Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing
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
- Start Year
- 1992
Visit ALSA
| Investigators | Contacts |
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Design
- Study design
- Cohort
- Follow Up
- Supplementary Information
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ALSA also include spouses of married couples.
Marker Paper
Luszcz MA, Giles LC, Anstey KJ, Browne-yung KC, Walker RA, Windsor TD. Cohort Profile: The Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ALSA). International Journal of Epidemioly. 2016;45(4):1054-1063.
PUBMED 25468824
Recruitment
- Recruitment Target
-
- Individuals
Number of Participants
- Number of Participants
- 2,087
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
Access
Availability of data and biosamples
| Possible Access to Data | |
| Possible Access to Biosamples | |
| Other |
Supplementary Information
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
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65
- Newborns
- Twins
- Countries
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- Australia
- Territory
- Ethnic Origin
-
- Health Status
-
- Other Criteria
- Supplementary Information about selection criteria
Recruitment
- Sources of recruitment
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- General population
- General Population
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- Selected sample
- Supplementary Information
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Participants were drawn from the database of the South Australian Electoral Roll.
- Participants from Existing Studies
-
Number of Participants
- Number of Participants
- 2,087
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- Supplementary Information about selection criteria
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 ... |
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 ... |
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 ... |
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 ... |
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 |
Classifications
- Socio-demographic and economic characteristics
- Lifestyle and behaviours
- Birth, pregnancy and reproductive health history
- Perception of health, quality of life, development and functional limitations
- Diseases
- Symptoms and signs
- Medication and supplements
- Non-pharmacological interventions
- Health and community care services utilization
- Death
- Physical measures and assessments
- Laboratory measures
- Cognition, personality and psychological measures and assessments
- Life events, life plans, beliefs and values
- Preschool, school and work life
- Social environment and relationships
- Physical environment
- Administrative information
- Cognitive functioning
- Personality
- Psychological distress and emotions
- Other psychological measures and assessments
- Life events
- Beliefs and values
- Perception of health
- Quality of life
- Life course development
- Functional limitations
- Other perception of health, quality of life and functional limitation-related information
Socio-demographic and economic characteristics
Lifestyle and behaviours
Birth, pregnancy and reproductive health history
Perception of health, quality of life, development and functional limitations
Diseases
Symptoms and signs
Medication and supplements
Non-pharmacological interventions
Health and community care services utilization
Death
Physical measures and assessments
Cognition, personality and psychological measures and assessments
Life events, life plans, beliefs and values
Preschool, school and work life
Social environment and relationships
Physical environment
Administrative information
Cognitive functioning
Personality
Psychological distress and emotions
Beliefs and values
Quality of life
Functional limitations