Berlin Aging Study (BASE)
BASE is a multidisciplinary investigation of old people aged 70 to over 100 who live in former West Berlin. A main study took place between 1990–1993, during which a core sample of 516 individuals was closely examined in 14 sessions covering their mental and physical health, their psychological functioning, and their social and economic situation. Since then, the study has been continued as a longitudinal study, and surviving participants have been reexamined seven times.
Study design
Cohort
Number of participants at first data collection
516 (participants)
Age at first data collection
70 - 103 years (participants)
Participant year of birth
1907 - 1922 (participants)
Participant sex
All
Representative sample at baseline?
The older (70+) population of Germany.
Sample features
Country
Year of first data collection
1990
Primary Institutions
Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (BBAW)
Evangelisches Geriatriezentrum Berlin (EGZB)
Free University Berlin
Geriatrics Research Group of the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Humboldt University of Berlin (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, HU Berlin)
Profile paper DOI
Funders
Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences
Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend, BMFSFJ)
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF) now known as Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt, BMFTR)
Free University Berlin (Freie Universität Berlin)
Max Planck Society
Ongoing?
No
Data types collected
- Computer, paper or task testing (e.g. cognitive testing, theory of mind doll task, attention computer tasks)
- Interview – face-to-face
- Interview – phone
- Physical or biological assessment (e.g. blood, saliva, gait, grip strength, anthropometry)
- Self-report questionnaire – paper or computer assisted
- None
- None
- Mortality data
Engagement
Keywords
Consortia and dataset groups
