National Health and Aging Trends Study

The National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) is an annual cohort survey of a nationally representative sample of United States older adults sampled via the Medicare enrollment file. NHATS is led by the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health and the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research, with data collection by Westat.

The survey includes items evaluating the physical, social, technological, and service environment; tests and self-reports of physical and cognitive capacity; use of assistive devices and rehabilitation services; activities of daily living; help received with valued activities; and overall wellbeing. Other topics focus on chronic conditions, symptoms, sensory impairments, transportation, subjective and economic wellbeing, and demographic factors. A last month of life interview focuses on quality of end-of-life care. The sample is refreshed periodically so that researchers may study national-level disability trends as well as individual trajectories. Linkages are available to long-term care market measures (county-level availability of long-term care services and supports) and the 1940 Census. Caregivers of NHATS respondents are also interviewed periodically for the National Study of Caregiving (NSOC).

In Round 7 (2017), dried blood spot-based DNA samples were collected to foster study of the biologic risk of disability progression. Due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Round 10 (2020) of the NHATS interview was conducted by telephone. A supplemental survey was also administered by mail that asked participants about the impact of the pandemic on their lives. For Round 11 onward, the interview was reorganized so that certain sections could be conducted by telephone. Questions were also added to the interview about COVID-19 testing, diagnosis, duration of symptoms and health effects, and vaccination.