This website is now the new JPND's archival platform. This website hosts all of JPND's archived content and resources.
Please continue to visit this site to access publications, videos and reports from JPND's activities.
The Lifelines Cohort Study is a large population-based cohort study and biobank that was established as a resource for research on complex interactions between environmental, phenotypic and genomic factors in the development of chronic diseases and healthy ageing. The Lifelines cohort distinguishes a children’s cohort (aged 0-18), an adult cohort (aged 18-65) and the elderly cohort (aged 65+). The protocol for these three sub-cohorts is largely the same, but focuses in part on the characteristics of the specific participant groups.
Between 2006 and 2013, inhabitants of the northern part of The Netherlands and their families were invited to participate, thereby contributing to a three-generation design. Follow-up visits are scheduled every 5 years, and in between participants receive follow-up questionnaires. Linkage is being established with medical registries and environmental data. Lifelines contains information on biochemistry, medical history, psychosocial characteristics, lifestyle and more. Genomic data are available including genome-wide genetic data of 15638 participants. Fasting blood and 24-h urine samples are processed on the day of collection and stored at -80 °C in a fully automated storage facility. The aim of Lifelines is to be a resource for the national and international scientific community. Requests for data and biomaterials can be submitted to the Lifelines Research Office ([email protected]).
Types General population-based cohort
Participant Types No diagnosis
Countries Netherlands
Genders Male and Female
Sample sizes 10,000 to 19,999
Ages 60 to 100
Brain related measures
Funtional rating Caregiver|Individual psychological
Anthropometric Blood pressure|Height|Hip circumference|Waist circumference|Weight
Physical Cardiovascular|Hearing and Vision|Musculoskeletal|Reproductive|Respiratory
Biological samples Blood|Microbiome|Other|Urine
Genotyping Gene screening
Brain imaging
Brain banking Consent for brain donation
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
Institute names Lifelines Cohort Study and Biobank
Current Sample Sizes 10,000 to 19,999
age at recruitment 65-93
last updated
recruitment period 2006-2013
estimated current sample size number value 12000
cohort acronym
start date 2006-2013
pi Dr Aafje Dotinga
website https://www.lifelines.nl/researcher/biobank-lifelines Online catalogue of available data: https://catalogue.lifelines.nl
contact details Lifelines Cohort Study and Biobank,
PO Box 30.001,
9713 BZ Groningen,
The Netherlands
abstract The Lifelines Cohort Study is a large population-based cohort study and biobank. Between 2006-2013, 15638 participants were recruited into 3 cohorts a children’s cohort (aged 0-18), an adult cohort (aged 18-65) and the elderly cohort (aged 65+).
funders Dutch Government, Organization of Scientific Research NWO, the Northern Netherlands Collaboration of Provinces (SNN), the European fund for regional development, Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Provinces of Groningen and Drenthe, the University of Groningen, and the University Medical Center Groningen.
contact email PI Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
contact phone number
estimated current sample size 10,000 to 19,999
sample sizes 12706