Ageing in Women and Men: A Longitudinal Study of Gender Differences in Health Behaviour and Health among Elderly (GENDER)

The Longitudinal Study of Gender Differences in Health Behaviour and Health among Elderly (GENDER) is a study of unlike-sex twin pairs born between 1906 and 1925 (Gold et al., 2002). Sub-studies: • A survey concerning health and health behaviors was mailed in 1994 with responses from 1210 twins from 605 pairs where both responded. Mean age at baseline assessment was 74.43 years (SD 4.28) and all were Caucasians. • A baseline in-person evaluation of 498 twins from 249 pairs between 70 and 80 years of age was undertaken between 1995 and 1997, and included an interview and tests of cognitive and physical functioning. • Two additional in-person waves followed at four-year intervals (1999-2001 and 2003-2005). • Finally, a second survey was mailed in 2007 to all living twins who participated in the first mailed survey. The main interest of the study was gender differences in health and health behaviors in old age. Questions about subjective health, use of healthcare, and behaviors and attitudes related to health, perceived ADL capacity, personality and social networks, formal and informal care etc. are available. Measures of grip-strength, vital capacity, blood pressure, a number of exercises related to muscle strength and balance, and cognitive functions are available. Blood values and genotyping are also available.老年人群健康行为与健康性别差异纵向研究（GENDER）是一项针对1906年至1925年出生的性别不同的双胞胎对开展的研究（Gold等人，2002）。 子研究包括： • 1994年邮寄了关于健康与健康行为的调查问卷，共回收605对双胞胎（双方均完成作答）的1210份有效问卷。基线评估时的平均年龄为74.43岁（标准差4.28），所有受试者均为高加索人。 • 1995年至1997年间，对249对（共498名）年龄介于70至80岁的双胞胎开展基线面对面评估，内容涵盖访谈、认知与躯体功能测试。 • 后续每4年开展一轮面对面随访，分别为1999-2001年与2003-2005年，共两轮额外随访。 • 最后，2007年向所有参与首次邮寄问卷的存活双胞胎邮寄了第二轮调查问卷。 该研究的核心研究兴趣为老年人群健康与健康行为的性别差异。 数据集包含主观健康评价、医疗服务使用情况、健康相关行为与态度、感知日常生活活动（Activities of Daily Living, ADL）能力、人格与社会网络、正式与非正式照料等相关调研问题；同时提供握力、肺活量、血压、多项肌肉力量与平衡相关测试指标、认知功能等测量数据；此外还包含血液检测指标与基因分型数据。