English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

The primary objective of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) is to collect longitudinal multidisciplinary data from a representative sample of the English population aged 50 and older. It began in 2002 and recruited over 12,000 people.

The study collects both objective and subjective data relating to health and disability, biological markers of disease, economic circumstance, social participation, networks and well-being. ELSA aims to measure outcomes across a wide range of domains and to provide high-quality multidisciplinary data that can shed light on the causes and consequences of outcomes of interest.

There have been seven sweeps of data collection 2002-03, 2004-05, 2006-07, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2012-2013, 2014-2015 and an eighth sweep (2016-2017) is currently underway.

The survey data are designed to be used for the investigation of a broad set of topics relevant to understanding the ageing process. These include:

  • health trajectories, disability and healthy life expectancy;
  • the determinants of economic position in older age;
  • the links between economic position, physical health, cognition and mental health;
  • the nature and timing of retirement and post-retirement labour market activity;
  • household and family structure, social networks and social supports;
  • patterns, determinants and consequences of social, civic and cultural participation;
  • predictors of well-being.

ELSA is part of the Dementias Platform UK (DPUK), a multi-million pound public-private partnership to accelerate progress in dementias research.

Last update: 13/01/2017

Types General population-based cohort
Participant Types No diagnosis
Countries United Kingdom
Genders Male and Female
Sample sizes 10,000 to 19,999
Ages 40 to 59|60 to 100
Brain related measures Cognitive function|Mental health|Neurological
Funtional rating Individual physiological|Individual psychological
Anthropometric Blood pressure|Height|Waist circumference|Weight
Physical Cardiovascular|Hearing and Vision|Musculoskeletal|Reproductive|Respiratory
Biological samples Blood|Other|Saliva
Genotyping
Brain imaging
Brain banking
Lifestyle Alcohol|Dietary habits|Physical activity|Smoking
Socio-economic Education|Ethnic group|Marital status|Occupation and employment
Health service utilisation
Institute names University College, London
Current Sample Sizes 10,000 to 19,999

age at recruitment >50
last updated
recruitment period 2002-03
estimated current sample size number value 10317
cohort acronym ELSA
start date 2002-03
pi Professor Andrew Steptoe
website http://www.ifs.org.uk/ELSA
contact details Nina Rogers
ELSA Project Manager
Dept. of Epidemiology & Public Health
University College London
1-19 Torrington Place
London
WC1E 6BT
abstract  ELSA is a Longitudinal cohort study which recruited 12,000 participants over 50 in 2002. Its aim is to provide high quality multidisciplinary data that can shed light on the causes and consequences of outcomes of interest.
funders  UK Government Consortium (Department for Communities and Local Government, Department for Transport, Department for Work and Pensions, HM Revenue and Customs, Office for National Statistics, Department of Health, Office for National Statistics)
ESRC
National Institute on Aging (NIH)
contact email [email protected]
contact phone number +44 (0)20 7679 1656
estimated current sample size 10,000 to 19,999
sample sizes 12099

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