn; Schumm, L Philip et al. (2016) Changes in Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medication and Dietary Supplement Use Among Older Adults in the United States, 2005 vs 2011. JAMA Intern Med 176:473-82
Liu, Hui; Waite, Linda J; Shen, Shannon et al. (2016) Policy Brief. J Health Soc Behav 57:275
Luhmann, Maike; Necka, Elizabeth A; Schönbrodt, Felix D et al. (2016) Is Valuing Happiness Associated With Lower Well-Being? A Factor-Level Analysis using the Valuing Happiness Scale. J Res Pers 60:46-50
Chen, Jen-Hao; Lauderdale, Diane S; Waite, Linda J (2016) Social participation and older adults' sleep. Soc Sci Med 149:164-73
Kotwal, Ashwin A; Schumm, Philip; Kern, David W et al. (2015) Evaluation of a Brief Survey Instrument for Assessing Subtle Differences in Cognitive Function Among Older Adults. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 29:317-24

Showing the most recent 10 out of 12 publications