Vegard Fykse Skirbekk

There is a lack of surveys including objective measurements of physical and cognitive function in multiple cohorts over the adult life span. We are carrying out a pilot study on home dwellers aged 50+ in the Norwegian county of Oppland to test out a Norwegian translation of the European SHARE-questionnaire (www.share-project.org). Face-to-face-interviews will be performed by nursing students at Gjøvik University College as part of their education. They will gather objective measurements on physical performance, cognitive function, anthropometry and blood pressure. The questionnaire includes a range of health, social, economic, household and demographic questions. In the full study, administrative registers will be linked to the data and provide information such as disability, socioeconomic status and marital status. Moreover, an extensive cardiovascular health examination study, which was performed three times in Oppland during 1976-88 covering 90% of the 1926- 1953 birth cohorts (aged 61-88 years in 2014), will be linked to our participants to ensure a unique longitudinal dimension. A key strength of the full NORSE-survey is the combination of data on health and functioning with economic and social information. The study is a joint collaboration by The Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Centre for Old Age Psychiatric Research Innlandet Hospital Trust, Gjøvik University College and Ageing and Health. Data will be collected during February 2014, and 7 students have been trained to perform the interviews. NORSE-Oppland is intended to increase our ability to answer questions such as: What matters for healthy ageing? How does the risk of disability and functional abilities change over the life cycle? What determines at what age individuals retire and how they plan for their retirement? Which premorbid factors increase the risk of common disorders associated with ageing, such as dementia?