The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is one step closer to its goal of recruiting 50,000 participants across Canada.

The St. John’s Data Collection Site welcomed its 1,000^th participant visit this week.

“Thanks to the generous contributions of participants in Newfoundland, the CLSA is moving towards its goal of understanding the factors that shape healthy aging,” said Dr. Gerry Mugford, lead investigator of the CLSA in Newfoundland and Labrador and an associate professor with Memorial’s Faculty of Medicine in the Disciplines of Medicine and Psychiatry.

“This milestone would not have been possible without our participants who have selflessly given their time to the study, as well as the dedicated staff at Memorial who have worked extremely hard to reach this goal."

The CLSA is Canada’s largest study of health and aging and will follow 50,000 men and women between the ages of 45 and 85 for 20 years. The national study collects information on the changing biological, medical, psychological, social, lifestyle and economic aspects of people’s lives as they age. To date, more than 33,000 participants have been recruited nationally.

Participation in the CLSA involves two different groups. Some people are contacted for a telephone interview, while others take part in a home interview and a visit to a data collection site for physical assessments. Measurements conducted include visual and hearing tests, strength and mobility assessments, memory tests, as well as the optional collection of blood and urine samples to better understand the genetic aspects of aging.

The CLSA operates 11 data collection sites at affiliated universities and research institutes across Canada. The St. John’s Site, located at the Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, opened its doors to participants in August 2012. Over the next two years, the site will welcome an additional 2,000 participants.

Photo credit: Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University

The Memorial Data Collection Site welcomes its 1,000^th participant.