About the Organization:

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), one of the 27 Institutes and Centers of the National Institutes of Health, leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. In 1974, Congress granted authority to form the National Institute on Aging to provide leadership in aging research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs relevant to aging and older people. Subsequent amendments to this legislation designated the NIA as the primary federal agency on Alzheimer’s disease research.

The NIA’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of older Americans through research, and specifically to:

Support and conduct high quality research on:
-aging processes
-age-related diseases
-special problems and needs of the aged

Train and develop highly skilled research scientists from all population groups
Develop and maintain state-of-the-art resources to accelerate research progress
Disseminate information and communicate with the public and interested groups on health and research advances and on new directions for research.

Contact Info:

National Institute on Aging
Building 31, Room 5C27
31 Center Drive, MSC 2292
Bethesda, MD 20892
Phone: 301-496-1752
E-mail: karpf@nia.nih.gov
http://www.nia.nih.gov

Resources on Aging and Physical Activity:

Exercise: Getting Fit for Life
Health information on exercise and steps to better fitness.