The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) at Trinity College Dublin has started recruiting new participants for the next phase of its research.

TILDA is a large-scale, nationally representative longitudinal study on ageing in Ireland. It is the most comprehensive study of adults aged 50 years and over in this country. However, the group of 8,500 participants that began with the project in 2009 have aged along with the study, making it necessary for TILDA to recruit a new, nationally representative group of people who are aged 50-62 years.

As with the original group, this replenishment process will once again see TILDA using a random selection process to ensure the study cohort is representative of the overall population of Ireland. The need to maintain proper representation of the national population is the reason why the study cannot simply look for volunteer participants.

Replenishment is standard practice internationally in longitudinal studies of ageing and is important for the continuation of the study and expanding the research capabilities of the data collected. For example, the experience of a person who is 50 in 2022 will be different to that of a person who was 50 in 2012 or earlier.

New participants will allow researchers to capture and assess these differences across a wide range of lifestyle factors over the next 10 years.

The information collected by TILDA has been used for a significant number of research projects on ageing and has helped to identify key priorities and policies related to health and wellbeing, healthcare needs, caregiving and retirement, both nationally and internationally.

As a longitudinal study, TILDA revisits participants every two years collecting the same information, to allow the measurement of changes over time and investigation of the drivers of those changes.

“One of the greatest demographic and social transformations facing Ireland is the ageing of its population, increased life expectancy and a reduction in fertility rates. Globally, this will see proportions of people aged 60 and over increase from 11.7% today to 21% by 2050, equating to two billion people worldwide.

“While ageing carries many challenges, it also presents opportunities. By providing high quality data, we can drive informed decision making at all levels and propel ageing research in Ireland into a position of global leadership, and ensure lower levels of disability and better, data-driven health and social care services,” explained TILDA principal investigator, Prof Rose Anne Kenny.

She said that the current participants have “contributed to a rich legacy of Irish research which will ensure a better quality of life for future generations by helping us to understand the process of and factors associated with ageing”.

“This understanding is coupled with important information to help governments to make efficient policy decisions to optimise health and economic success as populations age,” Prof Kenny added.

TILDA is currently in the process of randomly selecting households across the country for inclusion in the study replenishment. Based on home addresses, TILDA interviewers will call to the homes of potential participants aged 50-62 years, or households will receive a letter and information leaflet inviting them to join.