Victoria Longitudinal Study
A 20-year prospective study, the VLS operates in two coordinated labs: the main scientific headquarters at the University of Alberta (UAlberta) and a satellite data collection lab at the University of Victoria (UVic).
The general objective of the VLS is to examine actual short- and long-term changes in (and relationships among) multiple aspects of health, functionality, cognition, and neuropsychological status in middle-aged and older adults. Accordingly, we collect comprehensive data on participants (initially aged 55-85 years; now ranging from about 63-103 years) through repeated observations at regular intervals (3-4 years). Three sequential cohorts are followed longitudinally, including VLS Sample 1 (begun in the 1980s), VLS Sample 2 (begun in the 1990s), and VLS Sample 3 (begun in the 2000s). Multiple comparison and control groups are developed as needed.
The continuing general aim of the VLS is to follow successive, large, and well-characterized cohorts of initially healthy (physically, cognitively, psychologically) middle-aged and older adults as they experience a variety of normal and pathological changes related to cognition.
The descriptive goal is to chart multiple cognitive differences and changes over selected periods (or age ranges).
The explanatory goal is to identify interrelationships, covariates, modulators, and protection/risk factors as they pertain to cognitive differences, changes, and sequelae.
The public health goal is to pursue descriptive and explanatory research not only in typical aging but in response to:
(a) changing health status of VLS participants,
(b) evolving public health concerns and priorities, and
(c) emerging issues of public and personal health relevance (e.g., diabetes and cognitive aging).
Target conditions include:
(a) healthy cognitive changes with aging (e.g., successful aging),
(b) normal cognitive decline,
(c) preclinical and neurodegenerative decline (e.g., mild cognitive impairment), and
(d) variable and differential cases and trajectories.
Overview
- Acronym
- VLS
- Website
- VLS
- Investigators
-
- Contacts
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General Design
- Study design
- Cohort
- Start - End Year
- 1986 -
- General Information on Follow Up (profile, frequency)
-
There are 3 sequential cohorts of participants (Sample 1 first tested in 1986, n=487; Sample 2 first tested in 1992, n=534; Sample 3 first tested in 2000, n=577). Longitudinal follow-up testing is conducted at three year intervals from a participant's original start date.
- Recruitment Target
-
- Individuals
- Number of Participants
- 1,598
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 705
- Supplementary Information
-
The Victoria Longitudinal Study follows a Longitudinal Sequential design. It began in the late 1980s with the first sample. The second independent sample began in the 1990s. The third independent sample began in the early 2000s. Each sample is tested repeatedly and regularly (3-4-year intervals). Thus, Sample 1 has been tested on eight different occasions (over about 24 years), Sample 2 has been tested on five different occasions (over about 15 years), and Sample 3 has been tested on three occasions (over about 8 years). Each occasion of testing involves about 12 hours of contact time (plus homework!) with each participant. All participants in the three samples are initially between the ages of 55 and 85 years. Multiple comparison groups (e.g., younger, middle-aged, special populations) of adults have been assembled. Whereas the VLS static N is about 2000, the dynamic n is about 6000.
Access
Availability of data and biosamples
| Possible Access to Data | |
| Possible Access to Biosamples | |
| Other |
|
Marker Paper
http://www.ualberta.ca/~vlslab
Supplementary Information
Biological samples are currently being processed; access to biosamples will be considered in the future.
Timeline
Populations
Selection Criteria
- Minimum age
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55
- Maximum age
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85
- Countries
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- Canada
- Canadian Provinces
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- British Columbia
- Territory
- Victoria
Sources of Recruitment
- General Population
-
- Volunteer enrolment
Sample Size
- Number of Participants
- 484
- Supplementary information about number of participants
-
Wave 1: 484 participants
Wave 2: 333 participants
Wave 3: 250 participants
Wave 4: 177 participants
Wave 5: 129 participants
Data Collection Events
| # | Name | Data sources | Data sources - Biosamples | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | VLS - Sample 1 - Wave 1 |
|
1986 | 1987 | |
| 1 | VLS - Sample 1 - Wave 2 |
|
1989 | 1990 | |
| 2 | VLS - Sample 1 - Wave 3 |
|
1992 | 1993 | |
| 3 | VLS - Sample 1 - Wave 4 |
|
1995 | 1995 | |
| 4 | VLS - Sample 1 - Wave 5 |
|
1998 | 1999 | |
| 5 | VLS - Sample 1 - Wave 6 |
|
2002 | 2003 | |
| 6 | VLS - Sample 1 - Wave 7 |
|
2005 | 2006 | |
| 7 | VLS - Sample 1 - Wave 8 |
|
2008 | 2009 |
Selection Criteria
- Minimum age
-
55
- Maximum age
-
85
- Countries
-
- Canada
- Canadian Provinces
-
- British Columbia
- Territory
- Victoria
Sources of Recruitment
- General Population
-
- Volunteer enrolment
Sample Size
- Number of Participants
- 530
- Supplementary information about number of participants
-
Wave 1: 530 participants
Wave 2: 405 participants
Wave 3: 336 participants
Data Collection Events
| # | Name | Data sources | Data sources - Biosamples | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | VLS - S2 - Wave 1 |
|
1993 | 1993 | |
| 1 | VLS - S2 - Wave 2 |
|
1996 | 1996 | |
| 2 | VLS - S2 - Wave 3 |
|
1999 | 2000 | |
| 3 | VLS - S2 - Wave 4 |
|
2003 | 2004 | |
| 4 | VLS - S2 - Wave 5 |
|
2006 | 2007 |
Selection Criteria
- Minimum age
-
55
- Maximum age
-
85
- Countries
-
- Canada
- Canadian Provinces
-
- British Columbia
- Territory
- Victoria
Sources of Recruitment
- General Population
-
- Volunteer enrolment
Sample Size
- Number of Participants
- 580
- Supplementary information about number of participants
-
Wave 1: 580 participants
Data Collection Events
| # | Name | Data sources | Data sources - Biosamples | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | VLS - S3 - Wave 1 |
|
2001 | 2002 | |
| 1 | VLS - S3 - Wave 2 |
|
2004 | 2005 | |
| 2 | VLS - S3 - Wave 3 |
|
2007 | 2008 |
Participating Studies
| Acronym | Name | Study design | Countries |
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Harmonization Initiatives Included
| Acronym | Name |
|---|
Datasets
| Name | Data Collection Events | Variables |
|---|
Areas of Information Collected
- Socio-demographic and economic characteristics
- Death
- Lifestyle and behaviours
- Physical measures and assessments
- Birth, pregnancy and reproductive health history
- Laboratory measures
- Perception of health, quality of life, development and functional limitations
- Cognition, personality and psychological measures and assessments
- Diseases
- Life events, life plans, beliefs and values
- Symptoms and signs
- Preschool, school and work life
- Medication and supplements
- Social environment and relationships
- Non-pharmacological interventions
- Physical environment
- Health and community care services utilization
- Administrative information
Variables Content Summary
Areas of Information Collected
Areas of Information Collected per per Population and Data Collection Event
Networks
| Acronym | Name | Harmonization Initiatives | Individual Studies |
|---|