Betula Study

    The main objectives of Betula study are:
  • To study how memory functions change during adult life and old age;
  • To identify risk factors for dementia;
  • To identify early preclinical signs of dementia.

Overview

Acronym
Betula
Website
Betula
Investigators
Prof. Lars Nyberg
Umeå universitet
Dr. Anna Sundström
Umeå universitet
Dr. Michael Rönnlund
Umeå universitet
Pr. Rolf Adolfsson
Umeå universitet
Contacts
Mikael Stiernstedt
Umeå universitet

General Design

Study design
Cohort
Start - End Year
1988 - 2014
General Information on Follow Up (profile, frequency)
The participants were assessed at 6 different time points every 5 years: in 1988-1990, 1993-1995, 1998-2000, 2003-2005, 2008-2010 and 2013-2014.
Recruitment Target
  • Individuals
Number of Participants
4,425
Number of Participants with Biological Samples
4,300

Access

Availability of data and biosamples

Possible Access to Data
Possible Access to Biosamples
Other

A sub-sample of participants underwent MRI brain scanning at test wave 5 (2009-2010) and 6 (2013-2014).

1. Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory Based on: (ZTPI) Zimbardo o. Boyds skala (Zimbardo, P., and Boyd, J. N. (1999). Used in Betula: Carelli, M. G., Wiberg, B., & Wiberg, M. (2011). Development and Construct Validation of the Swedish Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 27(4), 220–227. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000076

2. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Based on: Kroenke, K., Spitzer, RL. & Willimas, JB. (2001). The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 16(9), 606-613. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x Used in Betula: translated version.

3. Perceived Stress Questionnaire Based on: Levenstein S, Prantera C, Varvo V, Scribano ML, Berto E, Luzi C, Andreoli A. Development of the Perceived Stress Questionnaire: a new tool for psychosomatic research. J Psychosom Res 1993;37:19–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3999(93)90120-5.

Bergdahl, J., and Bergdahl, M. (2002). Perceived stress in adults: prevalence and association of depression, anxiety and medication in a Swedish population. Stress Health 18, 235–241. doi: 10.1002/smi.946 Used in Betula: translated version.

4. Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire Based on: Rosenthal, NE., Sack, DA., Gillin, JC., Lewy AJ., Goodwin, FK., Davenport, Y., Mueller, PS., Newsome, DA. & Wehr, TA. (1984). Seasonal affective disorder. A description of the syndrome and preliminary findings with light therapy. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 41(1), 72-80. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1984.01790120076010 Used in Betula: translated version

Marker Paper

Nilsson L-G, Adolfsson R, Bäckman L, de Frias C, Molander B, Nyberg L. Betula: A Prospective Cohort Study on Memory, Health and Aging. Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition,2004; 11 (2-3), 134-148.

Supplementary Information

Nilsson, L.-Gör., Bäckman, L., Erngrund, K., et al. The Betula Prospective Cohort Study: Memory, Health, and Aging. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition,1997; 4(1), 1–32.

Timeline

Populations

Betula - Cohort 1
The population consists of randomly selected individuals aged from 35 to 80 years, from the municipality of Umeå, northern Sweden. The gender distribution at inclusion was aimed to reflect the proportion of males and females in each age cohort of the general population.

Selection Criteria

Minimum age
35
Maximum age
80
Countries
  • Sweden
Territory
Municipality of Umeå, Västerbotten
Other Criteria
When participants entered the study, they were excluded if they had a severe visual or auditory disability, intellectual disability, dementia or a native language other than Swedish.

Sources of Recruitment

General Population
  • Selected sample
Supplementary Information
Recruitment of participants was done by randomly obtaining names from the population registry in Umeå, Sweden. The study began with including 1000 randomly selected individuals from the Umeå municipality in the age groups 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75 and 80 years. In each age group, 100 participants were selected. The gender distribution at inclusion was aimed to reflect the proportion of males and females in each age cohort of the general population.

Sample Size

Number of Participants
1,000
Supplementary information about number of participants
T1: 1000 participants
T2: 875 participants
T3: 729 participants
T4: 591 participants
T5: 403 participants
T6: 249 participants

Data Collection Events

# Name Data sources Data sources - Biosamples Start End
0 Betula - Cohort 1 - T1
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Urine
1988 (November) 1991 (April)
1 Betula - Cohort 1 - T2
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
1993 (September) 1995 (September)
2 Betula - Cohort 1 - T3
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Urine
1998 (September) 2001 (March)
3 Betula - Cohort 1 - T4
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Urine
  • Saliva
2003 (September) 2005 (November)
4 Betula - Cohort 1 - T5
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Urine
  • Saliva
2008 (October) 2010 (March)
5 Betula - Cohort 1 - T6
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Urine
2013 (September) 2014 (July)
Betula - Cohort 2
The population consists of randomly selected individuals aged from 35 to 80 years, from the municipality of Umeå, northern Sweden. The gender distribution at inclusion was aimed to reflect the proportion of males and females in each age cohort of the general population.

Selection Criteria

Minimum age
35
Maximum age
80
Countries
  • Sweden
Territory
Municipality of Umeå, Västerbotten
Other Criteria
When participants entered the study, they were excluded if they had a severe visual or auditory disability, intellectual disability, dementia or a native language other than Swedish.

Sources of Recruitment

General Population
  • Selected sample
Supplementary Information
Recruitment of participants was done by randomly obtaining names from the population registry in Umeå, Sweden. At inclusion, close to 1000 randomly selected individuals were recruited from the Umeå municipality in the age groups 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75 and 80 years. In each age group, roughly 100 participants were selected. The gender distribution at inclusion was aimed to reflect the proportion of males and females in each age cohort of the general population.

Sample Size

Number of Participants
994
Supplementary information about number of participants
T1: 994 participants
T2: 681 participants

Data Collection Events

# Name Data sources Data sources - Biosamples Start End
0 Betula - Cohort 2 - T1
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
1993 (September) 1995 (September)
1 Betula - Cohort 2 - T2
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Urine
1998 (September) 2001 (March)
Betula - Cohort 3
The population consists of randomly selected individuals aged from 40 to 85 years, from the municipality of Umeå, northern Sweden. The gender distribution at inclusion was aimed to reflect the proportion of males and females in each age cohort of the general population.

Selection Criteria

Minimum age
40
Maximum age
84
Countries
  • Sweden
Territory
Municipality of Umeå, Västerbotten
Other Criteria
When participants entered the study, they were excluded if they had a severe visual or auditory disability, intellectual disability, dementia or a native language other than Swedish.

Sources of Recruitment

General Population
  • Selected sample
Supplementary Information
Recruitment of participants was done by randomly obtaining names from the population registry in Umeå, Sweden. At inclusion, close to 1000 randomly selected individuals were recruited from the Umeå municipality in the age groups 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80 and 85 years. In each age group, roughly 100 participants were selected. The gender distribution at inclusion was aimed to reflect the proportion of males and females in each age cohort of the general population.

Sample Size

Number of Participants
963
Supplementary information about number of participants
T1: 963 participants
T2: 826 participants
T3: 689 participants
T4: 440 participants
T5: 259 participants

Data Collection Events

# Name Data sources Data sources - Biosamples Start End
0 Betula - Cohort 3 - T1
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
1993 (September) 1995 (September)
1 Betula - Cohort 3 - T2
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Urine
1998 (September) 2001 (March)
2 Betula - Cohort 3 - T3
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Urine
  • Saliva
2003 (September) 2005 (November)
3 Betula - Cohort 3 - T4
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Urine
  • Saliva
2008 (October) 2010 (March)
4 Betula - Cohort 3 - T5
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Urine
2013 (September) 2014 (July)
Betula - Cohort 4
The population consists of randomly selected individuals aged from 35 to 90 years, from the municipality of Umeå, northern Sweden. The gender distribution at inclusion was aimed to reflect the proportion of males and females in each age cohort of the general population.

Selection Criteria

Minimum age
35
Maximum age
90
Countries
  • Sweden
Territory
Municipality of Umeå, Västerbotten
Other Criteria
When participants entered the study, they were excluded if they had a severe visual or auditory disability, intellectual disability, dementia or a native language other than Swedish.

Sources of Recruitment

General Population
  • Selected sample
Supplementary Information
Recruitment of participants was done by randomly obtaining names from the population registry in Umeå, Sweden. At inclusion, close to 600 randomly selected individuals were recruited from the Umeå municipality in the age groups 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85 and 90 years. In each age group, roughly 50 participants were selected. The gender distribution at inclusion was aimed to reflect the proportion of males and females in each age cohort of the general population.

Sample Size

Number of Participants
553
Supplementary information about number of participants
T1: 553 participants

Data Collection Events

# Name Data sources Data sources - Biosamples Start End
0 Betula - Cohort 4 - T1
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Urine
1998 (September) 2001 (March)
Betula - Cohort 5
The population consists of randomly selected individuals aged from 35 to 95 years, from the municipality of Umeå, northern Sweden. The gender distribution at inclusion was aimed to reflect the proportion of males and females in each age cohort of the general population.

Selection Criteria

Minimum age
35
Maximum age
95
Countries
  • Sweden
Territory
Municipality of Umeå, Västerbotten
Other Criteria
When participants entered the study, they were excluded if they had a severe visual or auditory disability, intellectual disability, dementia or a native language other than Swedish.

Sources of Recruitment

General Population
  • Selected sample
Supplementary Information
Recruitment of participants was done by randomly obtaining names from the population registry in Umeå, Sweden. At inclusion, close to 600 randomly selected individuals were recruited from the Umeå municipality in the age groups 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90 and 95 years. In each age group, roughly 45 participants were selected. The gender distribution at inclusion was aimed to reflect the proportion of males and females in each age cohort of the general population

Sample Size

Number of Participants
558
Supplementary information about number of participants
T1: 558 participants

Data Collection Events

# Name Data sources Data sources - Biosamples Start End
0 Betula - Cohort 5 - T1
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Urine
  • Saliva
2003 (September) 2005 (November)
Betula - Cohort 6
The population consists of randomly selected individuals aged from 25 to 80 years, from the municipality of Umeå, northern Sweden. The gender distribution at inclusion was aimed to reflect the proportion of males and females in each age cohort of the general population.

Selection Criteria

Minimum age
25
Maximum age
80
Countries
  • Sweden
Territory
Municipality of Umeå, Västerbotten
Other Criteria
When participants entered the study, they were excluded if they had a severe visual or auditory disability, intellectual disability, dementia or a native language other than Swedish.

Sources of Recruitment

General Population
  • Selected sample
Supplementary Information
Recruitment of participants was done by randomly obtaining names from the population registry in Umeå, Sweden. At inclusion, close to 360 randomly selected individuals were recruited from the Umeå municipality in the age groups 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75 and 80 years. In each age group, 30 participants were selected. The gender distribution at inclusion was aimed to reflect the proportion of males and females in each age cohort of the general population.

Sample Size

Number of Participants
357
Supplementary information about number of participants
T1: 357 participants
T2: 66 participants

Data Collection Events

# Name Data sources Data sources - Biosamples Start End
0 Betula - Cohort 6 - T1
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Urine
  • Saliva
2008 (October) 2010 (March)
1 Betula - Cohort 6 - T2
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Urine
2013 (September) 2014 (July)

Participating Studies

Acronym Name Study design Countries

Harmonization Initiatives Included

Acronym Name

Datasets

Name Data Collection Events Variables

Areas of Information Collected

Socio-demographic and economic characteristics
Death
Lifestyle and behaviours
Physical measures and assessments
Birth, pregnancy and reproductive health history
Laboratory measures
Perception of health, quality of life, development and functional limitations
Cognition, personality and psychological measures and assessments
Diseases
Life events, life plans, beliefs and values
Symptoms and signs
Preschool, school and work life
Medication and supplements
Social environment and relationships
Non-pharmacological interventions
Physical environment
Health and community care services utilization
Administrative information

Variables Content Summary

Areas of Information Collected
No Areas of Information Collected
No Scales Collected
Areas of Information Collected per per Population and Data Collection Event
No Areas of Information Collected
No Scales Collected

Networks

Acronym Name Harmonization Initiatives Individual Studies
Last Update: 2021-07-26T16:33:32.517