Kenya Secures USD 25 Million NIH Grant for Groundbreaking Aging and Health Study
NAIROBI, Kenya, September 4, 2025 – Kenya is set to host one of Africa’s most comprehensive studies on aging, health, and socioeconomic change, thanks to a USD 25 million (KES 3.2 billion) grant awarded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The Longitudinal Study of Health and Aging in Kenya (LOSHAK) will be jointly led by the Aga Khan University (AKU) Medical College, East Africa, and the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research (ISR). The initiative aims to generate high-quality data on how shifting demographics affect health systems, economic stability, and social wellbeing in Kenya.
Africa remains the youngest continent globally, but the number of older adults is rising at an unprecedented rate. By 2050, the share of people aged 60 and above is expected to nearly triple. In Kenya, the older adult population is projected to quadruple in the next three decades.
“Thanks in part to improved health services and access, life expectancy in Kenya is increasing,” said Dr. Joshua Ehrlich, co-lead researcher and Paul R. Lichter Research Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at U-M. “The irony is that these trends create new challenges for the very healthcare and economic systems that enabled them. Now, there is a need to adapt and innovate.”
His co-lead, Dr. Anthony Ngugi, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Population Health at AKU, emphasized the policy relevance of the study.
“These demographic shifts will stress economic systems and create new demands for healthcare delivery, from elder care to chronic disease management and cancer treatments. Looking ahead, policymakers will need the best possible data to respond effectively.”
Over the next five years, LOSHAK will collect data through two major surveys. The first “Core” survey will cover about 6,500 Kenyans aged 45 and above nationwide, examining their health, economic, and social circumstances. Conducted in more than a dozen local languages, it is designed to harmonize with international aging studies such as the U.S. Health and Retirement Survey.
The second survey will target 2,300 older adults aged 65 and above in Kenya’s Coast Region, focusing on cognitive health and risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and related conditions.
The study will establish a long-term research cohort, with data made publicly available to researchers worldwide. This will enable comparative analysis across countries and provide evidence to guide African governments and global stakeholders in preparing for rapidly aging populations.
