Scientific Concept of the National Cohort (status ... - Nationale Kohorte

A.1
A.1 Introduction and overview
markers of exposure and by adding new factors to existing risk scores, including
genetic and nongenetic exposures and markers of subclinical disease
� To advance our knowledge concerning the determinants of regional and ethnic differences
in CVD incidence
� To investigate the relations of genetic and epigenetic factors and gene–environment
interactions to subclinical and clinical CVD
Diabetes mellitus
� To advance our knowledge concerning the mechanistic links between adiposity,
dyslipidemia, chronic inflammation, and glucose and insulin metabolism disorders,
taking into account the modifying effects of genetic, behavioral (diet, exercise,
chronic stress, sleep, etc.) and sociocultural factors
� To study the association and time sequence between pathophysiological changes
in glucose and insulin metabolism, development of overt type 2 diabetes and the
subsequent occurrence of comorbidity, in particular mental health/cognitive function
and susceptibility to infectious diseases
� To study age-cohort effects of type 2 diabetes incidence, type 2 diabetes progression,
and the development of complications
� To develop simple clinical markers and risk scores for type 2 diabetes for Germany
with an emphasis on specific subpopulations beyond age and gender (e.g., birth
cohorts and subjects with distinct cultural/ethnic backgrounds)
� To advance our knowledge concerning the determinants (including metabolic profiles,
social/physical environment, and health-related behavior) of regional and ethnic
differences in diabetes incidence
� To gain further insight into the sociodemographic and cultural determinants of diabetes-relevant/diabetes-specific
medical management and health care services
utilization
Cancer
� To quantify cancer risks associated with objectively assessed physical activity patterns,
including sendentary behavior
� To examine biological mechanisms and causal pathways through which physical
inactivity, adiposity, and reduced physical fitness may favor cancer development
� To examine the relatonships of diet (nutritional biomarkers) with cancer risks
� To examine relationships of infectious agents, microflora, and immune factors with
cancer risk
� To examine the relationships of established and novel cancer risk factors, in general,
with histologic and molecular subtypes of frequent cancers
� To explore the incidence and persistence of precursor conditions for hematolymphoid
malignancies; to explore early epigenetic alterations in specific cell populations;
and to investigate whether those alterations contribute to premalignant stages
of cancer
� To develop multi-variable statistical models for prediction of cancer risks
Neurologic and psychiatric diseases
� To study the incidence of depression and anxiety and to examine biological mechanisms
and causal pathways through which physical activity, physical fitness, and
other lifestyle factors may favor onset of the two conditions
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