FACTORS IN AGING: Best Practices in Archiving and Sharing Interoperable Longitudinal Data Resources on Aging

University Of Michigan At Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor MI

Investigators

Abstract

The National Archive of Computerized Data on Aging (NACDA) mission is to create a dynamic and flexible data infrastructure to stimulate health research and advance knowledge related to the gerontological lifecourse. Through the development and delivery of research resources and data services, NACDA alerts researchers to secondary data analysis opportunities, provides tools to locate and access relevant materials, and enhances the availability of gerontological data. NACDA plays a vital role in replicating previous results and discovering new findings. This R33 application enhances NACDA’s ability to support the development of new interdisciplinary collaborations, taking these relationships in significantly new directions. Transforming NACDA’s approach to longitudinal data distribution, we introduce a model based upon data interoperability, a logical extension of NACDA’s work in innovative longitudinal data enhancements. This application introduces NACDA’s adoption of the interoperability model to support aging research for multidisciplinary team science by introducing a standardized infrastructure that integrates existing and emerging findings in a way that accelerates the development of interventions to improve aging-related outcomes. The present application will create the tools and resources to address this need. This application’s specific goals will develop a data-sharing infrastructure to advance data interoperability in emerging scientific areas, facilitating team science and multidisciplinary research. By organizing independent but related data collections into a uniform structure, this application’s outcomes will accelerate aging research beyond what is achievable using existing collections that treat independent data collections as unique objects. 1) Identify- NACDA will continue identifying the universe of aging, formally cataloging these data, providing structured metadata, and physically preserving data collections as appropriate. Using “Common Data Elements” (CDE) approaches, this process will formalize variable-level information and concepts structures. We will create cross-domain XML/DDI templates to unify longitudinal studies across waves for longitudinal aging data identified as high priority by NIA. 2) Integrate- The project will relate the independent longitudinal studies to each other across health thematics, including Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), cognitions, risks associated with COVID 19 complications, existing comorbidities, and broader health conditions. 3) Operationalize – Make the data resources and analysis tools available to the research community and provide ongoing support and training for the interoperability portal. A DDI-based Cross-Domain Interoperability (CDI) framework will maintain the integrated data collections, support services, bibliographic tracking, and social media outreach. The project will provide training and educational services through conference presentations, workshops, and online webinars. This application introduces a sustainable research infrastructure supporting team science.