Measuring the aging life course: the collections, resources, and tools for aging research maintained by the national archive of computerized data on aging

Abstract

The National Archive of Computerized Data on Aging (NACDA) has been collecting, archiving, and distributing data on the aging lifecourse for over 35 years. All of its data are freely available to the research community, and many studies provide valuable insights into U.S. national and international population health and aging behaviors over time. NACDA has been continually funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) since the 1980s. We maintain and support over 1,500 studies related to aging, health, and the lifecourse. We work closely with NIA to assist researchers in the preparation, distribution, and the use of secondary data funded by NIA for independent research. We help researchers by providing letters of support for grants and preserving their data. We host workshops, webinars, and other outreach to foster and inform the research community. We provide user support to data depositors, secondary analysts, and instructional resources for professors.