Detailed physical and cognitive assessments as well as biomarkers and genetic markers are carried out and it includes data on health of participants including anthropometric, bone, cognitive function, frailty, health & lifestyle and biochemical and genetic data.

Whilst providing useful information on private and voluntary nursing homes, the method of collecting and presenting data differs from the National Register. 

It does not collect data on units and beds in private and most voluntary long-stay care settings. 

Creator is currrently Healthcare Pricing Office (since 2014). Previously held by Health Research and Information Division of the ESRI, in conjunction with the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive     

It is the first study of its kind in Europe, and the only study that can directly compare the ageing of people with intellectual disability with that of the general ageing population. It includes a cognitive assessment using four measures: reported diagnosis of memory disorder; self-rated memory, orientation in time, and Test for Severe Impairment.

The reports of the first and second waves of data are available at the TILDA-IDA website and can be accessed here.  

McCarron, M., Swinburne, J., Burke, E., McGlinchey, E., Mulryan, N., Andrews, V., Foran, S. and McCallion, P. (2011) Growing Older with an Intellectual Disability in Ireland: Fist Results from the Intellectual Supplement of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin.  

Burke, E., McCallion, P. and McCarron, M. (2014) Advancing Years: Different Challenges Wave 2 IDS-Tilda: Findings on the Ageing of People with an Intellectual Disability,  School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin.  

The overarching aim of TILDA is to improve the understanding of how health, economic and social circumstances contribute to (successful) ageing and to make Ireland the best place in the world to grow old.

TILDA collects information on health, economic and social circumstances from people aged 50 and over in a series of data collection waves once every two years. Over 8,500 people took part in the first wave of TILDA in 2009 and 2010. Participants were asked questions about a range of topics including health, housing, social support, work, retirement, pensions and quality of life and this was followed up with a health assessment. The results are published in a report called ‘Fifty Plus in Ireland 2011: First Results from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing’ (Barrett et al., 2011).

Wave 2 of the study, which commenced in early 2012, is now complete. Wave 2 involved re-visiting and re-interviewing participants from the first wave. In addition to the topics covered in Wave 1, some new questions were added, including on personality. There was no separate health assessment during this wave, but the interviewers took a measure of handgrip strength and walking speed when they visited participants in their homes. The first results from Wave 2 have now been published in a report titled 'The Over 50s in a Changing Ireland: Economic Circumstances, Health and Well-Being' (Nolan et al., 2014).

Wave 3 of the study commenced in early 2014 and is currently underway. Wave 3 will include a personal interview in the participant's home, a self-completion questionnaire and a full health assessment. In Wave 3, both the personal interview and the health assessment include cognitive tests. The former tests include the Mini-Mental State Exam, verbal fluency, immediate and delayed recall tasks and prospective memory task. The cognitive tests used in the health assessment are the Montreal Cognitive Assessment; Color Trails Test; Choice Reaction Time; Sustained Attention to Response Task; National Adult Reading Test (premorbid intelligence); and Sound-Induced Flash Illusion (multisensory perception).

In addition, questions on cardiovascular disease and behavioural health (smoking, physical activity and sleep) cholesterol screening, employment, social connectedness have much relevance for the potentially modifiable risks factors associated with dementia. There is evidence that occupational level, educational level, and social engagement can enhance brain function and protect against or at least delay the onset of dementia.

A comprehensive list of TILDA reports, academic papers and study documents can be found on the TILDA website, several of which address cognitive function/impairment and which have relevance of policy and practice on dementia, but none address dementia specifically.