NuAge is a unique cohort of elderly subjects, distinctive by the quality, diversity and complementarity of the data and biological samples made available to the scientific community to conduct multiple secondary research projects. This cohort took form between November 2003 and June 2008 as part of the Quebec Longitudinal Study on Nutrition and Successful Aging (NuAge Study), funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR; $3.8M) and supported for more than 10 years by the Réseau québécois de recherche sur le vieillissement (RQRV) [Quebec Network for Research on Aging]. In brief, 1,793 healthy men and women between 67 and 84 years of age, living in the regions of Montreal, Laval and Sherbrooke (Province of Quebec, Canada), were recruited in the NuAge cohort. More than 1,000 variables were collected annually for 4 years, totaling 3 years of follow-up. These variables include data about lifestyle habits, socioeconomic status, social participation, overall health, body composition, physical capabilities, functional autonomy, cognitive and mental health, medication, and use of supplements and natural products. The annual collection of fasting blood (serum, plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells), urine and saliva samples, currently stored in a computerized biobank, complement these data.

In 2018-2019, a major project was completed to define a new management framework and proceed with the migration of the data and biological samples of 1,753 of the 1,793 (98%) participants of the NuAge cohort into a research bank officially registered under the name " NuAge Database and Biobank ". This status ensures that the infrastructure complies with the ethical and legislative requirements effective in Quebec regarding research banks.