Australian Longitudinal Study of Aging
Initiatives
-
The general purpose of the ALSA study is to gain further understanding of how social, biomedical and environmental factors are associated with age related changes in health and well-being of persons aged 70 years and over. Emphasis is given in the overall study to defining and exploring the concept of healthy, active ageing, particularly in a South Australian context. The research has a number of specific objectives. These include:
- determination of levels of health and functional status of an older population and to track the changes in these characteristics over time
- identification of factors which promote and maintain health and well-being in an ageing population
- identification of risk factors for major morbid conditions and social, behavioural and other problems among an ageing population
- analysis of the effects on transitions in health and functional status of age, gender, different patterns of co-morbidity, availability and nature of informal and formal support arrangements, social and economic circumstances, health care provision and utilisation and other variables of interest
- assessment of the effects of disease processes on functional status and the demand for health care services and both informal and formal long term care
- examination of the patterns of, the need for, and the utilisation of informal and formal sources of long-term care as they relate to social support networks, economic and housing conditions, care giving arrangements and the availability of appropriate services and
- examination of mortality outcomes in the light of changes in health and functional status, medical interventions, self-assessed health, social networks, and individual psychological characteristics
**General contact: fcas@flinders.edu.au **
- Start Year
- 1992
- Funding
- The first four ALSA waves were funded by the US National Institute on Aging (AG 08523-02). Other funding sources have included the Australian Research Council (DP0879152 and DP130100428; LP 0669272; LP 100200413; Future Fellowship FT100100228 to T.D.W.) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (Project Grants 179839; 229922; Early Career Fellowships 987100 to K.J.A. and 627033 to L.C.G.).
Visit ALSA
| Investigators | Contacts |
|---|---|
|
Design
- Study design
- Population cohort
- Follow Up
- There have been 12 waves of data collection. Wave 1 tookplace from September 1992 to March 1993. The next three waves took place 1, 2 or 3 years thereafter. Subsequent waves were approximately 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18 , 21 and 22 years after baseline.
Marker Paper
Luszcz MA, Giles LC, Anstey KJ, Browne-Yung KC, Walker RA, Windsor TD. Cohort Profile: The Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ALSA). Int J Epidemiol. 2016 Aug;45(4):1054-1063. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyu196. Epub 2014 Dec 1.
PUBMED 25468824
Recruitment
- Sources of Recruitment
-
- Individuals
- Other : Spouses
Number of participants
- Number of participants
- 2,087
- Number of participants with biosamples
Access
Availability of data and biosamples
| Data | |
| Biosamples | |
| Other |
Timeline
ALSA population
The primary sample of the older old adults (70 and older) was randomly drawn from the database of the South Australian Electoral Roll. Persons in the older age groups as well as males were deliberately over sampled to compensate for the higher mortality that could be expected over the study period. In addition, spouses of primary respondents (aged 65 and over) and other household members aged 70 and over were asked to participate.
Selection Criteria
- Minimum age
-
65
- Newborns
- Twins
- Countries
-
- Australia
- Ethnic Origin
-
- Health Status
-
Recruitment
- Sources of recruitment
-
- General population
- General Population
-
- Selected sample
Number of participants
- Number of participants
- 2,087
- Number of participants with biosamples
Data Collection Events
| # | Name | Description | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 |
ALSA Pilot Study
|
A comprehensive questionnaire, Dietary Instrument, Psychological Inventories, Clinical Assessment Battery and Laboratory studies. | 1988-02 | 1988-06 |
| 1 |
ALSA Wave 1
|
A comprehensive personal interview and assessment of neuropsychological and physiological functions was undertaken at each person's home, supplemented by self-completed questionnaires, ... | 1992-09 | 1993-03 |
| 2 |
ALSA Wave 2
|
Follow-up of participants. Short telephone interviews of about 20-30 minutes duration focussed on major intervening life events and changes in marital status, accommodation, health, and activities ... | 1993-09 | 1994-04 |
| 3 |
ALSA Wave 3
|
Follow-up of participants. Full face to face interviews and clinical assessments conducted in the participant’s place of residence. | 1994-09 | 1995-02 |
| 4 |
ALSA Wave 4
|
Follow-up of participants. Short telephone interviews of about 20-30 minutes duration focussed on major intervening life events and changes in marital status, accommodation, health, and activities ... | 1995-09 | 1996-12 |
| 5 |
ALSA Wave 5
|
Follow-up of participants. Short telephone interviews of about 20-30 minutes duration focussed on major intervening life events and changes in marital status, accommodation, health, and activities ... | 1998-02 | 1998-04 |
| 6 |
ALSA Wave 6
|
Follow-up of participants. Full face to face interviews and clinical assessments conducted in the participant’s place of residence. | 2000-09 | 2001-02 |
| 7 |
ALSA Wave 7
|
Follow-up of participants. Full face to face interviews and clinical assessments conducted in the participant’s place of residence. | 2003-09 | 2004-04 |
| 8 |
ALSA Wave 8
|
Follow-up of participants. Short telephone interviews of about 20-30 minutes duration focussed on major intervening life events and changes in marital status, accommodation, health, and activities ... | 2005-11 | 2006-03 |
| 9 |
ALSA Wave 9
|
Follow-up of participants. Full face to face interviews and clinical assessments conducted in the participant’s place of residence. | 2007-05 | 2008-07 |
| 10 |
ALSA Wave 10
|
Follow-up of participants. Short face to face interviews of about 20-30 minutes duration focussed on major intervening life events and changes in marital status, accommodation, health, and ... | 2008-11 | 2009-05 |
| 11 |
ALSA Wave 11
|
Follow-up of participants. Full face to face interviews and clinical assessments conducted in the participant’s place of residence. | 2010-05 | 2010-11 |
| 12 |
ALSA Wave 12
|
Follow-up of participants. Full face to face interviews and clinical assessments conducted in the participant’s place of residence. | 2013-03 | 2013-09 |
| 13 |
ALSA Wave 13
|
Follow-up of participants. Short face to face interviews of about 20-30 minutes duration focussed on major intervening life events and changes in marital status, accommodation, health, and ... | 2014-03 | 2014-05 |