The Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing 

The Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ALSA) is Australia’s first multi-dimensional population based study of human 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 and successful 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 characteristics.

The initial baseline data collection for ALSA began in 1992 with information being collected for 2087 participants. Components of this first Wave included a comprehensive personal interview, a home based assessment of physiological functions; self completed questionnaires and additional clinical studies. Since this time, 8 waves have been completed with the most recent data collection being carried out in February 2006. Further waves are planned for the future.

The longitudinal data collected in the course of the ALSA study comprises the most comprehensive longitudinal data base yet assembled on ageing Australians and the findings of the ALSA are directly relevant to policy formulation and planning of health and social services for an ageing population. Researchers have cited the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing in almost 200 publications including reports, book chapters, refereed journal articles, abstracts, conference proceedings and theses. (See ALSA Bibliography.)