Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)

Table of Contents

About the CLSA

The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is one of CIHR's Major Strategic Initiatives. Its development was championed by the Institute of Aging. The fundamental goal of this initiative is to mobilize experts in the community to generate a longitudinal research platform based on a protocol developed through expert advice and three international peer reviews.

The CLSA is a large, national, long-term study that will follow approximately 50,000 Canadian men and women between the ages of 45 and 85 for a period of at least 20 years. The study will collect information on the changing biological, medical, psychological, social, and economic aspects of people's lives. These factors will be studied in order to understand how, individually and in combination, they have an impact in both maintaining health and in the development of disease and disability as people age. The CLSA will be one of the most comprehensive research platform of its kind undertaken to date, not only in Canada but around the world.

Drs. Parminder Raina (McMaster University), Christina Wolfson (McGill University), and Susan Kirkland (Dalhousie University), along with a team of more than 200 co-investigators and collaborators from 26 Canadian universities are working together to develop this innovative, multidisciplinary study.

Objectives

Population ageing is at the centre of the policy debate in many countries. Populations projections show that 23% to 25% of the Canadian population will be aged 65 and over in 2031 and that the proportion of the oldest seniors (80 years and over) will also increase sharply. Since the large baby-boom generations are approaching retirement, many people will experience the transition from work to retirement. Aging will also affect labour force growth, old age income security expenditures, the health care system as well as the demand for informal care giving and home care services. Furthermore, a growing number of older Canadians will face the combined effects of a decline in physical function, medical problems and the development of chronic diseases.

For the first time, there will be the opportunity to begin to understand the complex interplay between physical, social and psychological determinants of health, including gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. This initiative will enable research to move beyond a snapshot of the adult Canadian population to observe and understand the disease, disability and psychosocial processes that accompany aging.

The overall aims of the CLSA are:

  • To examine aging as a dynamic process.
  • To investigate the inter-relationship among intrinsic and extrinsic factors from mid life to older age.
  • To capture the transitions, trajectories and profiles of aging: successful aging.
  • To provide infrastructure and build capacity for sustained high quality research on aging in Canada.

Peer Reviewed Funding

Protocol Implementation Investments:

2008-2015:

CLSA Team funded ($23.5 million) to support the Implementation Phase which includes the first wave of recruitment and data collection on the initial tracking cohort and comprehensive cohort, follow-up on the initial tracking cohort, and management.

Protocol Development Investments:

2006-2008:
CLSA team funded ($2,100,000) to support Content Development and Validation

2004-2006:
Conduct of CLSA: Methodological Feasibility Studies

Development and International Peer review of CLSA Protocol

2002-2004:
Development and International Peer review of CLSA Protocol Design

CLSA Team funded ($1,744,000) to support the Methodological Feasibility Studies

2001-2002:
CIHR Institute of Aging issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) entitled: Protocol Design for the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. The RFP was based on a CLSA Design Workshop held that same month in Aylmer, Quebec.

Launch and International Peer review of Request for Proposals, entitled: Protocol Design for the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

Meritorious CLSA team (headed by 3 principal investigators (Dr. Parminder Raina, McMaster University, Dr. Christina Wolfson, McGill University, and Dr. Susan Kirkland, Dalhousie University) funded ($462,000) to develop CLSA Protocol Design.

Capacity Building

The Institute of Aging launched a funding opportunity from 2007-2009 for CLSA Fellowships. The purpose of these fellowships is to build and strengthen research capacity and expertise in Canada in health measurement studies with emphasis on the CLSA and similar longitudinal studies of aging.

For more information, please visit the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) Fellowships webpage.

Partnerships

Health Canada, Statistics Canada, the Canadian Institute for Health Information, the Canadian Association on Gerontology, the Health Charities Council of Canada, Merck Frosst Canada and the other CIHR Institutes, as members of the CLSA Steering Committee between 2002 and 2006, joined in the planning and overseeing the study's protocol development. This approach was essential in making the CLSA relevant to various sectors.

The CLSA team is also working with CIHR and Canadian experts in fields such as ethics, law and sociology, to ensure that all research is done in an ethical manner, respecting the values of Canadian society and the rights of those involved in the study. As required in Canada, all research will also need to be approved and monitored by research ethics boards.

The CLSA team will develop partnerships with federal and provincial governments, health charities and the private sector to sustain the long-term vision of the CLSA.

Committees

Advisory Committee on Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues (ELSI) for the CLSA

The committee's mandate is to advise the Scientific Management Team leading the CLSA on actions and best practices to address ethical, legal and social issues relevant to CLSA.

International Oversight Committee

The mandate of the International Oversight Committee on the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is to provide the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) with expert advice as well as independent ongoing oversight and evaluation of the CLSA according to internationally recognized standards of excellence for science and leadership.

News and Announcements

September 28, 2012, Hamilton, ON – On behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), delivered the opening remarks at the official grand opening and launch of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) at McMaster University. Please read the news release for more information.

May 21, 2009, Hamilton, ON - The National launch of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging at McMaster University in Hamilton.

Contacts

For questions about this funding initiative contact:

Jennifer Campbell
Senior Advisor
Research and Knowledge Translation Portfolio
Platforms and Major Initiatives
Telephone 613-941-0805
Fax: 613-954-1800
jennifer.campbell@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

For more information on the CLSA, please visit: Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.