Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) Surveys

Harmonized data to enable cross-national comparisons of cognitive aging and dementia

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Data availableData currently being collected or processedData collection planned

There are a number of steps between data collection and the release of harmonized data that are crucial to enable meaningful cross-country research. Please click below to learn more about the methods specific to each one of these processes.

Recommendations for cross-country comparisons

(Adapted from Kobayashi LC, Jones RN, Briceño EM, Rentería MA, Zhang Y, Meijer E, Langa KM, Lee J, Gross AL. Cross-national comparisons of later-life cognitive function using data from the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP): Considerations and recommended best practices. Alzheimers Dement. 2024 Mar;20(3):2273-2281. doi: 10.1002/alz.13694. PMID: 38284801; PMCID: PMC10984496)

Theoretical considerations:

Carefully consider the purpose of the comparative research question.
Incorporate knowledge of relevant social, cultural, economic, political, and historical contextual factors of the countries under study.

Methodological considerations:

Ensure the primary exposure variable can be harmonized.
Ensure data on desired model covariates are available for all countries under study.
Choose the most appropriate modeling strategy for the research question and data.

Additional methodological details available here