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Understanding ageing - unscrambling causes from effects

It is increasingly recognised that no single discipline can answer all the questions on ageing and there are real benefits in multi-disciplinary research collaborations such as longitudinal studies.

Longitudinal studies are identified as the most robust way to help unscramble causes from effects in ageing. A longitudinal study follows the same participants over a period of time and looks at changes experienced by participants. It involves both a physical examination and a survey. Researchers study participants to better understand events and conditions that lead to healthy ageing or poor health. Longitudinal studies have produced some of the most ground breaking results of research, for instance, The Farmingham Study in 1960 found that high cholesterol and blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease(http://www.framinghamheartstudy.org).
 
I am delighted that The Irish LongituDinal Study of Ageing, known as TILDA (www.tilda.ie), whose Principal Researcher is Professor Rose Anne Kenny, is about to start its national pilot. Respondents will participate in an interview about their health, wealth, and happiness and will be asked to participate in a clinical assessment – in Cork or Dublin. Taking a multi-disciplinary approach, over 10 years, this study will investigate health patterns and wider trends to identify ways of improving the lives of our ageing population.
 
CARDI’s Co-Chair (Professor Stout) and I have been working closely with Professor Frank Kee of Queens to advance the case for such a longitudinal study on ageing for Northern Ireland.  Researchers in Northern Ireland would benefit from the groundwork undertaken by the TILDA team and both sides would benefits from pooling expertise.  Such a study would help us understand the common features of older peoples’ lives in Ireland, north and south as well as the differences. 
 
In January 2009, CARDI hosted an event where interested researchers on ageing had an opportunity to learn about TILDA from Professor Rose Anne Kenny and the possibilities of extending this to Northern Ireland with a presentation from Professor Kee. A follow up meeting took place 27th March to discuss technical aspects in greater detail. 
 
A one day seminar is now scheduled for 29th April 2009, entitled “Informing Public Policy: The role of a Longitudinal Study on Ageing” which will include presentations from longitudinal teams in Scotland, England and Ireland. Providing locally relevant information about ageing and comparable data is an issue of growing importance for policy makers, planners, practitioners and academics working in the area of ageing. If you would like to attend please click here for registration details:
 
 
Dr. Roger O’Sullivan

 

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