About Us
NuAge Database and Biobank
NuAge is a globally unique cohort of older adults, distinguished by the quality, diversity, and complementarity of its data and biological samples, which are made available to the scientific community for a wide range of secondary research projects. The content of the NuAge Data Banks originates from the Quebec Longitudinal Study on Nutrition and Successful Aging (NuAge Study) The NuAge cohort is composed of 1,793 generally healthy older adults, aged 67 to 84 at the time of recruitment (between November 2003 and June 2005), from Montréal, Laval, and Sherbrooke in the province of Québec, Canada. Participants were followed annually for three years through a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The study initially collected, on an annual basis, a comprehensive set of clinical, anthropometric, nutritional, functional, and social measures, along with biological samples from 1,657 participants. Since 2006, additional research grants and the establishment of partnerships have enabled the collection of new clinical, biochemical, functional, and social data from selected NuAge participants (e.g., via phone interviews, home visits, or assessments at research centers), as well as the analysis of biological samples, including genotyping. Plans are also in place to make medico-administrative data available through the access portal of the Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ), for participants who have consented to this type of analysis and authorized access to their information.
In 2019, a major initiative was completed to establish a new governance framework and to migrate the data and biological samples of 1,753 out of 1,793 participants (98%) from the NuAge cohort into an officially registered research bank under the name " NuAge Database and Biobank ". In 2019, a major initiative was completed to establish a new governance framework and to migrate the data and biological samples of 1,753 out of 1,793 participants (98%) from the NuAge cohort into an officially registered research bank under the name of the NuAge Data Banks. This status ensures that the infrastructure complies with current ethical and legal requirements in Québec regarding research banks. The trustee of the Data Bank is the Research Centre on Aging (CdRV) of the CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS, while the biobank trustee is the Research Centre of the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM).
Since 2019, the maintenance and management of data and biological samples have been funded by the Québec Network for Research on Aging (RQRV), itself supported by the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS), by the Merck-Frosst Chair of the Université de Sherbrooke Foundation, and by the Intersectoral Research Funding Platform on Aging – Cohort Component of the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ; 2019–2026; 2026–2030).
Mission
- To maintain, enhance, and promote the use of cutting-edge research infrastructure in the field of aging;
- To enable the sharing of high-quality multidimensional data and biological samples with the scientific community;
- To characterize the heterogeneity of aging trajectories and their determinants, taking into account the nutritional, biological, social, behavioral, and environmental factors that influence them;
- Advancing the health and quality of life of older adults by studying risk factors, resilience mechanisms, and intergenerational transmission processes..
The NuAge Database and Biobank have begun preparations for a final follow-up with approximately 350 participants from the original cohort who are still alive, autonomous, and aged 87 and older. These older adults, rigorously assessed in terms of nutrition, clinical health, cognition, and functional abilities, will be visited at home thanks to a specially equipped Mobile Unit designed for research outside traditional research centers. This data collection will deepen our understanding of longevity trajectories. Upcoming scientific activities also include the integration of a new cohort composed of approximately 600 first-generation children of living or deceased participants. This will allow for the study of the respective influences of hereditary, social, and environmental factors on aging. This transgenerational component, which is rare on an international scale, paves the way for innovative research on the intergenerational transmission of health and vulnerability. Finally, sustained efforts will be made to facilitate access to data and biological samples through secure digital environments and automated extraction tools. This modernization aims to expand the use of the NuAge Database and Biobank, foster partnerships with other major Quebec and international cohorts, and strengthen their scientific and societal impact.
In sum, NuAge stands out as a vital platform for informing public policy, tailoring care to the real needs of older adults, and supporting aging research in Quebec and around the world.
Evolution of Secondary Study Projects and Outcomes
- 106 scientific articles have been published using data from the NuAge cohort
- 237 scientific presentations (oral, poster, and invited) have been delivered using data from the NuAge cohort
- 155 students and trainees have used NuAge data or biological samples as part of their academic training
- 52 doctoral students have used the NuAge cohort for their thesis or research project as part of their degree requirements
- $7.1 million in research and operational grants has been awarded to support the NuAge Study and the NuAge Data Banks
- 65 institutional and media communications have featured the NuAge Data Banks and their secondary projects
- 19 secondary research projects are underway using the NuAge cohort