There are some risks in undergoing an MRI:

  • The magnetic effect of the MRI on implanted devices. The MRI could cause any metal in your body to heat up. This is because the MRI machine uses strong magnets in order to collect the scans. Every effort will be made to eliminate this risk, by asking you ahead of time about any devices or injuries from metal objects, and not running the test if you have anything in your body that will be affected by the machine.
  • The brain MRI is a magnetic resonance imaging procedure to take images of your brain. This MRI procedure will have you lie on your back on a narrow table that will be moved into a circular tube. You will not be able to see outside of the tube. There will be repetitive thumping noises as the MRI scans your brain. It will take approximately 45 minutes to complete the scans.

These discomforts will be mitigated in the following ways:

  • Headphones and ear plugs will be worn for ear protection.
  • Tingling sensations sometimes occur in the arms, but these can usually be prevented by keeping the hands apart.
  • The technician will maintain visual and verbal contact with you throughout the MRI scanning sessions.
  • As an extra precaution, you will be given an “emergency” button to be used if you wish to end the procedure.
  • It is important to understand that participation in the MRI scans will require travel outside your home. The MRI facilities and CLSA staff will follow the required protocols for working safely during the pandemic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to some of the most common queries about the CLSA.

What is the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)?

The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is a Canada-wide study that looks at health and aging over a 20-year period. People between the ages of 45 and 85 were recruited between 2010 and 2015 to take part. The study team collects a wide range of information about people’s health as they age, including physical, emotional and social health functioning, as well as the presence of health conditions and diseases. CLSA participants fall into one of two different groups. Some people participate by telephone interview, while others participate in an in-home interview as well as visit a Data Collection Site in their area.

How is the study funded?

The CLSA is a strategic initiative of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Support for the study has been provided by the Government of Canada through the CIHR and the Canada Foundation for Innovation, as well as the provincial governments of British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Additional funding for CLSA sub-studies has been received from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the Weston Family Foundation, the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Immunity Task Force, Juravinski Research Institute, McMaster University, the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging and the Nova Scotia COVID-19 Health Research Coalition.

I am a participant in the study. Why is my continued participation important?

In order to determine how people age over time, your ongoing involvement in the CLSA is critical. We recognize that as people age, they face situations that have the potential to affect their participation. For that reason, we offer flexible participation, meaning that we provide you with options that accommodate your personal circumstances.

Your participation is very important to us. The CLSA cannot replace participants who joined the study at the start. Choosing not to take part will impact the scientific results. Less information collected by the CLSA over time influences the quality of data available for researchers and decision-makers who develop the health- and social-care policies that affect everyone.

How will the information be used?

The CLSA is designed as a research platform to address a wide range of research questions related to aging and the factors influencing health outcomes in older adults. Researchers must apply and be approved to access the CLSA data. They must demonstrate that their proposed research aligns with the guiding principles of CLSA data access, including protecting the rights, privacy and consent of participants, safeguarding the confidentiality and security of the data, and using the CLSA research platform optimally for research that benefits all Canadians.

For example, researchers may study:

  • What are the factors that affect how adults age?
  • Why do some people stay healthy as they get older and other people develop health problems?
  • What changing life circumstances do people face as they get older and how do they handle them?

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