Definition of National Institute on Aging (NIA)

National Institute on Aging (NIA): One of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). The mission of the National Institute on Aging is to "lead a national program of research on the biomedical, social, and behavioral aspects of the aging process; the prevention of age-related diseases and disabilities; and the promotion of a better quality of life for all older Americans."

The National Institute on Aging was founded in 1974. It is one of two institutes of the NIH based on life stages. The other is the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).