CBC News | Jan 5, 2012

Close to 5,000 Prince Edward Islanders have been asked to take part in a 20-year study on aging in Canada as part of a goal to get 50,000 Canadians to participate.

The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging plans to look at the quality of life and health of Canadians aged 45 to 85 over a period of at least 20 years.

People taking part in the study were chosen randomly. They will be interviewed every three years, and their individual information will be kept confidential.

Susan Kirkland, a co-principal investigator from Dalhousie University, told CBC News Wednesday the study has a deliberately broad focus to allow researchers in many fields to use the information gathered.

"I think people will be particularly interested in looking at the combination of social information that we have, and also health information that we'll have," said Kirkland.

Kirkland said the interview will go well beyond asking people specific questions about their health.

"We'll also ask them you know how they interact with their friends and family, how they get around outside, and a number of different questions like that," she said.

"We can also then follow them as they develop illnesses or diseases over time."

People who take part will be told about research projects being done with the information gathered. Kirkland said they hope 1,100 Islanders agree to participate in the study. Nationally, the study has reached 10 per cent of its goal of 50,000 participants.

The study is a joint project of more than a dozen provincial governments and universities, along with the federal government.