CDC's Prevention Research Centers Healthy Aging Research Network (CDC-HAN)

Healthy Aging Research Network (CDC-HAN)
The PRC-Healthy Aging Research Network (CDC-HAN), in operation since 2001, is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to assist in the development of a national research and dissemination agenda related to the public health aspects of healthy aging.

CDC-HAN’s member universities are a subset of CDC’s Prevention Research Centers located throughout the United States. Prevention Research Centers are a network of academic centers, public health agencies, and community partners conducting applied research and practice in chronic disease prevention and control.  Each brings topic expertise to CDC-HAN’s research and program development.

Strong partnerships with community-based groups are fundamental to CDC-HAN’s successes. Through coordinated national efforts, CDC-HAN is developing programs that improve health, particularly in communities and populations that bear a disproportionate burden of illness and disease.

Mission

• Better understand the determinants of healthy aging in older adult populations
• Identify interventions that promote healthy aging
• Assist in the translation of effective healthy aging interventions into sustainable community-based programs throughout the nation

Now Available

Environmental and Policy Change Resources

The CDC Healthy Aging Research Network (CDC-HAN) four-module multi-element initiative on environmental and policy change (EPC) to support healthy aging includes pre-recorded presentations, archived webinars, four related action briefs, and the EPC Clearinghouse – a searchable database of online resources. Archives and resources are available at www.agingfriendly.org and through the CDC-HAN web site: www.prc-han.org. The EPC Clearinghouse is available at www.epc-clearinghouse.org. The webinar series and action briefs were made possible with funding from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The EPC Clearinghouse was made possible through support from the Healthy Communities Program and the Healthy Aging Program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Coordinating Center for the CDC-HAN, and the University of Washington Health Promotion Research Center.  

Searchable Database of PRC Research Projects

Descriptions of PRC research projects are now available through a database on the PRC Web site. Search the PRCs' core, special interest, and associated research projects by selecting search criteria.

Selected Activities 2004-2009

Assist National and Regional Initiatives

• Evidence-Based Disease Prevention Grants Program funded by the Administration on Aging and administered by the National Council on Aging (NCOA)
• Health Foundation of South Florida Healthy Aging Collaborative

Secure Funding for New Initiatives

• Environmental correlates of physical activity among older adults (funded by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)
• Attitudes and perceptions related to brain health (funded by CDC)
• Evidence-based review series on depression and emotional health and well being for older adults (funded by CDC and National Association of Chronic Disease Directors)
• Web-based provider training modules for evidence-based health promotion (funded by NCOA and RWJF)
• Research to practice symposia series on: physical activity (2007), depression (2008), and environmental determinants of health and healthy aging (2009) (funded by CDC)

Deliver Tools, Trainings, and Dissemination

• Developed, refined, and applied environmental assessment tools
• Supported development and national dissemination of a tailored directory of community-based physical activity programs for older adults – Active Options for Aging Americans
• Developed Web-based training materials, articles, and briefs on evidence-based health promotion for the community services sector
• Disseminated research findings and learnings through peer-reviewed publications and presentations
• Coordinated special issues related to evidence-based health promotion and brain health for older adults for the Journal of Applied Gerontology, Preventing Chronic Disease, Alzheimer’s and Dementia, and The Gerontologist
• Contributed to the development of the National Public Health Road Map to Maintaining Cognitive Health