Dortmund Vital Study on healthy cognitive ageing enters its third phase
More than 600 participants in the Dortmund Vital Study are being invited for the third time to continue their involvement in a very comprehensive long-term research project on healthy ageing. Since its launch in 2016, the research team at the Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo) in Dortmund has been following the participants through major stages of their lives – with the aim of finding out what keeps people mentally fit.
“Taking part in the Dortmund Vital Study is an enormously valuable contribution to research. Without the dedicated participants, such a long-term project would not be possible,” says Prof. Dr. Edmund Wascher, Scientific Director of the IfADo. Many of the participants have been involved for almost ten years and can look back with pride on their role in this extraordinary study. Anyone taking part in the Dortmund Vital Study is actively helping to lay the foundations for better understanding healthy ageing in our society.
A comprehensive overview of human ageing
Every five years, participants undergo a comprehensive examination: this includes heart function, blood and hair samples, EEG and MRI scans of brain activity, fitness parameters, as well as tests of intelligence and memory, and psychological questionnaires. “The combination of these diverse methods allows us to gain an in-depth insight into the biological, psychological and social factors of ageing,” explains Professor Wascher. “The detailed records of brain activity, in particular, are exceptional on a global scale.” More than 25 staff members from all departments of the IfADo are working hard to ensure that everything runs smoothly and that data is collected accurately.
A large proportion of the sample are in employment – over 70%.
With over 70% of participants in employment, the study not only reflects the general population, but also provides valuable insights into the links between health and productivity, and working conditions, social factors and everyday behaviour. In the long term, the findings could help shape working conditions in such a way that people remain healthy, motivated and productive for longer.
Data of international significance
The scientific data from the Dortmund Vital Study are also of international significance. As a registered cohort study, the study makes its anonymised data available to external research teams. In this way, the value of each measurement extends far beyond the Dortmund project. Participants are thus making a significant contribution to international research into healthy ageing.
Data reveals which factors cause people to age more quickly
The study is already yielding important findings: for instance, it shows that differences in responses to stress, immune age, physical fitness and cognitive performance are often significantly greater than age alone would suggest. It has been demonstrated that chronic stress, particularly in people who had a difficult childhood, increases the risk of depression; that older adults benefit more from physical activity than younger people; and that challenging work keeps the brain fit for longer. The study also helps to better understand which factors influence health and performance in conditions such as burnout, Toxoplasma gondii and immune parameters.
With its third round, the Vital Study is cementing its role as a major long-term project in the region. For the participants, this means they are helping the researchers to write a chapter in the history of science – at least in Dortmund.
The latest research findings can be found here: