December 11, 2025

NEAR Partners with Spanish Seniors-Enrica study

As aging is a global phenomenon with challenges that transcend borders, NEAR views building strong international partnerships with similar research networks and studies as essential. Thus, we’re happy to announce our new partnership with the Spanish Seniors-Enrica study.

What is Seniors-Enrica?
Seniors-Enrica is a national study on nutrition and cardiovascular risk factors, featuring two cohorts: one representing the whole of Spain and another focused on the Madrid region. The Principal Investigator is Fernando Rodríguez Artalejo, and this multipurpose cohort aims to explore how lifestyle factors influence healthy aging in older adults. Key areas of focus include diet, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and alcohol consumption patterns. On the outcomes side, the study emphasizes health-related quality of life, frailty syndrome, and physical functioning. Launched in 2008–2010 with 2,614 non-institutionalized individuals aged 60 and older, Seniors-Enrica-1 (the national cohort) has conducted follow-ups in 2012, 2015, and 2017, making it a rich longitudinal resource. Regarding Seniors-ENRICA-2, it included 3,276 non-institutionalized individuals aged 65 and older recruited in Madrid in 2015-2017, with follow-ups in 2019 and 2022. Both cohorts collect data using the same questionnaires and physical examinations, though Seniors-ENRICA-2 gathers data on additional variables.

The Seniors-Enrica group: Fernando Rodríguez Artalejo, Álvaro Santos, Juanjo de la Cruz, Auxi Graciani, Esther G. Esquinas, Rosario Ortolá, David Martínez, Merche Sotos, David Gómez, Carmen Aznar, and Mercedes G. Cao. Photo: María Sagarruy.

“By partnering internationally, NEAR can promote the use of diverse cohorts of European studies, enabling more robust and generalizable findings. Combining different studies and perspectives leads to breakthroughs that isolated efforts cannot achieve. By fostering strong ties with similar networks and studies worldwide, NEAR strengthens its role as a leading hub for supporting cutting-edge aging research and policy impact”, says NEAR Director Debora Rizzuto.

Read more about Seniors-Enrica.