Population Studies

Several long-term health studies are currently conducted in Germany. Among these studies are the so-called “Rheinland Studie” (Rhineland Study) conducted by the “Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen e.V.” (German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases) and the German National Cohort health study (GNC).

Within the framework of the Rheinland Studie, the impact of hereditary factors, ways of living and environmental influences on all aspects of health relevant in the context of neurodegenerative diseases are subject to examination. The centre of attention of this study therefore is the role of the brain in terms of human health and well-being. The study’s main focus lies on the development of strategies to prevent neurodegenerative diseases. The preliminary studies of the Rheinland Studie started in 2014, the study itself began in 2016.

The GNC health study started with a pilot study in 2013. The first so-called basic examination was conducted with the participants from 2014 to 2019, the follow-up examinations of the 'second round' have followed since 2018 and they are going to continue until 2023. The objective of this study is the collection of nation-wide data on various widespread diseases such as cancer, dementia and diabetes. The study follows the structure of other European studies in order to allow for long term comparable usage of all collected data. 

Both studies which are conducted follow the directives of “Good Epidemiological Practice” (GEP).

Website of the Rheinland Studie. Online Version (German)

Website of the GNC health study. Online Version

An overview of national and international publications of results of the NAKO health study can be found here: Online Version (German)

Guidelines and recommendation for the securing of "Good Epidemiological Practice" (GEP). Online Version (German)

In the course of the above-mentioned studies, so-called epidemiological biobanks were created in which biological materials and associated personal data of the test subjects were stored. Unlike clinically oriented human biobanks, epidemiological biobanks are not always in a specific clinical context and are not restricted to specific diseases but can serve cross-sectional and prospective research due to their extensive sample and data set. Further information are available in the module Human biobanks for research as well as in the medical and scientific part of the "Human biobanks" status report:

Illig, T. / Bernemann, I. (2019): Medizinisch-naturwissenschaftliche Aspekte. In: Sturma, D. / Lanzerath, D. (ed.): Humanbiobanken. Ethik in den Biowissenschaften – Sachstandsbericht des DRZE, Bd. 19. Freiburg i. Br. / München: Verlag Karl Alber, 13–39, especially 21–24. (German)

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