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Cohort Acronym
Whitehall II

Cohort type
General population-based cohort

Disease
Dementia (unclassified)

Participant type
No diagnosis

Profile
Recruitment Period 1985 
Sample size at start or planned sample size if still recruiting 10,308  
Estimated Current Sample Size 7,735 
Age at Recruitment 35-55   
Gender Male and Female 
Abstract

The Whitehall II Study was established in 1985 to investigate the importance of socioeconomic circumstances for health by following a cohort of working men and women aged 35-55 at enrolment. Participants have taken part in twelve data collection phases, seven of which have included a medical screening. The aim of the study is to understand the causes of age-related heterogeneity in health.

By combining the existing 30 years of data on social circumstances, risk factors and chronic disease with new clinical measures of cognitive function, mental disorders and physical functioning, Whitehall II has been transformed interdisciplinary study of ageing. In addition to providing insights into individual and social differences in the development of frailty, disability, dependence, and dementia, the study helps in the determination of optimal time windows and targets for interventions that maximise the potential for healthy-ageing and independent living.

 
Country United Kingdom 
Contact details
Institution name University College, London 
Website http://www.ucl.ac.uk/whitehallII 
Principal Investiator (PI) Professor Mika Kivimaki 
Contact email email: [email protected] PI email: [email protected] 
Contact phone number Tel: 020 7679 5621 
Address Whitehall II
Department of Epidemiology & Public Health
University College London
1-19 Torrington Place
London
WC1E 6BT 
Funders (Core support) Medical Research Council
British Heart Foundation
National Institute on Aging (NIA) 

Variables Collected

Brain related measures: N/A
Funtional rating: Individual psychological
Anthropometric: Blood pressure, Height, Waist circumference, Weight
Physical: Cardiovascular, Musculoskeletal, Respiratory
Biological samples: Blood, Saliva, Urine
Genotyping: Gene screening
Brain imaging: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Brain banking: N/A
Lifestyle: Alcohol, Dietary habits, Physical activity, Smoking
Socio-economic: Education, Ethnic group, Family circumstances, Housing and accommodation, Income and finances, Informal support, Marital status, Occupation and employment, Unpaid care
Health service utilisation: Formal health and social care service utilisation including private care
 
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