National Institute on Aging (NIA)

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) conducts and supports research to understand the nature of aging and extend healthy, active years of life. NIA supports genetic, biological, clinical, behavioral, social, and economic research on aging and geroscience, with significant investment in Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias (AD/ADRD).

Mission Focus

• Advance scientific knowledge of aging mechanisms to promote healthy longevity.
• Expand understanding of aging across the life course at the biological, clinical, behavioral, and societal levels.
• Advance Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) research on disease mechanisms, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care.
• Translate discoveries into strategies to prevent, treat, and reduce the burden of age-related diseases and conditions.

Strategic Goals

• Support innovation through interdisciplinary and translational science.  
• Promote generalizable and verifiable research and open science principles.
• Strengthen the aging and AD/ADRD research workforce.
• Support research to inform evidence-based policies and practices to improve public health.

Core Research Priorities

• Investigate cellular, molecular, and genetic mechanisms underlying aging and longevity.  
• Clarify how aging biology influences the prevention, progression, and outcomes of disease and decline of function.
• Deepen knowledge of social, behavioral, environmental, and economic processes influencing aging and resilience.
• Support translational and clinical studies to advance prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of AD/ADRD.
• Advance knowledge of the aging brain, age-related cognitive change, and neurodegenerative diseases including AD/ADRD.  
• Develop interventions that improve the health, well-being, and independence of adults as they age.
• Develop strategies to improve healthcare delivery in aging populations.
• Foster career development, training and mentoring across career stages.
• Develop small business innovations and commercialization of therapeutics, diagnostics, devices, and digital health solutions that enhance the health, care, and well-being of older adults.  

Highlighted Topics