Introducing IDS-TILDA – a longitudinal study of ageing and intellectual disability.
Caitriona Ryan, Trinity College Dublin.
22nd of January 2026
Abstract:
The Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing(IDS- TILDA) is a longitudinal study researching ageing in Ireland among people with an intellectual disability aged 40 and over. This study is the first of its kind in Europe, and the only study able to directly compare the ageing of people with an intellectual disability with the general ageing population. To date, five waves of data have been collected from over 700 participants across Ireland through more than 1000 survey questions, covering a wide range of domains including health, social participation, healthcare use, and quality of life. Data collection for a sixth wave commenced in 2025. This extensive dataset represents a rich resource for research. This seminar aims to encourage and support the use of data from the IDS-TILDA. We will introduce the structure, scope, and potential of the IDS-TILDA dataset. Attendees will gain practical guidance on requesting for access and navigating the datafiles.
Dr. Caitríona Ryan, Associate Professor in Statistics and Trial Design, Trinity School of Medicine (formerly statistician at IDS-TILDA)
Dr. Kálya Yasmine Lima, Data manager, Research Fellow, School of Nursing & Midwifery