The Northern Ireland Cohort for the Longitudinal Study of Ageing (NICOLA)
One of the greatest societal transformations facing N.Ireland (NI) is the ageing of its population. There is a strong economic argument for ensuring that we have a healthy older population. Recent data suggests more than one in six of the population of Northern Ireland is aged 65 or over. The Northern Ireland Cohort for the Longitudinal Study of Ageing (NICOLA) is a prospective cohort study set up in 2013 to investigate how and why certain social, economic and biological factors influence the lives of older people. (The study recruited a representative sample of 8,478 men and women, aged 50 years and over.)
Representing the first ever large-scale longitudinal study of ageing in NI, NICOLA is charting patterns of change in the health and socioeconomic circumstances of individuals aged ≥ 50 years.
NICOLA has completed two waves and is currently in the field for the third wave of data collection. The components include a Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI), a self-completion questionnaire, a food frequency questionnaire, and a Health Assessment (including blood, urine, and faecal samples).
The scope and detail of the information collected allow us to investigate trajectories of ageing and their social and biological determinants and consequences. NICOLA captures a broad spectrum of data providing a diverse range of health and age-related research topics. This includes (but is not limited to) demographics, physical and cognitive health, trauma and stress, employment, lifestyle and related behaviours, medications, social connectedness, fuel poverty, food insecurity, transport, employment, sleep, personal views on ageing, and financial wellbeing. The Health Assessment includes a comprehensive ophthalmic component, as well as objective hearing, cognition, cardiovascular, anthropometric measures, gait and balance, and biological samples.
For further information about the study and how to access the data contact: NICOLA@qub.ac.uk
