# Research Network for the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP): Years 6-10

> **NIH NIH U24** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2024 · $628,969

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) was designed by the HRS in consultation with
several of its international partner studies to provide a flexible yet comparable instrument for measuring
cognitive function among older adults around the world. Since 2016, the HCAP has been implemented in
fifteen studies around the world, and several studies in other countries are pilot testing the HCAP. The HCAP
thus provides unique research opportunities to exploit cross-country variations in key life-course factors that
likely affect risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD), such as educational
attainment, wealth, retirement policies, diet, and the prevalence and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors.
However, cross-country variations also raise unique challenges for maintaining the harmonization of tests and
measures necessary for good comparative research. This application seeks to renew and build upon the
established HCAP International Research Network (U24 AG065182) that has facilitated harmonization of
methods and data across the international network of HCAP studies and supported the expansion of HCAP
studies to new countries.
Our first project period was extremely successful, as we contributed to the statistical harmonization of HCAP
measures across culturally, educationally, and linguistically diverse country settings, held in-person and virtual
meetings across HCAP study teams to facilitate collaborations and coordinate research approaches, and
funded pilot projects that provided insight to harmonization challenges, and expanded the global reach of the
HCAP data. Planned harmonization activities for the proposed renewal of the network span the full life-course
of such studies from sample design, to content and administration of the protocol, to statistical harmonization
of data collected, to diagnostic algorithms, to covariates for epidemiological research, including biomarkers and
genetics. While achieving harmonization in established studies requires active participation of senior
leadership, a main goal of the network is to continue developing younger scholars through facilitating
participation in network meetings, funding pilot studies, and supporting scholar exchanges among the studies.
We will build upon our previous successes and directly address harmonization challenges by disseminating
and incorporating the lessons learned in the prior project period. In addition to the exchange of information
through meetings and the network website, we will coordinate dissemination and educational outreach with
related networks focused on AD/ADRD and other networks harmonizing the HRS family of studies, including
the HRS Around the World Network, the Gateway to Global Aging Data, and the Population Studies of Aging
Biomarker Network.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10975555
- **Project number:** 2U24AG065182-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Lindsay C Kobayashi
- **Activity code:** U24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $628,969
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2019-09-15 → 2029-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10975555

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10975555, Research Network for the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP): Years 6-10 (2U24AG065182-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10975555. Licensed CC0.

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