WHAT IS BASE-II?
As in other countries, life expectancy in Germany is rising. The researchers of the Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II) investigate how these additional years can be lived healthily and actively. The Berlin Aging Study II is an extension and expansion of the longitudinal Berlin Aging Study (BASE). In 1990–1993, this interdisciplinary study initially examined 516 men and women of the western part of Berlin aged between 70 and 100 and has continuously followed them up.
The continuation study BASE-II investigates the physical, cognitive, and social conditions that lead to successful aging. 2,200 Berlin residents are being investigated. They form two groups: 1,600 participants belong to the older sample aged between 60 and 80, and 600 participants are between 20 and 35. The group of younger people functions as a reference group for the group of older participants. The first wave of data collection started in 2009 and ended 2015. BASE-II is designed as a longitudinal study to determine individual changes in age: The participants have so far been medically examined twice. Surveys have been conducted up to ten times and psychological tests have been performed up to four times.