What is the National Institute on Aging?
The National Institute on Aging (NIA), created by Congress in 1975, is one of the 27 Institutes and Centers of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIA’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of older Americans through research. The Institute leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. Back to Top Why is funding for the NIA so important? The nation’s aging population is growing rapidly. By 2030, the number of adults age 65 and older will nearly double to 70 million. By 2050, one out of every 5 people living in the United States will be aged 65 or older. Americans are also living longer, and older adults can now live for many years with multiple chronic illnesses. Diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, depression, osteoporosis, and Parkinson’s disease often lead to progressive frailty and disability among older adults, causing long-term illness, reduced quality of life, and increased healt
