Cohort Profile Update: Cognition and dementia in the Health and Aging in Africa Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH community in South Africa (HAALSI dementia)
Date
2022-08-10
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Abstract
The Health and Aging in Africa Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa (HAALSI) is a
harmonized sister study to the US Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Established in 2015, it includes 5059
individuals aged 40 and over, in a rural community in Agincourt, South Africa.
• In light of the projected rise of dementia burden in sub-Saharan Africa, the HAALSI Dementia study was launched in
2019 to investigate the prevalence, incidence and risk factors of cognitive decline and dementia in South Africa.
• The HAALSI Dementia sample includes 635 individuals, 50 years and older, of whom 99 also participated in an
ancillary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sub-study.
• The HAALSI Dementia study encompasses a comprehensive, culturally sensitive cognitive battery with multidomain
psychometric scales, informant interviews and neurological evaluations, and has sufficient overlap with international
Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) and HRS studies to enable cross-calibration.
• For new collaborative projects and data sharing, please contact Darina Bassil [dbassil@hsph.harvard.edu].