Prevention Research in Mid-Life Adults (R01)

Submission Date: May 7, 2015

Award Ceiling: TBD

• RO1
• R21
The goal of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to 1) Identify the unique characteristics of mid-life adults that impact health and wellness and contribute to the prevention of disease and disability; 2) Identify characteristics, influences, and indicators that are important for optimal health in mid-life adults; and 3) Develop strategies that promote health and wellness and prevent illness in this population. By 2015, approximately 20 percent of the US population will be between the ages of 50 and 64; a group deemed by the Center of Disease Control (CDC), AARP, and American Medical Association (AMA) as mid-life stage adults. This population has grown substantially, along with the aging of the Baby Boomer generation, as the US undergoes a major demographic transition to an aging society. The CDC has stressed the need for clinical (e.g., prevention of infection, cardiovascular screening and control) and other preventive services (e.g., engaging in physical activity, stress reduction, making good food choices) for these individuals. Notably, 70 percent enter their sixth decade already diagnosed with at least one chronic condition (CDC, 2009; CDC, 2012). Moreover, half of this group will enter their sixth decade with two or more chronic conditions that impact their overall quality of life, pose a burden on society, and increase health care costs. This group is at high-risk for future disease and disability because they face multiple day-to-day challenges and competing demands that interfere with prevention efforts and self-management of health. A review of the literature shows a paucity of research evaluating the emergence of chronic conditions in this specific age group, the extent to which chronic conditions arise from unique characteristics of this life stage (such as those resulting from alterations in energy balance), or the design of prevention strategies uniquely tailored to this age group. More research is needed to address the unique health needs of this understudied population to elucidate which strategies and interventions are most effective for preventive health.