The Metropolit cohort comprises all 11,532 men born in 1953 in the Copenhagen Metropolitan area who were living in Denmark in 1968. The data source includes information from birth certificates, and in 1965-1968, 7987 participated in a school and family survey. Data from conscription board examinations at age 19 years have been collected and in 2004, 6292 men responded to a mailed questionnaire on health and lifestyle. In 2009-2010, 2486 of 7799 eligible cohort members participated in the Copenhagen Ageing Midlife Biobank (CAMB). Finally, around 500 men selected on characteristics in young adulthood and current cognitive performance had a neurophysiological examination including MRI.
The data from birth certificates include information on birth dimensions and father’s occupation. The school survey had completed tests of cognition and enquiries regarding social aspirations. Data from conscription board examinations include cognitive testing and health information, whereas the CAMB study comprises questionnaires, cognitive and physical testing and blood measures including inflammatory biomarkers.
The cohort, their parents and children have also been followed in Danish registers for social life, medical and mental hospital diagnosis as well as cause of death from 1969 to 2025.
Access and permissions: Research projects need to be approved by the steering committee (Gro Askgaard, Maarten Pieter Bjørn-Rozing, Terese Sara Høj Jørgensen, Rikke Lund, Merete Osler (chair), Anne Helby Petersen).
Data are located and can be accessed at Statistics Denmark.