The Filipino older person enjoying a healthy body, mind and spirit, being treated with dignity, and valued as a productive member of society, in a dynamic process unique to oneself, and beginning a life of unlimited possibilities.

The Institute on Aging, UP National Institutes of Health, is a nationally recognized leader in the promotion of healthy aging and wellbeing through research, capacity building, and policy development by 2028. 

The Institute on Aging of the UP-NIH serves the older persons through inclusive, cutting-edge, science and evidence-based, interdisciplinary, and innovative research, training, services, policies, developing programs and advocacies towards quality of life for all. 

We will efficiently and ethically manage our resources in order to sustain and develop our people and programs. We are a nurturing and compassionate network of experts and esteemed professionals that develop socially responsible scientists, educators, and clinicians for the aging Filipinos and the global community. 

• Guide policy makers in the enactment of health laws, policies and guidelines which improve delivery of quality health programs for older persons. 
• Contribute to the enhancement of medical knowledge on aging and geriatrics and improve the practices of health care professionals. 
• Implement research on essential national health issues and concerns on aging. 
• Lead in the formulation of national health research agenda on aging. 
• Disseminate information on healthy and active aging to the general public.

• EU Project DREAM Research Innovation and Staff Exchange (RISE), EU Horizon research and innovation program under the Marie Skodowska-Curie grant agreement No 690962.

  • Aging and Technology Exchange Program (01 February 2016 to 31 January 2019) in partnership with University of Trento-Italy
  • Role: Senior Researcher and Faculty-in-charge (Philippines)
  • Projects: 
    • Identifying stressors in caregiving and information about care recipients that could affect their state of mind
    • Friendship in Old Age; Predicting Social Connectedness between Senior based on their Emotional Responses to Pictures
    • Designing a Digital Geriatric Assessment Tool with the Human at the Center
    • Evaluation of the Chatbot Automated Medical History Taking System 
    • Promoting Awareness of and Access to Online Volunteering Tasks to Maintain Productivity and Self-Worth among Retired Teachers in the University of the Philippines: A Pilot Test
• WHO To develop technical resources to support health promotion among older adults living with dementia during COVID-19. 2020-2021
• WHO Philippine Geriatric Training and Coaching Modules for DOH Hospitals and Primary Care units 2018-2019
  • Conducted a blended pilot testing and training (Moodle online platform and On-site Lectures and Demo) participated by the various tertiary and primary health care providers in Region 1 (La Union), Region 5 (Bicol), Region VII (Cebu City), and Region XI (Davao City). February 17-28, 2019
  • Culminating training of trainers workshop for Primary health care and tertiary facility providers from ALL REGIONS held at the Tiara Hotel Makati. July 11-13, 2019
• WHO WPRO Dementia mhGAP and Community Toolkit Continuing Phase 2018-2019.
• WHO WPRO Dementia mhGAP and Community Toolkit Field Test 2017-2018.
  • Project components:
    • Development of training materials using the WHO mhGAP for Dementia and Community Toolkit
    • Development of a faculty roster of Core and Master Trainers
    • Training of Community Trainers
    • Situational analysis
    • Generation of priority policies
    • Stakeholder meetings
    • Strengthening support and service Delivery
• WHO Beta-testing of AGATHA in the Philippines. 2021
• Status of Dementia Care and Workforce in the Philippines (DOH Funding), 
• NIH Policy Baselines for Allied Medical Professions (with the Inst of Health Policy NIH), 
• Status of Gerontology Education in Philippine Medical and Nursing Schools (NIH funding), 
• Status of Dementia Care and Workforce in the Philippines (DOH Funding), 
• State of the Art on Researches on Aging in the Philippines (PCHRD Funding), 
• Quality of Life and Healthcare Needs of ICM Sisters
• Cultural Validation of the WHOQOL-BREF in Community-dwelling Filipino Older Persons (UP Manila Journal 2013 December)
• Updating the Philippine Guidelines on Periodic Health Examination: Phase 2. 2021-2022
• DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute Projects.
  • Project 1: Relationship of body composition to the functional capacity of life of older Filipinos in selected provinces in the Philippines. 2021-2022
  • Project 2: Healthy aging program for pinoy senior citizens phase II: Nutritional status and its association with functional capacity and Quality of older Filipinos in the National Capital Region. 2021-2022
• The University of the Philippines Wellness Initiative for Seniors and Elders (UPWISE) 2017 (EIDR Funding)
• University of the Philippines Manila Wellness Initiative for Seniors and Elders (UPMWISE)
• Focused Interventions for Frail Older Adults (FITforFRAIL) Research and Development Project (DOH/PCHRD Funding)
• The effects of Sheng Zhen Qigong-Meditation on the Health and Wellness of Older People Living in a Select Barangay in the National Capital Region
• Focused InTerventions for Frail Older Adults Research and Development Program: (FITforFrail) Luzon
• Home and Long Term Care Guideline Development 

• De la Vega S. (2002). Acute Confusion (book chapter). In Ratnaike, R. N. (2002). Practical guide to geriatric medicine. McGraw-Hill.
• De la Vega, SF (2002). Patterns of Morbidity and Health Utilization among Older Filipino Women. In Reyes D (Ed) (2002). Women’s Issues in Medical Practice. University of the Philippines Center for Women’s Studies/Ford Foundation.
• Department of Health. (2002). Baseline Surveys for the National Objectives of Health-Chapter on Older Persons. NIH, and all National Regions, including NCR (nationwide survey). 
• De la Vega S, Orteza, Martinez. (2005). Methodology and Diagnosis (book chapter). In the Alzheimer's Disease Association of the Philippines. (2005) 1st ed. Recommendations on the Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease.
• De la Vega, Shelley F (Ed.). (2006). Maximizing the Quality of Life of the Elderly Through Better Health. National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines, Manila, Philippines, 112 pp.
• Balabagno, A. O., & Manahan, L. T. (contributors) (2006). Care of the older person: Implication to nursing education and practice. In S. F. De la Vega (Ed.), Maximizing the quality of life of the elderly through better health (pp. 31–36). National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines.
• On Target Investigators. Randomized Trial of Telmisartan Alone and in Combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial: “ON TARGET”. New England Journal of Medicine, 358;15 March 2008 Role: Co-Investigator
• Telmisartan Randomised AssessmeNt Study in ACE iNtolerant subjects with cardiovascular Disease (TRANSCEND) Investigators, Yusuf, S., Teo, K., Anderson, C., Pogue, J., Dyal, L., Copland, I., Schumacher, H., Dagenais, G., & Sleight, P. (2008). Effects of the angiotensin-receptor blocker telmisartan on cardiovascular events in high-risk patients intolerant to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet (London, England), 372(9644), 1174–1183. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(08)61242-8
• De la Vega, SF. (2009). Policies on Healthcare of Older Persons: Implications to Internal Medicine Training and Practice. Philippine Journal of Internal Medicine. 47 (4), pp XIII-XVII. Accessible from https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qS0KBY-mgRsc8jOWRC49T6wtjMqbzSab/view
• De la Vega, SF. (2009). Active Aging and the Filipino Older Person. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science and Technology 31st Annual Scientific Meeting: "Active Aging: Preparing for Quality Life".
• Hypertension in the Elderly Guidelines. Compendium of Philippine Medicine 2012. Hypertension_in_the_Elderly_CPG_PCGM.pdf (https://adcp.up.edu.ph/form/download/2_1/A/2/14/2) 
• De  la  Vega  SF. (2013).  Cultural  Validation  of  the  WHOQOL-BREF  in  ambulatory  community-dwelling  Filipino  older  persons.  Philippine Journal of Health Research and Development. 17 (1): 8-25
• Vos, T., Barber, R. M., Bell, B., Bertozzi-Villa, A., Biryukov, S., Bolliger, I., Charlson, F., Davis, A., Degenhardt, L., Dicker, D., Duan, L., Erskine, H., Feigin, V. L., Ferrari, A. J., Fitzmaurice, C., Fleming, T., Graetz, N., Guinovart, C., Haagsma, J., . . . Atkinson, C. (2015). Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 301 acute and chronic diseases and injuries in 188 countries, 1990–2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. Lancet, 386(9995), 743–800. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(15)60692-4
• De la Vega S, Orteza, Ledesma. (2015). Diagnosis (book chapter). In the Alzheimer's Disease Association of the Philippines. (2015) 2nd ed. Recommendations on the Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease.
• De la Vega S, Orteza, Martinez. (2015). Background and Methodology (book chapter). In the Alzheimer's Disease Association of the Philippines. (2015) 2nd ed. Recommendations on the Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease.
• Dent, E., Lien, C., Lim, W. S., Wong, W. C., Wong, C. H., Ng, T. P., Woo, J., Dong, B., De La Vega, S., Hua Poi, P. J., Kamaruzzaman, S. B. B., Won, C., Chen, L.-K., Rockwood, K., Arai, H., Rodriguez-Mañas, L., Cao, L., Cesari, M., Chan, P., … Flicker, L. (2017). The Asia-Pacific Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Frailty. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 18(7), 564–575. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2017.04.018
• Dela Vega, S. F., Cordero, C. P., Palapar, L. A., Garcia, A. P., & Agapito, J. D. (2018). Mixed-methods research revealed the need for dementia services and Human Resource Master Plan in an aging Philippines. Journal of clinical epidemiology, 102, 115–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2018.06.010
• Vinluan, RM., & De la Vega, SF. (Eds.). (2020). Geriatric Training for Primary Health Service Providers: Facilitator’s Manual. Department of Health. 
• Castillo-Carandang, N., A. Abrigo, G. N., S. Visco, E., F. de la Vega, S. A., S. Villanueva, L. A., L. Ocampo, L. A., & C. del Mundo, M. D. (2020). Aging, Resilience and Vulnerability of Selected Faculty and Staff (55 years old and above) in an Academic Community in the Philippines. Acta Medica Philippina, 54(5) 2020. https://doi.org/10.47895/amp.v54i5.343
• Guia C. Tan, S De la Vega, Peter Pojol, A et.al. Palma-Angeles, Task force Ethics Guidelines Covid-19 Philippines 2020. (2020). Ethical Guidelines for Leaders in Health Care Institutions during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Philippine Journal of Internal Medicine: Special Article. Vol. 58. no. 1. pp III-VII. Accessible from https://pcp.org.ph/images/PJIM/2020/1stQ/Ethical-Guidelines-for-Leaders-in-Health-Care-Institutions-during-the-Covid-19.pdf
• De la Vega, S. A. F., Ogena, N. B., Giron, M. S. T., Garcia, A. P., Pellejo, H. M., Fabito, S. J. S., & Medina III, V. O. (2021). Active Aging Health Determinants among Working and Retired Filipino Older Persons Living in an Urban Academic Campus. Acta Medica Philippina, 55(4) 2021.  https://doi.org/10.47895/amp.vi0.2752
• Laude, T.-M. P., Merca, E. E., Torres, R. V., Torres, G. J. R., de la Vega, S. A. F., Garcia, A. P., & Fabito, S. J. S. (2021). A Descriptive Study of the Nutritional and Frailty Status of Working and Retired Employees within an Academic Community in the Philippines. Acta Medica Philippina, 55(7) 2021. https://doi.org/10.47895/amp.vi0.2830
• De la Vega, S., J.A.A. Perez III and L.G.E.S. Borja (2021), ‘The Philippine Health and Care Workforce in and Ageing World’, in Komazawa, O. and Y. Saito (eds.), Coping with Rapid Population Ageing in Asia. Jakarta: ERIA, pp.96-101. 
• Siongco, K. L. L., Nakamura, K., Seino, K., Moncatar, T. R. T., Tejero, L. M. S., De La Vega, S. A. F., Bonito, S. R., Javier, R., Tsutsui, T., Tashiro, Y., Al-Sobaihi, S., Lorenzo, F. M. E., & Canila, C. C. (2021). Improving Community Health Workers’ Attitudes toward Collaborative Practice in the Care of Older Adults: An In-Service Training Intervention Trial in the Philippines. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(19), 9986. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18199986
• Nakamura, K., Siongco, K. L. L., Moncatar, T. R. T., Tejero, L. M. S., De La Vega, S. A. F., Bonito, S. R., Javier, R., Tsutsui, T., Tri Han, T. D., Vo, M. T. H., Tashiro, Y., Al-Sobaihi, S., Seino, K., Van Vo, T., Lorenzo, F. M. E., & Canila, C. C. (2022). In-service training programme for health and social care workers in the Philippines to strengthen interprofessional collaboration in caring for older adults: a mixed-methods study. Health Research Policy and Systems, 20(S1), 111. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-022-00914-2
• Garcia, A. P., de la Vega, S. A. F., Giron, M. S. T., & Fabito, S. J. S. (2022). Visual and Hearing Impairments among Working and Retired Employees with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Two Academic Communities in the Philippines. Acta Medica Philippina, 56(3) 2022. https://doi.org/10.47895/amp.vi0.3133
• Garcia, A. P., De La Vega, S. F., & Mercado, S. P. (2022). Health Information Systems for Older Persons in Select Government Tertiary Hospitals and Health Centers in the Philippines: Cross-sectional Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 24(2), e29541. https://doi.org/10.2196/29541
• Giron, M. S., & de la Vega, S. A. (2022). Prevalence of Diabetes Among Community-Living Older Persons in the Philippines:: The FITforFrail Study. Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies, 37(2), 23–27. https://doi.org/10.15605/jafes.037.02.15
• Tabu, I. A., & Cortez, K. A. (2022). Short-term Outcomes of Patients with Fragility Hip Fractures Infected with SARS-CoV-2 Managed in a COVID-19 Referral Hospital with an Orthogeriatric Team. Acta Medica Philippina, 56(20). https://doi.org/10.47895/amp.v56i20.6670
• De la Vega S. (2023). Chapter 10 The Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment. In: Mejia A, ed. The PCP Textbook of Internal Medicine, 1st ed. Pasig City: Philippine College of Physicians; pp. 283-317 
• Garcia, M. C. U., de la Vega, S. A. F., & Yanga-Mabunga, M. S. T. (2023). Periodontal Status of Filipino Older Adults in the Focused Interventions for FRAIL Older Adults Research and Development Program (FITforFRAIL): A Cross-sectional Study. Acta Medica Philippina. https://doi.org/10.47895/amp.vi0.7630
• Felipe-Dimog, E. B., Realce Tumulak, M.- am J., Garcia, A. P., Liang, F.-W., Silao, C. L. T., Hsu, M.-T., Saragih, I. D., & Sia-ed, A. B. (2023). Caring Behavior of Filipinos toward their Elderly Family Members. Acta Medica Philippina. https://doi.org/10.47895/amp.vi0.6880
• Tabu, I. A., Araneta, K. T. S., Alpuerto, B. B., 2nd, Delgado, G. D., Lai, J. G. L., San Juan, J. A. G., Ho, A., Jr, Reyes, M. R. B., De Vera, J., Syquia, J. F. C., Manalastas, R. E. C., Tablante, A. J. C., Brabante, A. M. T., Dimayuga, C. C. D., Pacheco, D. M., Baclig, P. Y., Co, A. S. T., Yap, J. A. D., & UPM-OFFM Associate Investigators and Fragility FIRST Philippines (2023). Improving fragility hip fracture care through data: a multicentre experience from a country with an emerging economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMJ open quality, 12(Suppl 2), e002299. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjoq-2023-002299
• Tabu, I., Goh, E. L., Appelbe, D., Parsons, N., Lekamwasam, S., Lee, J. K., Amphansap, T., Pandey, D., Costa, M., & FERMAT collaborators and the Global Fragility Fracture Network Hip Fracture Audit Special Interest Group (2023). Service availability and readiness for hip fracture care in low- and middle-income countries in South and Southeast Asia. Bone & joint open, 4(9), 676–681. https://doi.org/10.1302/2633-1462.49.BJO-2023-0075.R1
• Garcia, A. P. (2024). Towards Evidence-based Care: Promoting Cognitive Well-being of Older People. Acta Medica Philippina, 58(6). https://doi.org/10.47895/amp.v58i6.10138
• Garcia, A. P., de la Vega, S. A. F., Balingbing, A. M. S., Orlino, M. A. C. D., Herber, J. M. M., & Viloria-Larin, A. L. (2024). Are Filipinos Ready for Long-term Care? A Qualitative Study on Awareness, Perspectives, and Challenges of Relevant Organizations, Community Leaders, Carers, and Older Persons in Select Sites in the Philippines. Acta Medica Philippina. https://doi.org/10.47895/amp.vi0.9778
• Issues and Challenges of Older Persons and Research and Health Facility-based Assessors in the Conduct of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment in the Philippines: A Descriptive Study. (2025). Acta Medica Philippina, 59(8). https://doi.org/10.47895/amp.vi0.10258
• E-Learning Modules for the Care of Caregivers of Older Filipinos. (2024). Acta Medica Philippina, 58(19). https://doi.org/10.47895/amp.v58i19.11986
• Tan, R. C. A., Castilla, K. K. M., Garcia, A. P., Macatangay, K. D., de la Vega, S. A. F., Serafico, M. E., Mensink, M., & de Groot, L. (2025). An overview of the healthy aging program for PinoY (HAPPY) senior citizens research: A cross-sectional study among community-dwelling older Filipinos. AIMS Public Health, 12(2), 536–556. https://doi.org/10.3934/publichealth.2025029
• Dela Vega SF, Abat ME, Garcia AP, Dimatatac BM, Reyes JP, Fortuno, EM. Philippine Clinical Practice Guidelines for Periodic Health Examination: Screening for Mental Health and Addiction. (2026). Acta Medica Philippina, 60(10). https://doi.org/10.47895/
• Balabagno AO, Dela Vega SF, Manahan LT, Abad PJ, & Candelaria A (2013). Status of Geriatric Education in Philippine Nursing Schools [Unpublished research paper]. Presented at the National Institutes of Health Foundation Anniversary 2014, Research funded by the National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila.

Dementia Toolkits 

• Technical Guidance and Review:

World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific. (2018). Dementia toolkit for community workers in low-and middle-income countries: guide for community- based management and care of people with dementia. Manila, Philippines.License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. Accessible from https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789290618447

• World Health Organization Philippines (2022). Dementia toolkit for community workers in low-and middle-income countries: guide for community-based management and care of people with dementia (Toolkit Para sa Komunidad: Gabay na Tutulong sa Komunidad sa Pag-asikaso at Pangangalaga sa mga may Demensya). Accessible from https://www.healthyaging.ph/static/files/WHO%20DementiaToolkit_Filipino_June10_2022.pdf

[YouTube link: https://tinyurl.com/InstionAging]

PHEX Guidelines 

• De la Vega, SF. (2003). Recommendations for Thyroid Screening. In the Department of Health (2003). Periodic Health Examination (PHEX), PHILCLEN.
• Department of Health (2022). Philippine Guidelines on Periodic Health Examination (PHEX II): Screening for Mental Health and Addiction. Accessible from https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Nq-QO0UYMh0MiLWeKmO8CSdcuZyFdlbg/view 

Policy Briefs 

• COVID-19 in the Decade of Healthy Aging: A Call to Address the Needs of Filipino Older Persons
• Strengthen National Geriatric Program for Filipinos in the Decade of Healthy Aging 
• A Call to Strengthen the Dementia Awareness and Friendliness and Risk Reduction in the Western Pacific Region 
• University of the Philippines: A University for All Ages 
• A Call for the Integration of Health Information Systems for Older Persons in the Philippines 
• Mandatory Inclusion of Geriatric Competencies in the Training of Health and Care Professionals in the Philippines. 
• Nutritional Intervention to prevent declines in Physical and emotional Well-being among Filipino Older Persons 
• State of Vaccination among Filipino Older Persons: A Call to Action 
• Mental Health Matters: The Need for Mental Health Services for Older persons at the Barangay Level
• The Need for a Regular Community-based Exercise Program for Older Filipinos 
• Implement the Community Eye Health Program for Older Persons to Reduce Visual Problems, Falls, and Frailty 

https://nih-dev.telehealth.ph/institute/institute-on-aging

https://www.healthyaging.ph