Principal Investigators


Miss Joanna Lake

Institution


Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

Contact information of lead PI


Country


United Kingdom

Title of project or programme


English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA)

Source of funding information


NIHR (PRP projects (RDD: June 1993-July 2007))

Total sum awarded (Euro)


€ 8,911,875

Start date of award


01/12/2000

Total duration of award in years


17.3

The project/programme is most relevant to:


Alzheimer's disease & other dementias

Keywords


Research Abstract


This is a longitudinal study of ageing. Data will be collected by following up respondents to the 1998, 2000, and 2001 Health Surveys for England (HSE) making it very cost-effective. The first round of the study will interview a representative sample of 13,000 English people aged 50 years or more in 2001/2. The primary objective is to collect longitudinal data that will provide a crucial resource for exploring issues related to ageing and enable a better understanding of the dynamics of ageing and the implications for policy and service provision in the future.

The LSA will provide the following health and biomedical information:

* Self-reported physical health – to assess changes over time with regard to specific illnesses and general health;
* Prevalence of cardiovascular disease – as one of the most important cause of mortality and a key component in diseases related to stress which contributes to inequalities in health;
* Prevalence of particular diseases – whether and how they lead to disability;
* Cognitive processes, ageing and early stage dementia;
* Psychological health;
* Physical measurements and biological samples eg lipid profiles – to predict decrements in physical functioning such as CHD and stroke;
* Contact with primary and secondary health services and receipt of formal and informal care.

Data collected from ELSA will be deposited in the ESRC Data Archive. It’s website is www.ifs.org.uk/index.shtml.

Aims
HISTORIC PROJECT – Entire abstract transferred from the previous database into the [Scientific summary background] field of this database.

Plan of Investigation
HISTORIC PROJECT – Entire abstract transferred from the previous database into the [Scientific summary background] field of this database.

Potential Impact
HISTORIC PROJECT – Entire abstract transferred from the previous database into the [Scientific summary background] field of this database.

Policy Relevance
Longitudinal panel data such as this will contribute at a number of levels to the policy-making of various government departments.

Lay Summary


Further information available at:

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