Mega study to investigate common diseases

Mega study to investigate common diseases

01/07/2013

Researchers are expecting new findings in the fight against cancer, diabetes, dementia and other common diseases from a large-scale study to date that is scheduled to start in 2014. The largest long-term medical study in Germany to date will help to improve the prevention and treatment of the diseases.

200,000 people - for 20 years
A study of unprecedented proportions should provide insights in the fight against cancer, diabetes, dementia and other common diseases from 2014 onwards. Around 200,000 people between the ages of 20 and 69 are expected to take part in Germany's largest ever long-term medical study, according to Federal Research Minister Johanna Wanka (CDU) in Berlin. The study, which will run for more than 20 years, will focus on the impact of environmental conditions, genes, lifestyle and social environment on the development of common diseases. Wanka explained that the research project is offering „the great opportunity to achieve an enormous boost in knowledge in the fight against common diseases such as cancer "and „We need to take advantage of this opportunity for better prevention. "

Question about the emergence of chronic diseases
In Germany, a good quarter of all deaths are due to cancer. In 2011, there were nearly 221,600 patients who died of it. With cardiovascular diseases, it was even more at around 342,000. Diabetes was diagnosed in 4.6 million people and 1.4 million suffer from dementia, with an upward trend. About one third more people are now diagnosed with diabetes in Germany than ten years ago, and nearly one in three has hypertension. The study hopes to find answers to the question of what causes chronic diseases and what factors favor them.

Second investigation after five years
In one of 18 study centers nationwide, the participants are to be medically examined and asked about their living conditions and lifestyle, such as diet, occupation, smoking and physical activity. All participants should be invited to a second examination after about five years. To see if and what diseases occur, they should continue to be observed.

Wide range of examinations
Among other things, blood pressure, heart rate and blood sugar should be examined, as well as lung function, dental health and mental abilities. Also on the program are eye exams, hearing tests and smelling tests. Fitness and body weight should also be scrutinized. In addition, investigations in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are planned. For example, to study environmental influences such as air pollution and food, metabolic factors such as hormones or even genetic variants, blood, urine, DNA and tissue samples are taken. Risk factors such as infections, chronic inflammation or stress are important for some chronic diseases such as certain cancers, recent studies suggest.

210 million euros costs
According to the information, the cost of the mega-study amounts to a total of 210 million euros. The Federal Government, 14 federal states and the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers are financing the project, which involves 13 German universities. Currently, some so-called cohort studies are running together with up to 100,000 study participants. According to the ministry, however, these were planned independently of each other, so that a pooling of the collected data was only partially possible. In addition, the participants are on average usually already over 50 years old. Far more comprehensive and consistent data should now be provided by the National Health Study.

From the beginning of 2014 Invitation by post
To win the 200,000 participants for the record study, will be sent to 400,000 randomly selected citizens by mail from the beginning of 2014, an invitation to participate, said the Federal Research Minister on Monday. The participation is voluntary and you can also indicate whether you want to get results reported or not. Federal Research Minister Wanka called on the population to cooperate. „The research project will enable us to live healthier lives.“ (Ad)