The team mapped community-based longitudinal aging studies in East and Southeast Asia. Eligible cohorts followed community-dwelling adults with mean baseline age at least 50, were nationally representative or covered two geographic areas, focused on health and had English documentation. Thirty studies across ten countries or territories were found, concentrated in Japan, mainland China, Singapore and South Korea. Newer studies include biomarkers and performance measures, but physical frailty is rarely assessed, access is inconsistent and no multinational study met criteria.
Key findings
- Thirty studies in ten countries or territories were concentrated in four settings. Myanmar, Cambodia and Indonesia had no eligible study; frailty measurement was uncommon, access and harmonization were limited, and no multinational cohort qualified.
Why this matters globally
The map shows where missing longitudinal data impede assessment of disease trajectories, inequality and policy. Shared core measures and coordinated access could improve cross-country comparison without rebuilding every cohort.
Thai researcher contribution
Dararatt Anantanasuwong of NIDA contributes Thai experience to the regional map and recommendations for coordination, harmonization and data sharing.
Limitations to consider
Requiring English documentation may omit local cohorts. Geographic and age thresholds exclude city- or disease-specific studies. ‘No eligible study’ means none met these criteria, not that no data exist, and the abstract does not describe study-quality appraisal.