Network / ATHLOS

The objective of the ATHLOS Project is to achieve a better understanding of ageing by identifying patterns of healthy ageing pathways or trajectories, the determinants of those patterns, the critical points in time when changes in trajectories are produced, and to propose timely clinical and public health interventions to optimize healthy ageing. Moreover, a new definition of 'old age' based on many characteristics rather than just the classical chronological definition of age has been used for calculating projections in each specific population and guide policy recommendations. To do so, the Consortium has created a harmonised dataset with over 400,000 individuals collated from existing longitudinal studies of ageing and including information on physical and mental health, biomarkers, life style habits, social environment and participation, among others.

ATHLOS is a five-year project funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement number 635316.

The Consortium is coordinated by Dr Josep Maria Haro (Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu) and consists of 14 partners from 11 European countries.

WORK-PACKAGES

WP1: Creation of harmonised dataset: A single harmonised dataset has been generated to include 18 prospective studies. In order to create a common data set for analysis, the first task was to map variables across all the datasets: a core set of variables were identified in each survey and they were categorised in different domains and response options remapped to account for differences within surveys. The original questions, design of each survey and characteristics of the sample were provided as metadata. Additional variables, including health-related outcomes and their determinants, were created and added to the harmonised dataset.

WP2: Development of analytical methods: A single scale of healthy ageing was created using an Item Response Theory approach. Several statistical models (based on Mixed Models with Repeated Measures, Generalised Estimating Equations, Structural Equation Modelling, Growth curve Mixture Modelling) were used (considering the single scale of health and other health-related outcomes as indicators of healthy ageing) to quantify trajectories of healthy ageing and their determinants. Finally, a microsimulation model was developed to predict trends in healthy ageing under alternative scenarios of determinants, interventions and health policy.

WP3: Describing patterns of trajectories, determinants and inequalities of healthy ageing: Health trajectories and determinants of healthy ageing were assessed. The models created in the previous stage were employed to identify biological, lifestyle, medical and social determinants of healthy ageing across the life span and to identify variations in ageing trajectories associated to socio-demographic factors such as socioeconomic position and gender. Statistical methods such as Growth curve Mixture Modelling approach were used to identify groups of people that share a trajectory pattern and to explore variations in trajectories across groups at different stages of demographic transition. Age-Period-Cohort analysis was employed to analyse if subsequent cohorts of older adults are ageing in a healthier manner.

WP4: Characteristics-based approach to defining old age: A reconceptualization of ‘old age’ was developed using projections of the proportion of older adults in a given population over time, exploring also the added value of health status in the new definition and the policy implications of different definitions of ageing.

WP5: Knowledge translation: This WP involves activities that use the research outcomes obtained from the previous WPs to conduct a series of applications to effectively improve the health of European citizens, providing more effective health services and strengthening the health care system. The microsimulation model developed in WP2 was used to: generate the economic and social consequences of policy value decisions on how best to allocate resources for interventions to modify ageing trajectories across the population (this exercise will enable policy-makers to be aware of the consequences of inevitable policy trade-offs); explore alternative healthy ageing scenarios in Europe and internationally, and to discuss their implications for policy, and; identify population-level or clinical interventions that can directly alter ageing trajectories towards those that optimise healthy ageing.

WP6: Dissemination: This WP responds to the crucial need, from the initial deployment phase onward, to provide extensive visibility to the project in order to capitalise on the knowledge generated and advance the interests of concerned parties (public and private healthcare providers, technological companies, academia, pharmaceutical companies, public authorities, patients and caregivers). The dissemination activities have been intensively informed by the research conclusions and supporting evidence arising from the ATHLOS research, including especially the findings and policy recommendations arising from the project.

WP7: Coordination and management: This WP is devoted to: - Making optimal use of resources by running agile structures and procedures linking together the project components. - Participating in the project’s meetings. - Ensuring quality assurance by means of proper internal reporting and follow-up tools. - Mitigating technical and managerial pitfalls. - Communicating with the EC’s relevant contact points. - Ensuring that all requirements regarding the reporting to EC are met.