The Whitehall II Study

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.

Types General population-based cohort
Participant Types No diagnosis
Countries United Kingdom
Genders Male and Female
Sample sizes 10,000 to 19,999
Ages 20 to 39|40 to 59
Brain related measures
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
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 University College, London
Current Sample Sizes 5,000 to 9,999

age at recruitment 35-55
last updated 20180510
recruitment period 1985
estimated current sample size number value
cohort acronym Whitehall II
start date 1985
pi Professor Mika Kivimaki
website http://www.ucl.ac.uk/whitehallII
contact details Whitehall II
Department of Epidemiology & Public Health
University College London
1-19 Torrington Place
London
WC1E 6BT
abstract  The Whitehall II Study was established to investigate the importance of socioeconomic circumstances for health by following a cohort of working men and women aged 35-55.
funders  Medical Research Council
British Heart Foundation
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
contact email email: [email protected] PI email: [email protected]
contact phone number Tel: 020 7679 5621
estimated current sample size 7,735
sample sizes 10,308