Blogs

Ageing is a complex and dynamic process, influenced by a multitude of factors such as health, social connections, and economic stability.

Loneliness has become a focus of research in recent years particularly in older people with various interventions proposed to reduce levels of loneliness to improve health. But does personality play a role in how older people experience loneliness? Thamara Tapia-Munoz analyses ELSA to find out.

Who retires early? And who keeps on working even as most of their former colleagues have retired? With policymakers in many countries keen on encouraging people to work longer as a part-solution to the challenges posed by an ageing population, knowing when different people retire, and how it has changed, is a key part of understanding the potential for people to delay retirement until later ages in the future. Jonathan Cribb from the Institute for Fiscal Studies explores how ELSA data have contributed to the discussion.

Recent adjustments to the UK's state pension system have narrowed annual income disparities, particularly between genders, through the introduction of a flat-rate pension. However, an analysis using ELSA data reveals persistent inequalities in lifetime state pension income. Jonathan Cribb and Heidi Karjalainen from the Institute for Fiscal Studies highlight the impact of policy changes, such as increasing the state pension age or altering indexation methods, on various demographic and wealth groups.

Social isolation has long been a topic of concern and there is a growing body of evidence detailing its adverse effects on the health of people of all ages. However, due to circumstances associated with ageing - such as relationship losses, retirement, health and functional declines, and living conditions - isolation is a situation that many older adults find themselves facing. Its impact on their health and longevity is substantial. Dr Claryn Kung explains how ELSA data is helping to further probe that impact.

The excess mortality associated with direct and acute effects of short-term exposure to extreme temperatures is among the most documented effects of climate on human health. The UK has more ill health and extra deaths in winter than colder European countries do. Two and a half million UK households have trouble heating their homes and have ‘fuel poverty’. This particularly affects people who are poor, older, or have bad health. Dr Cesar Messias de Oliveira explains how data from ELSA and the HEEEAT project are helping to examine the effects of housing energy policies on energy use, indoor temperatures, and older adults’ health.

Dementia is a disease of the brain that affects cognition and everyday function. It is a major health concern leading to loss of independence and a reduced quality of life and health. It is reported to be one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide. In the UK, Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia affect 1 in 14 individuals aged 65 and above and 1 in every 6 people over 80. With no current cure, it’s hardly surprising then that a recent YouGov poll found that almost two-third of us are worried about developing dementia.  Dr Sarah Assaad and Dr Shabina Hayat explain why we need to tackle this terrible condition and how the Healthy Cognitive Ageing Project (HCAP), a sub-study of ELSA, is helping to do just that.  

As in much of the world, England in the 21st century will experience significant social change as a result of population ageing. This will have major and wide-reaching impacts on individual lives, family dynamics, and the demand for public services. This is where the rich data on later life that ELSA provides plays a key role, as Dr Brian Beach from the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at UCL explains.

As the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, or ELSA as it’s known, prepares to launch its tenth wave of data later in 2023, Project Manager, Kate Coughlin, reflects on how and why the Study is a crucial resource.