This ultrasound examination provides information about the heart's function as well as changes such as enlargement of the chambers and thickening of the heart muscle. These measurements are performed in two and three dimensions.

This examination focuses on the region where the carotid arteries branch off: It measures the thickness of the arterial wall (intima-media thickness), which provides information about the onset of arterial calcification (atherosclerosis) and high blood pressure. The region is also examined for calcium deposits (plaques) and narrowing of the arteries.

Various methods are used to determine the vascular stiffness and elasticity of the arteries. Vascular stiffness is a sensitive early indicator of the development of cardiovascular disease.

This test checks your leg arteries for circulatory problems.

The condition of the superficial leg veins is documented and assessed using a photograph. In addition, an examination is conducted to check for the presence of edema (fluid retention) in both legs.

This test measures your lung function by having you take several deep breaths in and out through the tube of a measuring device.

Your blood pressure will be measured several times under standardized conditions to determine whether there are any signs of high blood pressure. Your resting heart rate will also be recorded.

An ECG is used to record the heart's electrical activity.

Height, weight, and leg, abdominal, and waist circumferences are measured. In addition, muscle mass is assessed and skinfold thickness is measured.

As part of the study, various bodily fluids (biomaterials/samples) will be collected. This includes a venous blood draw of up to 140 mL of blood (approximately 1/4 of a blood donation) and the collection of approximately 15 mL of urine. A portion of the samples will be used to determine numerous routine laboratory values as well as a complete blood count, which will be included in the report. The remaining blood samples and the urine samples will be deep-frozen after appropriate processing and stored in secure facilities of the Gutenberg Health Study or in the University Medical Center Mainz’s biomaterial bank for later analysis.

To assess your health status as well as your blood count, you will be asked to record online—before visiting the study center—all medications you have taken regularly or as needed over the past 4 weeks.

As part of a computer-assisted in-person interview and through various digital questionnaires that you can complete on a computer, tablet, or smartphone, you will be asked about numerous known and suspected factors that influence your health. Among other things, you will be asked questions about your lifestyle, potential health risks in your home and work environments, and your use of medical care.

In a special, soundproof room, the function of your ears is examined and speech recognition tests are conducted.

A hand strength measurement is performed to assess muscle condition.

The entire skin surface is photographed, and skin moisture is measured on your arm. The goal is to identify skin conditions, as well as signs or risks of internal diseases, through skin analysis. Personally identifiable information (e.g., photographs of the face) is stored separately and with special protection.

This includes testing visual acuity and measuring refractive error, corneal thickness, axial length, and intraocular pressure. In addition, we test your visual field and take images of the eye and the back of the eye. To take certain images, we will administer eye drops to one eye to prevent the pupil from constricting. By the end of the examination, the effects of the eye drops will usually have worn off. However, you should not drive until you no longer feel that your vision is impaired.

Examining the abdominal region using ultrasound and elastography (a novel ultrasound technique for measuring tissue stiffness or elasticity) provides information on various health-related aspects (e.g., fat accumulation) that affect the kidneys, liver, and spleen, among other organs. In addition, an ultrasound of the abdominal aorta is performed to detect signs of pathological changes, such as aneurysms (dilations) or plaques (deposits) in this area.

As part of the neurocognitive evaluation, a series of brief computer-based tests is administered to assess cognitive function (including processing speed, memory, and attention).

We use the tuning fork test to assess your sensitivity to vibrations.

We will assess your sense of smell with a brief smell test.

Approximately 0.1 mL of tear fluid is collected here. This is done using an absorbent paper strip. After appropriate processing, the tear fluid is also stored frozen in secure facilities of the Gutenberg Health Study or in the Biomaterial Bank at Mainz University Medical Center for later analysis.

Even before your visit to the study center, we will send you information and materials on how to collect a stool sample. The stool sample allows us to analyze the microbiome—that is, the totality of bacteria present in the gut. Since too little is currently known about the microbiome to be able to report medically relevant results, this analysis is initially being conducted purely for research purposes. Like the other samples, the stool samples will be stored in the University Medical Center Mainz’s biomaterial bank for later analysis after appropriate processing.

To assess your physical abilities, we conduct, among other things, a walking test and a sit-to-stand test. This examination is performed only on individuals over the age of 44.