(Reposted from CIHR Funding News Issue 250)

Canada’s health researchers have access to a valuable national research platform to answer important questions related to health and aging.

Launched in 2010, the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) involves 51,000 Canadians, aged 45 to 85 at recruitment, who will be followed for 20 years.

The platform includes data on health status, physical assessments, diseases, cognition, psychological well-being and mental health, social well-being, economic aspects of aging, and blood-based biological markers.

The initial baseline data set is now ready and available for use by researchers and trainees working in all areas of health and psychosocial well-being. Follow-up data collection events will be repeated every three years for 20 years.

Please visit the CLSA website to find out more about the platform and how you can access the data for your research.