Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging
The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is a large, national, long-term study that will follow approximately 50,000 men and women between the ages of 45 and 85 for at least 20 years. The study aims to collect information on the changing biological, medical, psychological, social, lifestyle and economic aspects of people’s lives. These factors will be studied in order to understand aging as a dynamic process and the interrelationship among intrinsic and extrinsic factors from mid life to older age.
Overview
- Acronym
- CLSA
- Website
- CLSA
- Investigators
-
- Contacts
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General Design
- Study design
- Cohort
- Start - End Year
- 2011 -
- General Information on Follow Up (profile, frequency)
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First-follow-up was in 2015-2018 and the second one in 2018-2021. Each participant is re-contacted every 3 years and will be followed for at least 20 years or until death.
- Recruitment Target
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- Individuals
- Number of Participants
- 51,338
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 30,000
Access
Availability of data and biosamples
| Possible Access to Data | |
| Possible Access to Biosamples | |
| Other |
|
- By contacting the study representative: Data Access Inquiries
Marker Paper
Raina PS, Wolfson C, Kirkland SA, et al. The Canadian longitudinal study on aging (CLSA). Can J Aging, 2009. 28(3): p. 221-9.
PUBMED 19860977Supplementary Information
Timeline
Populations
This population is composed of a representative sample of Canadians aged 45 to 85 years who consented to a telephone interview.
Selection Criteria
- Minimum age
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45
- Maximum age
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85
- Countries
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- Canada
- Territory
- Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan
- Other Criteria
-
Inclusion: Individuals who are able to respond in either French or English, and able to give consent.
Exclusion (same exclusion criteria as the Statistics Canada Canadian Community Health Survey – Healthy Aging):- Residents of the three territories
- Full-time members of the Canadian Forces
- Individuals living in long-term care institutions (i.e., those providing 24-hour nursing care). However, those living in households and transitional housing arrangements (e.g., seniors’ residences, in which only minimal care is provided) will be included. CLSA cohort participants who become institutionalized during the course of the study will continue to be followed either through personal or proxy interview.
- Persons living on reserves and other Indigenous settlements. However, individuals who are of First Nations, Metis and Inuit descent who live outside reserves are included in the study.
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Sources of Recruitment
- General Population
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- Random digit dialing
- Specific Population
-
- Other specific population : Provincial registries
- Participants from Existing Studies
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- Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) - Healthy Aging
- Supplementary Information
-
The Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) cycle 4.2 was used as the recruitment vehicle for the telephone interview cohort.
Sample Size
- Number of Participants
- 21,241
Data Collection Events
| # | Name | Description | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | CLSA - Tracking - Baseline | Information about health, medical history, work or retirement activities and social ... | 2011 | 2014 |
| 1 | CLSA - Tracking - Follow-up 1 | Information about health, medical history, work or retirement activities and social ... | 2015 | 2018 |
| 2 | CLSA - Tracking - Follow-up 2 | Information about health, medical history, work or retirement activities and social ... | 2018 | Ongoing |
| 3 | CLSA - Tracking - COVID-19 Antibody | Blood samples were collected and analyzed for the presence of COVID-19 antibodies and ... | 2020 | 2021 |
| 4 | CLSA - Tracking - COVID-19 Questionnaire | Information on COVID symptoms and status, risk factors, healthcare use, health ... | 2020 | 2020 |
This population is composed of a random sample of Canadians aged 45 to 85 years who consented to an in-home interview and a physical examination component.
Selection Criteria
- Minimum age
-
45
- Maximum age
-
85
- Countries
-
- Canada
- Territory
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Vancouver, Victoria, Surrey, Calgary, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Ottawa, Montréal, Sherbrooke, Halifax, and St. John’s
- Other Criteria
-
Inclusion: Individuals who are able to respond in either French or English, and able to give consent.
Exclusion (same exclusion criteria as the Statistics Canada Canadian Community Health Survey – Healthy Aging):- Residents of the three territories
- Full-time members of the Canadian Forces
- Individuals living in long-term care institutions (i.e., those providing 24-hour nursing care). However, those living in households and transitional housing arrangements (e.g., seniors’ residences, in which only minimal care is provided) will be included. CLSA cohort participants who become institutionalized during the course of the study will continue to be followed either through personal or proxy interview.
- Persons living on reserves and other Indigenous settlements. However, individuals who are of First Nations, Metis and Inuit descent who live outside reserves are included in the study.
-
Sources of Recruitment
- General Population
-
- Selected sample
- Random digit dialing
- Specific Population
-
- Other specific population : Provincial registries
- Supplementary Information
-
Provincial health registration databases were used for recruitment of the comprehensive cohort. Individuals residing within a 25-50 kilometer radius of the 11 Data collection sites (Vancouver, Victoria, Surrey, Calgary, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Ottawa, Montreal, Sherbrooke, Halifax, and St. John’s) were also recruited.
Sample Size
- Number of Participants
- 30,097
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 30,000
Data Collection Events
| # | Name | Description | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | CLSA - Comprehensive - Baseline | There are two main ways data is collected in CLSA Comprehensive: first, through an ... | 2012 | 2015 |
| 1 | CLSA - Comprehensive - Follow-up 1 | There are two main ways data is collected in CLSA Comprehensive: first, through an ... | 2015 | 2018 |
| 2 | CLSA - Comprehensive - Follow-up 2 | There are two main ways data is collected in CLSA Comprehensive: first, through an ... | 2018 | Ongoing |
| 3 | CLSA - Comprehensive - COVID-19 Antibody | Blood samples were collected and analyzed for the presence of COVID-19 antibodies and ... | 2020 | 2021 |
| 4 | CLSA - Comprehensive - COVID-19 Questionnaire | Information on COVID symptoms and status, risk factors, healthcare use, health ... | 2020 | 2020 |
| 5 | CLSA - Comprehensive - COVID-19 Brain health | Repeated cognitive testing and brain scans were performed in order to measure possible ... | 2021 | 2021 |
Participating Studies
| Acronym | Name | Study design | Countries |
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Harmonization Initiatives Included
| Acronym | Name |
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Networks
| Acronym | Name | Harmonization Initiatives | Individual Studies |
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Datasets
| Name | Data Collection Events | Variables |
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