title: Genetic and environmental factors in complex diseases: the older Finnish Twin Cohort.
abstract: In studies on the Finnish Twin Cohort, we investigate genetic and environmental determinants of common, complex diseases, and their behavioral risk factors in Finland, a genetically unique and culturally homogenous population. We have formed the following databases: 1) Like-sexed twin pairs (13,888 pairs of known zygosity) form the older Twin Cohort. They have participated since 1975 in mail surveys, in clinical examinations for subsamples, and have been followed-up for morbidity using national medical registers; 2) The older Twin Cohort was expanded in 1996 to include opposite-sex pairs born 1938-1957 (c. 8000 pairs); 3) Two, new longitudinal studies of adolescent twins and their families, form a complementary, ongoing study base described in more detail in an accompanying article. Genetic and environmental effects vary over the life-span, and only longitudinal studies in genetically informative data sets permits the evaluation of such effects. Finally, the inclusion of DNA-based genetic information in a phenotypically rich family data base will offer a unique resource for research in genetic epidemiology and behavioral medicine.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Public Health, University of Helsinki, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland. jaakko.kaprio@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Jaakko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaprio
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koskenvuo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D015723:Gene Library; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D009017:Morbidity; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018433:Twin Studies as Topic