title: Cohort profile: The Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II).
abstract: Similar to other industrialized countries, Germany's population is ageing. Whereas some people enjoy good physical and cognitive health into old age, others suffer from a multitude of age-related disorders and impairments which reduce life expectancy and affect quality of life. To identify and characterize the factors associated with 'healthy' vs. 'unhealthy' ageing, we have launched the Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II), a multidisciplinary and multi-institutional project that ascertains a large number of ageing-related variables from a wide range of different functional domains. Phenotypic assessments include factors related to geriatrics and internal medicine, immunology, genetics, psychology, sociology and economics. Baseline recruitment of the BASE-II cohort was recently completed and has led to the sampling of 1600 older adults (age range 60-80 years), as well as 600 younger adults (20-35 years) serving as the basic population for in-depth analyses. BASE-II data are linked to the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), a long-running panel survey representative of the German population, to estimate sample selectivity. A major goal of BASE-II is to facilitate collaboration with other research groups by freely sharing relevant phenotypic and genotypic data with qualified outside investigators.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vertebrate Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany, German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Berlin, Germany, Charité Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Institute of Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany, Department of Psychology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany, Center for Medical Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany, Department of Economics, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany and Berlin University of Technology (TUB), Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bertram
authors.affiliation: Department of Vertebrate Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany, German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Berlin, Germany, Charité Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Institute of Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany, Department of Psychology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany, Center for Medical Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany, Department of Economics, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany and Berlin University of Technology (TUB), Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Böckenhoff
authors.affiliation: Department of Vertebrate Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany, German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Berlin, Germany, Charité Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Institute of Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany, Department of Psychology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany, Center for Medical Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany, Department of Economics, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany and Berlin University of Technology (TUB), Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Vertebrate Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany, German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Berlin, Germany, Charité Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Institute of Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany, Department of Psychology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany, Center for Medical Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany, Department of Economics, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany and Berlin University of Technology (TUB), Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Ilja
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Demuth
authors.affiliation: Department of Vertebrate Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany, German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Berlin, Germany, Charité Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Institute of Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany, Department of Psychology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany, Center for Medical Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany, Department of Economics, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany and Berlin University of Technology (TUB), Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Düzel
authors.affiliation: Department of Vertebrate Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany, German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Berlin, Germany, Charité Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Institute of Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany, Department of Psychology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany, Center for Medical Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany, Department of Economics, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany and Berlin University of Technology (TUB), Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Rahel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eckardt
authors.affiliation: Department of Vertebrate Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany, German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Berlin, Germany, Charité Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Institute of Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany, Department of Psychology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany, Center for Medical Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany, Department of Economics, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany and Berlin University of Technology (TUB), Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Vertebrate Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany, German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Berlin, Germany, Charité Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Institute of Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany, Department of Psychology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany, Center for Medical Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany, Department of Economics, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany and Berlin University of Technology (TUB), Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Shu-Chen
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Vertebrate Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany, German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Berlin, Germany, Charité Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Institute of Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany, Department of Psychology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany, Center for Medical Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany, Department of Economics, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany and Berlin University of Technology (TUB), Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulman
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lindenberger
authors.affiliation: Department of Vertebrate Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany, German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Berlin, Germany, Charité Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Institute of Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany, Department of Psychology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany, Center for Medical Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany, Department of Economics, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany and Berlin University of Technology (TUB), Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pawelec
authors.affiliation: Department of Vertebrate Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany, German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Berlin, Germany, Charité Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Institute of Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany, Department of Psychology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany, Center for Medical Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany, Department of Economics, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany and Berlin University of Technology (TUB), Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Vertebrate Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany, German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Berlin, Germany, Charité Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Institute of Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany, Department of Psychology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany, Center for Medical Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany, Department of Economics, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany and Berlin University of Technology (TUB), Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Siedler
authors.affiliation: Department of Vertebrate Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany, German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Berlin, Germany, Charité Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Institute of Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany, Department of Psychology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany, Center for Medical Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany, Department of Economics, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany and Berlin University of Technology (TUB), Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Vertebrate Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany, German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Berlin, Germany, Charité Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Institute of Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany, Department of Psychology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany, Center for Medical Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany, Department of Economics, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany and Berlin University of Technology (TUB), Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Vertebrate Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany, German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Berlin, Germany, Charité Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Institute of Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany, Department of Psychology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany, Center for Medical Resear
authors.forename: Gert G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Department of Vertebrate Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany, German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Berlin, Germany, Charité Research Group on Geriatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Institute of Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany, Department of Psychology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany, Center for Medical Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany, Department of Economics, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany and Berlin University of Technology (TUB), Berlin, Germany elisabeth.steinhagen-thiessen@charite.de.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Steinhagen-Thiessen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000486:Allergy and Immunology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005826:Genetics, Medical; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D019529:Sexuality; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors