Dataset Information

The Adult Netherlands Twin Register: twenty-five years of survey and biological data collection.

ABSTRACT: Over the past 25 years, the Adult Netherlands Twin Register (ANTR) has collected a wealth of information on physical and mental health, lifestyle, and personality in adolescents and adults. This article provides an overview of the sources of information available, the main research findings, and an outlook for the future. Between 1991 and 2012, longitudinal surveys were completed by twins, their parents, siblings, spouses, and offspring. Data are available for 33,957 participants, with most individuals having completed two or more surveys. Smaller projects provided in-depth phenotyping, including measurements of the autonomic nervous system, neurocognitive function, and brain imaging. For 46% of the ANTR participants, DNA samples are available and whole genome scans have been obtained in more than 11,000 individuals. These data have resulted in numerous studies on heritability, gene x environment interactions, and causality, as well as gene finding studies. In the future, these studies will continue with collection of additional phenotypes, such as metabolomic and telomere length data, and detailed genetic information provided by DNA and RNA sequencing. Record linkage to national registers will allow the study of morbidity and mortality, thus providing insight into the development of health, lifestyle, and behavior across the lifespan.

SUBMITTER: Willemsen G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3739974 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The Adult Netherlands Twin Register: twenty-five years of survey and biological data collection.

Willemsen Gonneke G Vink Jacqueline M JM Abdellaoui Abdel A den Braber Anouk A van Beek Jenny H D A JH Draisma Harmen H M HH van Dongen Jenny J van 't Ent Dennis D Geels Lot M LM van Lien Rene R Ligthart Lannie L Kattenberg Mathijs M Mbarek Hamdi H de Moor Marleen H M MH Neijts Melanie M Pool Rene R Stroo Natascha N Kluft Cornelis C Suchiman H Eka D HE Slagboom P Eline PE de Geus Eco J C EJ Boomsma Dorret I DI

Twin research and human genetics : the official journal of the International Society for Twin Studies 20130108 1

Over the past 25 years, the Adult Netherlands Twin Register (ANTR) has collected a wealth of information on physical and mental health, lifestyle, and personality in adolescents and adults. This article provides an overview of the sources of information available, the main research findings, and an outlook for the future. Between 1991 and 2012, longitudinal surveys were completed by twins, their parents, siblings, spouses, and offspring. Data are available for 33,957 participants, with most indi ...[more]

PMID: 23298648

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Project description:BackgroundSex differences exist in the risk of developing type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and in the risk of developing diabetes-associated complications. Sex differences in glucose homeostasis, islet and β cell biology, and peripheral insulin sensitivity have also been reported. Yet, we lack detailed information on the mechanisms underlying these differences, preventing the development of sex-informed therapeutic strategies for persons living with diabetes. To chart a path toward greater inclusion of biological sex as a variable in diabetes research, we first need a detailed assessment of common practices in the field.MethodsWe developed a scoring system to evaluate the inclusion of biological sex in manuscripts published in Diabetes, a journal published by the American Diabetes Association. We chose Diabetes as this journal focuses solely on diabetes and diabetes-related research, and includes manuscripts that use both clinical and biomedical approaches. We scored papers published across 3 years within a 20-year period (1999, 2009, 2019), a timeframe that spans the introduction of funding agency and journal policies designed to improve the consideration of biological sex as a variable.ResultsOur analysis showed fewer than 15% of papers used sex-based analysis in even one figure across all study years, a trend that was reproduced across journal-defined categories of diabetes research (e.g., islet studies, signal transduction). Single-sex studies accounted for approximately 40% of all manuscripts, of which > 87% used male subjects only. While we observed a modest increase in the overall inclusion of sex as a biological variable during our study period, our data highlight significant opportunities for improvement in diabetes research practices. We also present data supporting a positive role for journal policies in promoting better consideration of biological sex in diabetes research.ConclusionsOur analysis provides significant insight into common practices in diabetes research related to the consideration of biological sex as a variable. Based on our analysis we recommend ways that diabetes researchers can improve inclusion of biological sex as a variable. In the long term, improved practices will reveal sex-specific mechanisms underlying diabetes risk and complications, generating knowledge to enable the development of sex-informed prevention and treatment strategies.

Dataset Information

The Adult Netherlands Twin Register: twenty-five years of survey and biological data collection.

Publications

The Adult Netherlands Twin Register: twenty-five years of survey and biological data collection.

Similar Datasets

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