National study hopes to unlock the mysteries of aging

Posted May 21 2009

Dr. David Hogan is the Calgary site investigator: photo credit: Bruce PerraultThe Government of Canada today announced a new study that will increase the understanding of common health problems affecting seniors.  The University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine is one site of a multi-disciplinary research team comprised of more than 160 researchers from 26 universities across Canada who will participate in the study.

The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is a large, national, long-term study of adult development and aging. The study will follow 50,000 Canadians, aged 45-85 years (at the time of recruitment), over the next two decades. 

“We are entering uncharted territory; the aging of Canadian society over the next few decades will be unprecedented. We have to better understand aging from its basic biology to the level of our communities,” says Dr. David Hogan who holds the Brenda Strafford Foundation Chair in Geriatric Medicine at the U of C. 

In addition to starting at mid-life, the CLSA is the first study of its kind to collect social and economical retirement factors, as well as clinical and biological measures. More than 70 longitudinal studies have taken place worldwide and most focused on only one condition or on people over 65 years of age.

CLSA participants will be randomly selected from across Canada and, as such, Canadians will not be able to proactively volunteer to be part of the study. Once enrolled, participants will be studied at three-year intervals and will be followed for at least 20 years.

“Everyone has to understand that this is a long-term investment - it’s an RRSP for our country.  While we will learn important things almost immediately, the real yield of this study will take years to develop. The knowledge that will develop during the course of this study will inform government policy and the choices we all individually will have to make in order to age in a personally rewarding and meaningful manner, “ says Hogan.

The Government of Canada is investing $30 million to support this study. Statistics Canada has committed important and invaluable in-kind contributions to the design of the survey and the recruitment of participants.

Further information on the CLSA can be found at: www.clsa-elcv.ca