# Health and Aging in Africa: Longitudinal Studies of an INDEPTH Community

> **NIH NIH P01** · HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH · 2021 · $697,533

## Abstract

Abstract
 The Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa (HAALSI)
study examines biological, social, and economic determinants of disease and their effects on functional, health
and cognitive outcomes among an aging population in South Africa. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic
has profoundly impacted South Africa over the last 9 months, leading to stringent government lockdowns and
widespread community transmission of SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 has been demonstrated to be of particular risk
to older adults around the world, especially those with underlying conditions including dementia and
cardiometabolic disease. Gathering data on COVID-19 and accounting for the impact of this important public
health crisis on personal and population health will be essential to fulfill the aims of the HAALSI P01 parent grant.
In particular, Project 1’s aims focus on predictors and consequences of Alzheimer’s disease and related
dementias (ADRD), attempting to identify diseases and social conditions that increase risk for cognitive
impairment and decline. By leveraging the depth of longitudinal data available on the HAALSI cohort, including
data on social and economic conditions, biomarkers, cognitive function, chronic conditions including HIV/AIDS
and cardiometabolic disease, and genetic risks, as well as a subsample with MRIs and in-depth dementia
assessments, we have a unique opportunity for novel research on causal relationships between dementia and
COVID-19. Our research will facilitate better understanding of who is at risk of COVID-19 and why, and what the
longer-term impacts might be on cognitive health of the cohort. We have two specific analytic aims to support
these goals: (1) To assess how cognitive and genetic factors related to ADRD influence risk for SARS-CoV-2
infection and COVID-19 severity; and (2) To evaluate biological and socioeconomic pathways through which the
COVID-19 pandemic may influence cognitive function, cognitive change, and incident dementia. To fulfill these
aims we will utilize our planned Wave 3 survey to capture cognitive outcomes, and supplement existing HAALSI
data with (1) a telephone survey to capture individual experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic; and (2)
serological assays to assess SARS-CoV-2 infection. The telephone survey instrument has been harmonized
with HRS sister study COVID modules to allow for cross national comparisons on COVID-19 exposures, health
behaviors, and social consequences. Venous blood for SARS-CoV-2 serological assays will be collected during
the planned HAALSI Wave 3 fieldwork in 2021, using tried-and-tested practices already in place in the Agincourt,
field setting, in South Africa. We expect that this project will provide insight into mechanisms through which
dementia and APOE genotype leads to SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe illness, and insight into the biological
and socioeconomic pathways through which the COVID-19 pandemic may influence cogni...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10307947
- **Project number:** 3P01AG041710-07S1
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
- **Principal Investigator:** LISA F BERKMAN
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $697,533
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2013-09-15 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10307947

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10307947, Health and Aging in Africa: Longitudinal Studies of an INDEPTH Community (3P01AG041710-07S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10307947. Licensed CC0.

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