The Rotterdam Study: 2018 Update on Objectives, Design, and Main Results

The Rotterdam Study, as of 2017, provided a comprehensive update on its findings related to the health of the elderly, with a particular focus on cardiovascular diseases, genetic research, and the impact of lifestyle factors on various health outcomes. It highlighted sex differences in cardiovascular events, the development of a healthy aging score, and the identification of genetic loci associated with health conditions, emphasizing the role of personalized medicine. The study also reported on dietary influences on health, such as the association of palmitic acid with coronary heart disease and the benefits of polyunsaturated fatty acids. It found a high prevalence of actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma among the elderly, with male baldness increasing the risk of the former. Additionally, the study explored the genetic and epidemiological aspects of reproductive traits and pharmacoepidemiology, discovering genetic loci related to menopause and reproductive history, and investigated the safety and gene-drug interactions of medications. The Rotterdam Study's extensive "omics" data and bio-banking efforts contributed to global genetic research, while its findings on musculoskeletal disorders, neuroplasticity, and brain pathology aimed to enhance disease understanding and treatment.