Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (Jul 2014)

Studying variability in human brain aging in a population-based German cohort – Rationale and design of 1000BRAINS

  • Svenja eCaspers,
  • Susanne eMoebus,
  • Silke eLux,
  • Noreen ePundt,
  • Holger eSchütz,
  • Thomas W Mühleisen,
  • Thomas W Mühleisen,
  • Thomas W Mühleisen,
  • Vincent eGras,
  • Simon B Eickhoff,
  • Simon B Eickhoff,
  • Sandro eRomanzetti,
  • Tony eStöcker,
  • Rüdiger eStirnberg,
  • Mehmet E Kirlangic,
  • Martina eMinnerop,
  • Peter ePieperhoff,
  • Ulrich eMödder,
  • Samir eDas,
  • Alan eEvans,
  • Karl-Heinz eJöckel,
  • Raimund eErbel,
  • Sven eCichon,
  • Sven eCichon,
  • Sven eCichon,
  • Sven eCichon,
  • Markus M Nöthen,
  • Markus M Nöthen,
  • Dieter eSturma,
  • Dieter eSturma,
  • Andreas eBauer,
  • Andreas eBauer,
  • Jon eShah,
  • Jon eShah,
  • Jon eShah,
  • Karl eZilles,
  • Karl eZilles,
  • Karl eZilles,
  • Katrin eAmunts,
  • Katrin eAmunts,
  • Katrin eAmunts

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2014.00149
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6

Abstract

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The ongoing 1000 brains study (1000BRAINS) is an epidemiological and neuroscientific investigation of structural and functional variability in the human brain during aging. The two recruitment sources are the 10-year follow-up cohort of the German Heinz Nixdorf Recall (HNR) Study, and the HNR MultiGeneration Study cohort, which comprises spouses and offspring of HNR subjects. The HNR is a longitudinal epidemiological investigation of cardiovascular risk factors, with a comprehensive collection of clinical, laboratory, socioeconomic, and environmental data from population-based subjects aged 45-75 years on inclusion. HNR subjects underwent detailed assessments in 2000, 2006, and 2011, and completed annual postal questionnaires on health status. 1000BRAINS accesses these HNR data and applies a separate protocol comprising: neuropsychological tests of attention, memory, executive functions & language; examination of motor skills; ratings of personality, life quality, mood & daily activities; analysis of laboratory and genetic data; and state-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, 3 Tesla) of the brain. The latter includes (i) 3D-T1- and 3D-T2-weighted scans for structural analyses and myelin mapping; (ii) three diffusion imaging sequences optimized for diffusion tensor imaging, high-angular resolution diffusion imaging for detailed fibre tracking and for diffusion kurtosis imaging; (iii) resting-state and task-based functional MRI; and (iv) fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and MR angiography for the detection of vascular lesions and the mapping of white matter lesions. The unique design of 1000BRAINS allows: (i) comprehensive investigation of various influences including genetics, environment and health status on variability in brain structure and function during aging; and (ii) identification of the impact of selected influencing factors on specific cognitive subsystems and their anatomical correlates.

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