title: The Young Netherlands Twin Register (YNTR): longitudinal twin and family studies in over 70,000 children.
abstract: The Netherlands Twin Register (NTR) began in 1987 with data collection in twins and their families, including families with newborn twins and triplets. Twenty-five years later, the NTR has collected at least one survey for 70,784 children, born after 1985. For the majority of twins, longitudinal data collection has been done by age-specific surveys. Shortly after giving birth, mothers receive a first survey with items on pregnancy and birth. At age 2, a survey on growth and achievement of milestones is sent. At ages 3, 7, 9/10, and 12 parents and teachers receive a series of surveys that are targeted at the development of emotional and behavior problems. From age 14 years onward, adolescent twins and their siblings report on their behavior problems, health, and lifestyle. When the twins are 18 years and older, parents are also invited to take part in survey studies. In sub-groups of different ages, in-depth phenotyping was done for IQ, electroencephalography , MRI, growth, hormones, neuropsychological assessments, and cardiovascular measures. DNA and biological samples have also been collected and large numbers of twin pairs and parents have been genotyped for zygosity by either micro-satellites or sets of short nucleotide polymorphisms and repeat polymorphisms in candidate genes. Subject recruitment and data collection is still ongoing and the longitudinal database is growing. Data collection by record linkage in the Netherlands is beginning and we expect these combined longitudinal data to provide increased insights into the genetic etiology of development of mental and physical health in children and adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. t.van.beijsterveldt@vu.nl
authors.forename: Catharina E M
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: van Beijsterveldt
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Groen-Blokhuis
authors.forename: Jouke Jan
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hottenga
authors.forename: Sanja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Franić
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hudziak
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lamb
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huppertz
authors.forename: Eveline
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Zeeuw
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nivard
authors.forename: Nienke
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schutte
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Swagerman
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Glasner
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Fulpen
authors.forename: Cyrina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brouwer
authors.forename: Therese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stroet
authors.forename: Dustin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nowotny
authors.forename: Erik A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ehli
authors.forename: Gareth E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scheet
authors.forename: Jacob F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Orlebeke
authors.forename: Kees-Jan
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kan
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: Conor V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Dolan
authors.forename: Christel M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Middeldorp
authors.forename: Eco J C
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: de Geus
authors.forename: Meike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bartels
authors.forename: Dorret I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Boomsma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D012042:Registries; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014427:Twins / Q000235:genetics*