Cohort Descriptives

Variable Response
Cohort Name UK Biobank
Cohort Acronym UK Biobank
DOI Collins, R. (2017). UK Biobank [Data set]. Dementias Platform UK. https://doi.org/10.48532/046000
Study Overview UK Biobank aims to assess the relevance of a very wide range of health-related outcomes. It is a large prospective study to investigate the role of genetic factors, environmental exposures and lifestyle in the causes of major diseases of late and middle age. During 2006-2010, UK Biobank conducted its recruitment phase of more than 500,000 participants who gave their consent, answered questions, had physical measurements and gave samples (blood, urine and saliva) at a Baseline assessment visit. Follow-up of their health is now being conducted through medical and other health-related records. Access systems have been developed to facilitate use of the UK Biobank Resource by bona fide researchers for health-related research that is in the public interest.
#Subjects at Baseline 503316
Institution Name UK Biobank
Department Name UK Biobank Coordinating Centre
City Stockport
Study/Database Website

https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk

Principal Investigator (PI) Professor Sir Rory Collins
Key Study References

Please see literature section

Population Based Study? Yes
Family Based Study? No
Clinical based sample? No
Is there follow-up data available? Yes
Were participants included prior to development of dementia (may refer to controls only)? Yes
Were participants included prior to development of MCI (may refer to controls only)? Yes
How is data collected? A combination of in person, postal and internet
Who carries out data collection? Interviewers and clinical staff: Key staff are research nursing and technical staff
Does this take place in participants' homes or at a central location? Home and Central: Baseline visit at central location (office space). Pedometry (100,000) and email questionnaires (300,000) sent to participants and carried out at home. There are additional web based questionnaires that will also be carried out at home.
Do participants take part individually or are families/partners involved? Individually
Dementia cases ascertained as part of study: No
How many times followed up? 2, with online questionnaires at intervals
How regular is follow-up? Subgroups followed up more frequently, with online questionnaires asking about diet, work history, patricipants' thoughts and feelings and cognitive function.
# Subjects at Follow-up 20,000 at repeat assessment, aim of 100,000 at imaging visit
Study start date 01/01/2006 00:00:00
Is study ongoing? Yes
Is study still recruiting? No
Inclusion criteria Age 40-69 years at recruitment. Capacity to consent. Lived within 20-25 miles of one of the assessment centres.
Exclusion criteria UK Biobank did not enrol potential participants who express the view that they would want to be withdrawn should they lose mental capacity or die because this would reduce the value of the resource for research.

Administration

Variable type
Age at recruitment
Assessment centre
Date of birth
Date of consenting to join UK Biobank
Email access
Home location at assessment
ID
Reason/date lost to follow-up
Sex

Sociodemographic

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1 2 Online Follow-up
Deprivation Able to pay rent/mortgage as an adult       Y
Deprivation Accommodation Y Y Y  
Deprivation Household information Y Y Y  
Deprivation Townsend deprivation index at recruitment Y      
Education Age completed full time education Y Y Y  
Education Qualifications Y Y Y  
Education Year ended full time education       Y
Employment Attendance/disability/mobility allowance Y Y Y  
Employment Current employment status Y      
Employment Current/main job information Y Y Y  
Employment Distance between home and job workplace Y Y Y  
Employment Job information       Y
Ethnicity Ethnic background Y      
Ethnicity Year immigrated to UK Y Y Y  

Family History

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1 2 Online Follow-up
Extended Non-accidental death in close genetic family Y Y Y  
Father Father (natural and adopted) Y Y Y  
Mother Mother (natual and adopted) Y Y Y  
Siblings Siblings (natual and adopted) Y Y Y  

Early Life History

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1 2 Online Follow-up
Birth Adopted as a child Y Y Y  
Birth Birth weight Y Y Y  
Birth Born by caesarian section       Y
Birthplace Country of birth (non-UK) Y      
Birthplace Place of birth (UK) Y Y Y  
Body Size Child Comparative body/height size at age 10 Y Y Y  
Breastfed Breastfed as a baby Y Y Y  
Childhood Environment Long-term antibiotics as a child       Y
Handedness Handedness (chirality/laterality) Y Y Y  
Mother Smoked Maternal smoking around birth Y Y Y  
Twin Birth Part of a multiple birth Y Y Y  

Physical Health Status

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1 2 Online Follow-up
Cancer Cancer Y Y Y  
Cancer Cancer screenings Y Y Y  
Cancer Lung cancer       Y
Cancer Self-reported cancers/non-cancer illnesses Y Y Y  
Cardiothoracic Heart attack Y Y Y  
Cardiothoracic Myocardial infarction     Y  
Cardiothoracic STEMI/NSTEMI     Y  
Cardiothoracic Various cardiothoracic conditions Y Y Y  
Cardiothoracic Vascular/heart problems Y Y Y  
Cerebrovascular Intracerebral/subarachnoid haemorrhage     Y  
Cerebrovascular Ischaemic stroke     Y  
ENT Frequency of loud music exposure Y Y Y  
ENT Mouth/teeth dental problems Y Y Y  
ENT Tinnitus severity/nuisance Y Y Y  
Eyes Current eye infection Y Y    
Eyes Eye problems/disorders Y Y Y  
Eyes Glasses/contact lenses Y Y Y  
Eyes Glaucoma/cataract diagnosed Y Y Y  
Eyes Which eye(s) affected by various eye conditions Y Y Y  
Gastrointestinal Abdominal pain/discomfort       Y
Gastrointestinal Coeliac disease/gluten sensitivity       Y
Gastrointestinal General gastro-intestinal health       Y
Gastrointestinal Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)       Y
General Health Diabetes/gestational diabetes Y Y Y  
General Health Falls and resulting fractures Y Y Y  
General Health Long-standing illness, disability or infirmity Y Y Y  
General Health Other serious medical condition/disability Y Y Y  
General Health Overall health rating Y Y Y  
General Health Weight change compared with 1 year ago Y Y Y  
Immunological Hay fever/rhinitis/eczema Y Y Y  
Pain Body/joint/general pain report Y Y Y  
Respiratory Various lung diseases/illnesses       Y
Respiratory Wheeze or whistling in the chest/shortness of breath Y Y Y  

Reproductive History

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1 2 Online Follow-up
Female Age at first/last live birth Y Y Y  
Female Age of primiparous women at birth of child Y Y Y  
Female Age when periods started Y Y Y  
Female Birth weight of first child Y Y Y  
Female Hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) Y Y Y  
Female Hysterectomy/oophorectomy (both ovaries removed) Y Y Y  
Female Menopause Y Y Y  
Female Menstrual cycles Y Y Y  
Female Number of live births Y Y Y  
Female Oral contraceptive pill Y Y Y  
Female Stillbirth/spontaneous miscarriage/termination Y Y Y  
Male Hair/balding pattern Y Y Y  
Male Number of children fathered Y Y Y  
Male Relative age of first facial hair Y Y Y  
Male Relative age voice broke Y Y Y  

Healthcare Utilisation

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1 2 Online Follow-up
Health Insurance Private healthcare Y Y Y  
Medications Treatments/medications for various illnesses       Y
Medications Vitamin, mineral and other dietary supplements Y Y Y  
Surgery Ever had eye surgery Y Y    
Surgery Major operations Y Y Y  
Surgery Pace-maker Y Y Y  
Surgery Surgery/amputation of toe or leg Y Y Y  

Life Functionality

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1 2 Online Follow-up
Assistive devices Hearing aid/cochlear implant Y Y Y  

Psychological Status

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1 2 Online Follow-up
Personality Neuroticism score     Y  
Personality Risk taking Y Y Y  
Personality Suffer from 'nerves' Y Y Y  
Personality Tense/'highly strung' Y Y Y  
Sleep Extensive sleep assessment Y Y Y  
Wellbeing Belief that own life is meaningful       Y
Wellbeing General happiness/satisfaction assessment       Y

Mental Health Status

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1 2 Online Follow-up
Abuse Belittlement by partner or ex-partner as an adult       Y
Abuse Felt hated/physically abused by family member as a child       Y
Abuse Felt loved as a child       Y
Abuse Physical violence/sexual interference by partner without consent as an adult       Y
Abuse Someone to take to doctor when needed as a child       Y
Abuse Victim of sexual assault as a child/adult       Y
Addictions Addiction to any substance/behaviour/alcohol/miscellaneous       Y
Addictions Addiction to illicit or recreational drugs/over-the-counter medication       Y
Consultation Ever sought or received professional help for mental distress       Y
Consultation Ever talked to a health professional about unusual or psychotic experiences       Y
Disorders Bipolar disorder     Y  
Mood Been in a confiding relationship as an adult       Y
Mood Depression/anxiety       Y
Mood Mania/irritability/anger       Y
Mood Mental health questionnaire       Y
Mood Mood/feelings assessment Y Y Y  
Mood Psychotic experiences       Y
Mood Stress       Y
Mood Unenthusiasm/disinterest Y Y Y  
Self Harm Self-harm       Y
Self Harm Suicide       Y
Trauma Diagnosed with life-threatening illness       Y
Trauma Traumatic experience (serious accident, combat/war-zone, violent crime/death)       Y

Cognition

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1 2 Online Follow-up
Cognitive Performance Aide-memoire completed Y Y    
Cognitive Performance Fluid intelligence       Y
Cognitive Performance Number/history of attempts Y Y Y  
Cognitive Performance Numeric memory       Y
Cognitive Performance Pairs matching       Y
Cognitive Performance Symbol digit substitution       Y
Cognitive Performance Trail making       Y
Cognitive Performance Willing to attempt cognitive tests Y Y Y  
Cognitive Status Alzheimer's disease     Y  
Cognitive Status Dementia     Y  
Cognitive Status Frontotemporal dementia     Y  
Cognitive Status Parkinson's disease     Y  
Cognitive Status Vascular dementia     Y  

Lifestyle

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1 2 Online Follow-up
Alcohol Alcohol drinker status Y Y Y  
Alcohol Alcohol intake versus 10 years previously Y Y Y  
Alcohol Alcohol usually taken with meals Y Y Y  
Alcohol Average weekly/monthly alcohol intake Y Y Y  
Alcohol Former alcohol drinker/reason stopped drinking alcohol Y Y Y  
Alcohol Size of wine glass drunk Y     Y
Diet Carbohydrate intake Y     Y
Diet Dairy intake Y     Y
Diet Extensive diet questionnaires completed Y     Y
Diet Fat intake Y     Y
Diet Fruit/vegetable intake Y     Y
Diet Hot drink intake Y     Y
Diet Meat/fish/vegetarian alternative intake Y     Y
Diet Other drink intake Y     Y
Diet Portion size/typical diet Y     Y
Diet Salt added to food Y Y Y Y
Diet Savoury/sweet snack intake Y     Y
Diet Spreads/sauces intake Y     Y
Diet Total sugars Y     Y
Diet Type of special diet followed Y     Y
Diet Vitamins/minerals Y     Y
Digital Technology Difference in mobile phone use compared to two years previously Y Y Y  
Digital Technology Hands-free device/speakerphone use in last 3 months Y Y Y  
Digital Technology Mobile phone use Y Y Y  
Digital Technology Plays computer games Y Y Y  
Digital Technology Time spent watching TV/using computer Y Y Y  
Digital Technology Usual side of head for mobile phone use Y Y Y  
Leisure Leisure/social activities Y Y Y  
Physical Moderate/vigorous activity Y Y Y  
Physical Other activity/exercise Y Y Y  
Physical Time spent doing physical activity Y     Y
Physical Walking Y Y Y  
Sexual Sexual history Y Y Y  
Smoking Smoking history Y Y Y  
Substances History of alcohol/substances intake       Y
Travel Driving/other transport Y Y Y  

Physical Environment

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1 2 Online Follow-up
Housing Date first recorded at location     Y  
Housing Home location & area population density     Y  
Sun Exposure Facial ageing Y Y Y  
Sun Exposure Frequency of solarium/sunlamp use Y Y Y  
Sun Exposure Hair colour (natural, before greying) Y Y Y  
Sun Exposure Skin colour/ease of tanning/sunburn occasions Y Y Y  
Sun Exposure Time spent outdoors in summer/winter Y Y Y  
Sun Exposure Use of sun/uv protection Y Y Y  
Work Breathing problems/frequent cough due to workplace/job       Y
Work Devices used at work       Y
Work Gap periods       Y
Work Noisy workplace Y Y Y  
Work Shift work (day/night)       Y
Work Tobacco smoking in the work place       Y
Work Transport to workplace Y Y Y  
Work Work hours       Y
Work Workplace conditions       Y

Social Environment

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1 2 Online Follow-up
Life Events Illness, injury, bereavement, stress in last 2 years Y Y Y  
Social Interaction Able to confide Y Y Y  
Social Interaction Frequency of friend/family visits Y Y Y  

Physical Examination

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1 2 Online Follow-up
Accelerometer Acceleration average/standard deviation     Y  
Accelerometer Accelerometer administrative data     Y  
Accelerometer Calibration of data     Y  
Accelerometer Data recording errors     Y  
Accelerometer Fraction acceleration     Y  
Accelerometer Wear duration during each day/hour of the week     Y  
Anthropometry Body mass index (BMI) Y Y    
Anthropometry Height (standing, seated) Y Y Y  
Anthropometry Impedance of limbs, whole body Y Y Y  
Anthropometry Waist/hip circumference Y Y Y  
Anthropometry Weight Y Y Y  
Anthropometry Whole body fat mass/percentage Y Y    
Anthropometry Whole body water mass Y Y    
Ear Extensive hearing assessments Y Y Y  
Eye Extensive eye/sight assessments Y Y    
Heart Cardiac assessments Y Y Y  
Heart ECG assessments Y Y    
Lung Caffeine drank within last hour Y Y Y  
Lung Extensive lung assessments Y Y Y  
Lung Smoked cigarette or pipe within last hour Y Y Y  
Lung Used an inhaler for chest within last hour Y Y Y  
Metabolism Basal metabolic rate Y Y    
Strength Hand grip strength Y Y Y  

Linkage Data

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1 2 Online Follow-up
Cancer Register Cancer diagnosis   Y    
Death Register Date of/age at death   Y    
HES Administrative and legal statuses   Y    
HES Admissions/discharges from hospital   Y    
HES Diagnoses   Y    
HES External causes   Y    
HES Inpatient record format     Y  
HES Intended management of patient   Y    
HES Main/treatment speciality of consultant   Y    
HES Operative procedures   Y Y  
HES Patient classification on admission   Y    
HES PCT where patients GP was registered   Y    
HES Spell and episode data   Y    

Biosample Assays

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1 2 Online Follow-up
Biochemistry Saliva samples Y Y    
Biochemistry Urine samples Y Y    
Haematology Analyses of blood components Y Y Y  
Haematology Analyses of various types of red blood cell Y Y Y  
Haematology Analyses of various types of white blood cell Y Y Y  
Haematology Blood cell counts (red/white) Y Y Y  
Haematology Blood samples Y Y Y  
Haematology Haemoglobin concentration/percentage Y Y Y  
Haematology Mean corpuscular volume/haemoglobin Y Y Y  
Haematology Mean sphered cell volume tests Y Y Y  
Haematology Platelet analyses Y Y Y  

Imaging

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1 2 Online Follow-up
BMD Android measurements     Y  
BMD DXA scans     Y  
BMD L1-L4 measurements     Y  
BMD Various body part measurements Y Y Y  
BMD VAT (visceral adipose tissue) mass & volume     Y  
MRI Abdominal MRI     Y  
MRI Brain MRI     Y  
MRI Cardiac MRI     Y  
MRI FA skeleton MRI     Y  
MRI rfMRI (resting-state functional MRI)     Y  
MRI T1/T2 MRI     Y  
MRI tfMRI (task-based functional MRI)     Y  

Genomics

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1 2 Online Follow-up
Genotyping Chromosome genotype probabilities/intensities     Y  
Genotyping DNA concentration     Y  
Genotyping Extensive genotyping     Y  
Genotyping Genetic ethnic grouping     Y  
Genotyping Genetic kinship to other participants     Y  
Genotyping Genetic principal components     Y  
Genotyping Genetic relatedness     Y  
Genotyping Genetic sex     Y  
Genotyping Genotype measurement batch/plate/well     Y  
Genotyping Mitochondrial genotype probabilities/intensities     Y  
Genotyping Recommended genomic analysis exclusions     Y  
Genotyping UKBiLEVE Affymetrix/genotype quality control for samples     Y  
Genotyping UKBiLEVE unrelatedness indicator     Y  

Built Environment

Sub-category Variable type Baseline 1 2 Online Follow-up
Morphometrics Distance (Euclidean) to coast Y Y    
Morphometrics Greenspace/domestic garden percentage Y Y    
Morphometrics Natural environment percentage Y Y    
Morphometrics Water percentage Y Y    
Pollution Average sound level of noise pollution     Y  
Pollution Close to major road     Y  
Pollution Nitrogen oxides air pollution     Y  
Pollution Particulate matter air pollution     Y  
Pollution Sum of road length of major roads within 100m     Y  
Pollution Traffic intensity/loads on nearest roads     Y