Backgrounder: Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

[ Press Release 2012-53 ]

Supporting a national research platform on health and aging

The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) represents a $50-million investment that includes:

• $23.5 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
• $10 million the Canadian Foundation for Innovation
• $10 million from  provincial governments
• $6.5 million from universities and other partners

Participating in the CLSA

The CLSA collects data via two methods: telephone Interviews and at-home interviews and data collection site visits.

Telephone interviews

• 20,000 participants
• 70-minute telephone interview conducted every three years
• 35-minute follow-up call every 1 ½ years to maintain contact
• Questions about health and well-being, including physical, social and emotional functioning, lifestyle and behaviours, as well as the onset of health conditions and diseases

At-home interviews and data collection site visits

• 30,000 participants
• 70-minute at-home interview conducted every three years
• 2 ½ hour visit to one of 11 data collection sites across the country, every three years
• At data collection sites, participants undergo cognitive and physical assessments, including height and weight measurements, vision and hearing tests, blood pressure and cardiovascular measures along with a bone density scan and strength and balance tests
• Blood and urine samples collected with participant consent
• Questions about health and well-being, including physical, social and emotional functioning, lifestyle and behaviours, as well as the onset of health conditions and diseases

Protecting the privacy of participants

• The security and confidentiality of data is the top priority of the CLSA and many safeguards have been put in place.
• Personal information, such as names and phone numbers, are kept in a secure database and are only used to contact participants.
• The rest of the data collected are de-identified – meaning that they are stored in a secure database without names and contact information.
• The computers that hold participant information are protected by industry-strength firewalls.
• Access to personal information is kept to a minimum, and all CLSA staff sign agreements to protect the privacy and confidentiality of participants.

CLSA research facilities and enabling units

National Coordinating Centre - The centre of operations for the CLSA. This Hamilton-based centre manages many of the logistical processes associated with a national long-term study including the identification and recruitment of participants, leading data collection operations, communications and partnership development.

Data Collection Sites - In-depth data collection occurs at 11 sites across the country including: Victoria, Vancouver, Surrey, Calgary, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Ottawa, Montreal, Sherbrooke, Halifax and St. John’s.

Computer-Assisted Telephone Interview centres - Telephone interviews are conducted by trained CLSA staff in Victoria, Winnipeg, Sherbrooke and Halifax.

Biorepository and Bioanalysis Centre - The Biorepository and Bioanalysis Centre is the central location for the storage and analysis of biological samples (blood and urine) collected at each of the data collection sites. The Hamilton-based centre also houses a bioanalysis laboratory which will be dedicated to detailed sample analysis.

Genetics and Epigenetics Centre - The hub for in-depth analysis of genetic and epigenetic markers associated with aging and complex diseases. The CLSA will be one of the first long-term studies to measure the evolution of epigenetic markers in a large cohort of subjects. The centre is based at the University of British Columbia’s Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics in Vancouver.

Statistical Analysis Centre - The Statistical Analysis Centre (SAC) is the location where alphanumeric information collected as part of the CLSA is double checked for accuracy and prepared for analysis and for distribution. As soon as data are available, the Statistical Analysis Centre will coordinate data access and utilization for researchers. The centre is located at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal.