Genetic Data

With financial support from the National Institute of Health's (NIH) Director's Opportunity for Research awards using American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds (RC2 AG036495-01, RC4 AG039029-01), the HRS has genotyped almost 20,000 respondents who provided DNA samples and signed consent forms in 2006-2012.

The addition of genetic data provides a major new dimension for the study and is expected to result in much deeper insights into how we age," said Richard Hodes, director of the National Institute on Aging. "With detailed information on genetic background, combined with the wealth of data on important aspects of the lives of older people, researchers will be better able to describe the spectrum of behavioral and environmental risk factors for disease and disability, as well as those that may protect our health."

Several genetic data products derived from these samples are available. Data are distributed through the NCBI Database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGaP), the National Institute on Aging Genetics of Alzheimer’s Disease Data Storage Site (NIAGADS), and through the HRS web site.

Available from dbGaP

Available from NIAGADS

Available from HRS

Video Tutorials

Two video tutorials provide an overview of HRS Genetic Data and the application/download process:

Training

Genomics for Social Scientists

A one-week genomic data workshop focused on providing hands-on training for researchers working at the intersection of genetics and social science research, using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) as a model. View workshop website

Additional Information