Götz Otto is an actor, synchroniser and audio book speaker. The multi-talented artist is now also one of the ambassadors of the German National Cohort (NAKO).
The German National Cohort (NAKO) is Germany’s largest population study for research into widespread diseases. For ten years, the participants have undergone repeated medical examinations and been questioned about their living conditions. The NAKO study is a major scientific resource for researching how diseases develop and how health can be maintained.
‘For me, science and research are guarantors of the future. In times when we have to overcome major social challenges, science stands for a positive view of the future,’ says Götz Otto. The actor is present on German theatre stages and has appeared in numerous national and international television and cinema films, including the James Bond film ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’. In addition to his acting work, he is also committed to social and societal issues. For the ‘GO-Europe’ project, he drives through the European cultural area in his converted old fire engine, talks to people, seeks out encounters and wants to inspire interest in the European peace project.
“In addition to regional significance – such as the health status of the regional population and regional prevention approaches – international dialogue with cooperation and research partners is also important in population research, for example to investigate the causes of rare diseases or the molecular basis of human health. The fact that Mr Otto is now also involved as an ambassador for the German National Cohort (NAKO) projects means a great deal to us,” says Professor Dr Henry Völzke, Chairman of the Board of NAKO e.V. “We hope that we will even be able to give something back to him and his colleagues through NAKO’s prevention research. After all, the development and progression of many, mostly chronic diseases, such as cancer, heart attacks and diabetes, are influenced by a variety of factors. These include, for example, the diet chosen or the level of physical activity, but also workplace-related conditions. Occupational health risks are an essential part of NAKO research, along with many other topics.” The more than 205,000 NAKO participants represent a wide range of professions. These include 129 actors and actresses, 205 NAKO participants work in theatre, film and television production and 81 are directors.
‘For me personally, health helps in the search for happiness in life. All health impairments weigh directly on my soul. To stay healthy, we need to be active and vigilant throughout our lives. The research of the NAKO Health Study is therefore very valuable because it will provide new insights into how we can stay healthy for longer in the long term. I find it meaningful to support organisations and initiatives whose concerns I share 100%,’ says Götz Otto, explaining his motivation to be an ambassador for the German National Cohort (NAKO).