Metrics details. The LIFE-Adult-Study is a population-based cohort study, which has recently completed the baseline examination of 10, randomly selected participants from Leipzig, a major city with , inhabitants in the east of Germany. It is the first study of this kind and size in an urban population in the eastern part of Germany.
Our objective is to investigate prevalences, early onset markers, genetic predispositions, and the role of lifestyle factors of major civilization diseases, with primary focus on metabolic and vascular diseases, heart function, cognitive impairment, brain function, depression, sleep disorders and vigilance dysregulation, retinal and optic nerve degeneration, and allergies. The study covers a main age range from years with particular deep phenotyping in elderly participants above the age of The baseline examination was conducted from August to November All participants underwent an extensive core assessment programme h including structured interviews, questionnaires, physical examinations, and biospecimen collection.
Participants over 60 underwent two additional assessment programmes h each on two separate visits including deeper cognitive testing, brain magnetic resonance imaging, diagnostic interviews for depression, and electroencephalography.
The assessment programme was accepted well and completely passed by almost all participants. Biomarker analyses have already been performed in all participants. Genotype, transcriptome and metabolome analyses have been conducted in subgroups.
The first follow-up examination will commence in Peer Review reports. Since the German reunification in , East Germany has experienced profound social and lifestyle changes.
