A A A

English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) is large, nationally representative study using a panel of individuals aged 50 years and over. ELSA is aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the physical, psychological, social and economic aspects of ageing. The first wave of ELSA was carried out in 2002 and over 12,000 core sample members and their partners were interviewed during this wave. Participants are interviewed every two years and a nurse visit is carried out at every other wave. The first three waves of ELSA are now complete and data collection for wave 4 is expected to be completed in summer 2009.

Professor Michael Marmot is principal investigator for ELSA. The study is a collaboration between the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at UCL, Institute for Fiscal Studies, National Centre for Social Research and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge. ELSA is jointly funded by the US National Institute of Ageing and by the UK Department of Health, Department of Work and Pensions, Office for National Statistics, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Department for Transport, HMRC, and Communities and Local Government. For further information on the ELSA study, please click here.

Research in the Psychobiology Group using ELSA data focuses on determinants of multiple health behaviours, changes in behaviours over time and the association between inflammatory markers and physical and mental health. Professor Andrew Steptoe is on the ELSA management team and co-ordinates research on the study. Other Psychobiology members who work on ELSA are Dr Aparna Shankar, Dr Mark Hamer and Dr Lena Brydon.

Page last modified on 13 may 09 18:09