Northern Ireland Cohort Longitudinal Study of Ageing

The Northern Ireland Cohort for the Longitudinal Study of Ageing (NICOLA) is a large-scale, public health study involving a representative sample of men and women aged 50 years and over living in Northern Ireland.

The primary objective of NICOLA is to collect longitudinal multidisciplinary data across a wide range of domains to be used for investigation and research relevant to ageing and making Northern Ireland a better place to grow old in.

NICOLA collects extensive information on all aspects of health, social and economic circumstances of ~8500 men and women as they grow older in Northern Ireland over a series of data collection waves approximately every 2-3 years.

Longer term research goals will investigate the determinants of retirement behaviour and economic wellbeing, the impact of cognitive function and sensory disability on decision making, the determinants of disability trajectories, the influence of social participation on these and the interaction of genetic, biological and psychosocial determinants on health and mortality.

There has been one sweep of data collection (2013 – 2016) and a second is currently underway (2017 – )

Types General population-based cohort
Participant Types No diagnosis
Countries United Kingdom
Genders Male and Female
Sample sizes 5,000 to 9,999
Ages 40 to 59|60 to 100
Brain related measures
Funtional rating Individual psychological
Anthropometric Blood pressure|Height|Hip circumference|Waist circumference|Weight
Physical Cardiovascular|Hearing and Vision|Respiratory
Biological samples Blood|Urine
Genotyping Gene screening
Brain imaging
Brain banking
Lifestyle Alcohol|Dietary habits|Physical activity|Smoking
Socio-economic Education|Ethnic group|Family circumstances|Housing and accommodation|Income and finances|Informal support|Marital status|Occupation and employment|Unpaid care
Health service utilisation
Institute names Queens University Belfast
Current Sample Sizes 5,000 to 9,999

age at recruitment >50
last updated
recruitment period 2013 – present
estimated current sample size number value 8,504
cohort acronym NICOLA
start date 2013 – present
pi Frank Kee
website http://nicola.qub.ac.uk/
contact details NICOLA study
Centre for Public Health
Queens University Belfast
Institute of Clinical Sciences Block B
Grosvenor Road
Belfast, BT12 6BJ
abstract  The Northern Ireland Cohort for the Longitudinal Study of Ageing (NICOLA) is a large-scale, public health study involving a representative sample of men and women aged 50 years and over living in Northern Ireland. NICOLA has recruited 8, 504 participants.
funders  Atlantic Philanthropies
Economic and Social Research Council
HSC R&D
OFMDFM (Northern Ireland Government)
MRC
IPH
COE, NI
contact email [email protected]
contact phone number 2890978926
estimated current sample size 5,000 to 9,999
sample sizes 8,500