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(16.1.2026) Large population study has already examined 2,500 participants in the third phase of the study. Long-term participation provides important insights into common diseases and their prevention

The NAKO Health Study is running at full speed at the Freiburg Study Center. On January 15, 2026, the 2,500th participant in the third phase of the study was welcomed with a bouquet of flowers. She had already been examined in 2016 and 2021. The nationwide health study, which has been running since 2014, investigates how lifestyle and environmental factors influence the risk of common diseases. In total, around 20,230 examinations were carried out at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg as part of the NAKO and a further 98,000 questionnaires were collected and processed.

Influencing your own health

Prevention begins in everyday life," says Prof. Dr. Anna Köttgen, scientific director of the NAKO site in Freiburg and director of the Institute of Epidemiology and Prevention at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. "Exercise, a conscious diet and avoiding nicotine are important known factors that everyone can influence themselves. With the NAKO, we can now identify further factors that are important for disease risks and the success of prevention."

The NAKO Imaging Core, headed by Prof. Dr. Fabian Bamberg, Medical Director of the Department of Radiology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, has coordinated and evaluated around 56,000 MRI examinations at all NAKO MRI centers to date. "This enormous amount of data allows us to make connections visible that were previously hidden - with the clear aim of detecting diseases earlier and preventing them," says Bamberg.

"The NAKO in Freiburg strengthens the role of prevention in the healthcare system by making the long-term effects of lifestyle measurable," says Prof. Dr. Frederik Wenz, Chief Medical Officer of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. "I would like to thank all the test subjects for their willingness to participate."

Selected research results 2025 with Freiburg participation

A Freiburg study used AI-supported evaluations of whole-body MRIs to automatically record body composition. An increased proportion of fat in the muscles was associated with a roughly 20 percent higher risk of death - regardless of classic risk factors such as smoking or high blood pressure.

In kidney research, Freiburg scientists developed a method for the automated measurement of kidneys in MRI images. The analyses showed smaller kidneys in patients with chronic kidney disease and larger kidneys in patients with diabetes and better kidney function. Supplementary genetic evaluations, which were only possible in a partner study thanks to the methods developed in the NAKO, identified new genes associated with kidney structure.

Selected nationwide NAKO findings

Studies led by other NAKO study sites showed that prolonged traffic noise is associated with increased abdominal and liver fat and can therefore increase the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. In addition, a higher fat percentage with lower muscle mass was associated with an increased likelihood of chronic back pain, while more muscle mass had a protective effect. The muscle composition recorded by MRI could contribute to a better assessment of musculoskeletal diseases in the future.

What is the NAKO Health Study?

The NAKO Health Study is a long-term population study that observes a large group of healthy, ill or formerly ill people over many years. The aim is to investigate the development, frequency and causes of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, dementia and cardiovascular diseases. Since 2014, randomly selected people have been undergoing detailed medical examinations and lifestyle surveys at 18 study centers across Germany. Over 200,000 people took part in the first baseline examination, followed by a follow-up examination every four to five years. This includes various tests, such as blood pressure measurements, hand grip tests and the collection of biomaterials. Around 30,000 participants also received an MRI scan.

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