A nationwide five-year study, targeted at investigating the social, economic, environmental, biological, and policy processes that shape late-life health and economic well-being in Kenya, has received a Sh3.04 billion ($23.6 million) grant from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The findings of the Longitudinal Study of Health and Ageing in Kenya would help the government and communities prepare for the expected sharp rise in older adults in the coming decades.
Kenya currently has a relatively young population, but is poised to experience rapid ageing of its population over the next 30 years.
Estimates show the country has a youthful population with over 80 percent of the people aged 35 and below as of 2025.
The study is led by Aga Khan University (AKU) in Nairobi and the University of Michigan (U-M) and will survey approximately 6,500 Kenyans aged 45 and over. The focus will be on health, work, income, and family life.
"I am thrilled that our study, the Longitudinal Study of Health and Ageing in Kenya, has just received a landmark award from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). With Africa’s population of over 60s growing faster than anywhere else, this work is crucial for understanding and meeting the needs of an ageing society," Anthony Ngugi, chair of AKU’s Department of Population Health, said.
A second study will examine 2,300 adults aged 65 and over in the Coast region, with a specific focus on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, mental health, the health and economic impacts of climate change and air pollution, and factors influencing late-life economic well-being.
"Life expectancy in Kenya is increasing due to improved health services. However, these advancements create new pressures on healthcare and economic systems. We must now adapt and innovate.” Joshua Ehrlich, a research professor at U-M, said.
