Cohort Profile Update: Lifelines, a three-generation cohort study and biobank

•The Lifelines Cohort (Lifelines) is a large population-based multi- disciplinary dynamic cohort and biobank which facilitates FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable) research on healthy ageing. Over 167 000 participants were included at baseline, with the aim to follow up for at least 30 years.

•To questionnaires, new dimensions in work, health status, lifestyle, stress and psychosocial parameters were added. New collected samples included hair, feces, cord blood, placental tissue and breast milk. New measurements for cognition, eye function and vitamin status were added. Brain MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and lung CT (computed tomography) were performed. Linkage with noise and air pollution exposure and various other registries is made possible. Finally, the number of participants with GWAS (genome-wide association studies) data is largely extended.

•More than 70% participated in both the baseline and the second assessment.

•Lifelines is open to researchers worldwide and provides easy access to data and samples [www.lifelines.nl/researcher].