What is NICOLA?
The Northern Ireland Cohort for the Longitudinal Study of Ageing (NICOLA) is the largest public health study in Northern Ireland, run by Queen’s University Belfast.
NICOLA involves people aged 50 and over, right up to 100 years and beyond. Spouses or partners living in the same household were also invited to take part, regardless of age.
- The population aged over 50 is the most rapidly growing group in Northern Ireland
- In just over 10 years, there will be more people aged over 65 than under 18
NICOLA is a major longitudinal study exploring how health, lifestyle, housing, finances, work, retirement and quality of life change as people grow older.
A representative study of Northern Ireland
NICOLA has recruited 8,478 people from across Northern Ireland, providing a true representation of the population aged 50 and over.
Our aim is to follow these individuals over the next 10 years, examining how their health, lifestyle, financial circumstances and overall wellbeing change over time.
How NICOLA compares internationally?
NICOLA data is compared with similar ageing studies in:
These comparisons help to inform government policy, public services (including healthcare and pension systems), and research into how we can improve health and support successful ageing.
NICOLA: Understanding what it means to be an older person in Northern Ireland
