Aberdeen Birth Cohort 1936

On 4th June 1947, as part of the Scottish Mental Survey, every Scottish schoolchild born in 1936 sat the same test of mental ability: the Moray House Test. In 1997, Professor Lawrence Whalley discovered the Scottish Mental Survey test records at the Scottish Council for Research in Education in Edinburgh and began to trace people who had sat the test in Aberdeen.

Aberdeen University has followed all of the children born in Aberdeen in 1921, 1936 (see Aberdeen Birth Cohort 1936) and 1950-1956 (see Aberdeen Children of the 1950’s) as they grow and age.
Collectively these groups are known as the ABERDEEN BIRTH COHORTS, and have helped to advance our understanding of aging well.

Over the years, researchers have linked the results from these tests to health and social information.
The linked data has been used to answer questions like:
• Does being born very small affect mental health later in life?
• Is the risk of dementia related to childhood intelligence?
• What influences quality of life in old-age?
Participants born in 1921 and 1936 have been invited back for a wide variety of studies at the University. Similar research is being started for the Children of the 1950’s group.

Types General population-based cohort
Participant Types No diagnosis
Countries United Kingdom
Genders Male and Female
Sample sizes 50,000 to 99,999
Ages 10 to 19
Brain related measures
Funtional rating
Anthropometric Blood pressure|Height|Waist circumference|Weight
Physical
Biological samples
Genotyping Gene screening
Brain imaging Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Brain banking
Lifestyle Alcohol|Dietary habits|Physical activity|Smoking
Socio-economic Education|Family circumstances|Housing and accommodation|Martial status|Occupation and employment
Health service utilisation
Institute names University of Aberdeen
Current Sample Sizes 50,000 to 99,999

age at recruitment 11
last updated
recruitment period 4th June 1947
estimated current sample size number value 497
cohort acronym ABC1936
start date 4th June 1947
pi Prof Alison Murray
website https://www.abdn.ac.uk/birth-cohorts/1936/
contact details Aberdeen Birth Cohort 1936 Study
University of Aberdeen
F04
Lilian Sutton Building
University of Aberdeen
Foresterhill
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZD
abstract  Aberdeen University has followed all of the children born in Aberdeen in 1936, 1921 (see Aberdeen Birth Cohort 1921) and 1950-1956 (see Aberdeen Children of the 1950’s) as they grow and age. ABC1936 recruited 75,211 participants.
funders  University of Aberdeen
contact email PI Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
contact phone number Tel: +44 (0)1224 438353
estimated current sample size 0 to 4,999
sample sizes 75,211