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Bavarian Longitudinal Study Cohort (BLS)
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Sample details

The BLS follows a cohort of individuals to assess those at an increased risk for motor, language, and cognitive development delays. The study initially recruited all infants born "at risk" in a geographically defined area in Southern Bavaria during a 15-month period between 1985-1986 who were admitted to one of 16 children’s hospitals within 10 days after birth (N = 7,505). In Phase I, recruited participants, 916 control children and their parents were examined during the newborn period and at ages 5, 20 and 56 months. Participants have been followed up in Phase 2 (1991-1994), Phase 3 (1998-1999), Phase 4 (2010-2014) and Phase 5 (2019-2022). Follow-up in phase 6 is ongoing as of January 2025.

Study design
Cohort - birth

Number of participants at first data collection

7,505 (participants)

916 (control participants)

Age at first data collection

Birth (participants)

Participant year of birth

1985 - 1986 (participants)

Participant sex
All

Representative sample at baseline?
No

Sample features

Newborns, infants and babies
Dataset details

Country

Germany

Year of first data collection

1985

Primary Institutions

Technical University of Munich (Technische Universität München, TU Munich)

University Hospital Bonn (Universitätsklinikum Bonn, UKB)

University of Warwick (UoW)

Links

bayerische-entwicklungsstudie.de/

platform.recap-preterm.eu/pub/study/best_bls

doi.org/10.1097/dbp.0b013e3181a85973

Funders

European Research Council (ERC)

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)

German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG)

United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Ongoing?
Yes

Data types collected

neuroImagingData
mentalHealthData
Quantitative data collection
  • 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
Qualitative data collection
  • None
Neuroimaging data collection
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Linked or secondary data
  • None
Features

Engagement

  • None
  • Keywords

    Behaviour
    Cognition
    Family environment and factors
    Neurology and neurological diseases
    Pregnancy outcomes
    Psychosocial development
    Quality of life
    Risk assessment
    Social participation
    Work and employment
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