The second generation of The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC-G2): a cohort profile

Abstract

Background: The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children-Generation 2 (ALSPAC-G2) was set up to provide a unique multi-generational cohort. It builds on the existing ALSPAC resource, which recruited 14,541 pregnancies to women resident in the South West of England who were expected to deliver between 01/04/1991 and 31/12/1992. Those women and their partners (Generation 0; ALSPAC-G0) and their offspring (ALSPAC-G1) have been followed for the last 27 years. This profile describes recruitment and data collection on the next generation (ALSPAC-G2)—the grandchildren of ALSPAC-G0 and children of ALSPAC-G1. Recruitment: Recruitment began on the 6 th of June 2012 and we present details of recruitment and participants up to 30 th June 2018 (~6 years). We knew at the start of recruitment that some ALSPAC-G1 participants had already become parents and ALSPAC-G2 is an open cohort; we recruit at any age. We hope to continue recruiting until all ALSPAC-G1 participants have completed their families. Up to 30 th June 2018 we recruited 810 ALSPAC-G2 participants from 548 families. Of these 810, 389 (48%) were recruited during their mother’s pregnancy, 287 (35%) before age 3 years, 104 (13%) between 3-6 years and 30 (4%) after 6 years. Over 70% of those invited to early pregnancy, late pregnancy, second week of life, 6-, 12- and 24-month assessments (whether for their recruitment, or a follow-up, visit) have attended, with attendance being over 60% for subsequent visits up to 7 years (too few are eligible for the 9- and 11-year assessments to analyse). Data collection: We collect a wide-range of socioeconomic, lifestyle, clinical, anthropometric and biological data on all family members repeatedly. Biological samples include blood (including cord-blood), urine, meconium and faeces, and placental tissue. In subgroups detailed data collection, such as continuous glucose monitoring and videos of parent-child interactions, are being collected.

The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children - A resource for COVID-19 research: Questionnaire data capture April-May 2020

“…The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) is a unique three-generational study, comprising 'G0': the cohort of original pregnant women, the biological father and other carers/partners; 'G1': the cohort of index children and 'G2': the cohort of offspring of the index children. The study has a wealth of biological, genetic and phenotypic data across these generations [1][2][3][4] . ALSPAC has an opportunity to capture information across key parts of the population in light of the COVID-19 pandemic -in particular the contrast between those in higher risk (G0 mean age: ~58years) and lower risk (G1 mean age: ~28yrs) groups.…”

Future directions for integrative objective assessment of eating using wearable sensing technology

“…Encouragingly, pilot work in the US indicates that wearing a CGM for up to a week is as acceptable as wearing accelerometer-based sensors for 7 days 63 . Furthermore, our own pilot work in the UK ALSPAC-G2 cohort demonstrated that using the latest CGM devices, which no longer require finger prick tests for calibration, improves uptake of 6 days of monitoring 64 . This reflects a growing demand for non-invasive methods for CGM.…”

Future Directions for Integrative Objective Assessment of Eating Using Wearable Sensing Technology

“…Encouragingly pilot work in the US indicates that wearing a CGM for up to a week is as acceptable as wearing accelerometer-based sensors for 7 days ( 67 ). Furthermore, our own pilot work in the UK ALSPAC-G2 cohort demonstrated that using the latest CGM devices, which no longer require finger prick tests for calibration, improves uptake of 6 days of monitoring ( 68 ). This reflects a growing demand for non-invasive methods for CGM.…”