National Institute on Aging

National Institute on Aging (NIA) is one of the 27 institutes and centers of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is itself part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Established in 1974, the NIA is dedicated to understanding the nature of aging and the aging process, and diseases and conditions associated with growing older, in order to extend the healthy, active years of life.

Mission and Goals

The NIA's mission is to improve the health and well-being of older adults through biomedical, social, and behavioral research. The institute's goals include supporting and conducting high-quality research on aging processes, age-related diseases, and special problems and needs of the aged; training and developing highly skilled research scientists in aging; and disseminating information about aging and advances in research to the public, health care professionals, and the scientific community, among others.

Research Areas

The NIA's research covers a broad range of areas related to aging and older adults. These include:

• Biological Sciences: Understanding the fundamental biological processes that underlie aging and age-related diseases.
• Behavioral and Social Research: Investigating the social, economic, and psychological changes that occur as people age.
• Clinical Research: Conducting studies to understand health and disease in older adults and to develop interventions to treat age-related conditions.
• Neuroscience and Neuropsychology: Researching the aging brain, Alzheimer's disease, and other neurodegenerative disorders.
• Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology: Examining the clinical, functional, and psychosocial aspects of aging.

Divisions

The NIA is organized into several divisions, each focusing on different aspects of aging research:

• Division of Aging Biology: Focuses on understanding the basic biological mechanisms underlying the aging process.
• Division of Behavioral and Social Research: Addresses the behavioral, social, and economic aspects of aging.
• Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology: Focuses on clinical and epidemiological aspects of aging.
• Division of Neuroscience: Dedicated to research on the aging brain, neurodegeneration, and cognitive decline.

Funding Opportunities

The NIA provides a variety of funding opportunities for researchers, including grants and fellowships, to support studies aimed at improving the health and quality of life of older adults. These opportunities are designed to encourage innovative research in aging and to develop the next generation of researchers in this field.

Public Outreach and Information

The NIA also plays a key role in disseminating information about aging and health to the public, health professionals, and the research community. This includes publishing educational materials, managing the NIA website, and participating in public events and initiatives to raise awareness about aging and health-related issues.

See Also

• Aging
• Gerontology
• Alzheimer's disease
• National Institutes of Health
• United States Department of Health and Human Services

External Links

• Official website of the National Institute on Aging