Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study of Adult Development and Aging (ILSE)

Sample details

ILSE is a multidisciplinary longitudinal study design investigating the aging process of two German birth cohorts born between 1930 - 1932 (C30) and 1950 - 1952 (C50), respectively. ILSE participants have been followed since 1993 for an average time period of 12 years and assessed at three measurement waves (t1: 1993 – 1996; t2: 1997 – 2000; t3: 2005 – 2008). The study sample includes participants from the former Western (Heidelberg region, HD) as well as Eastern (Leipzig region, LE) parts of Germany, allowing for the analysis of East/West Germany differences in developmental trajectories and outcomes.

Study design
Cohort - birth

Number of participants at first data collection

502 (younger birth cohort (C50))

500 (elder birth cohort (C30))

Age at first data collection

60 - 62 years (elder birth cohort (C30))

40 - 42 years (younger birth cohort (C50))

Participant year of birth

1930 – 1932 (elder birth cohort (C30))

1950 – 1952 (younger birth cohort (C50))

Participant sex
All

Representative sample at baseline?
Older adults in Heidelberg and Leipzig in terms of relevant sociodemographic data (e.g., marital status, household net income).

Sample features

German-speaking

Older and elderly people

Dataset details

Country

Germany

Year of first data collection

1993

Primary Institutions

Heidelberg University (Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg)

University of Leipzig (Universität Leipzig)

Links

maelstrom-research.org/study/ilse

Profile paper DOI

doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-080-3_238-1

Funders

Dietmar Hopp Foundation (Dietmar Hopp Stiftung)

Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend, BMFSFJ)

Heidelberg University (Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg)

Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts of Baden-Württemberg (Ministerium fu¨r Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst, Baden-Württemberg, MWK)

Ongoing?
Yes

Data types collected

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 – unspecified

Qualitative data collection