For instance, the role of the apolipoprotein E gene in the diagnosis, etiology and progression of Alzheimer s disease and related disorders has been examined. Further, the interaction between this gene and environmental factors such as smoking and post-menopausal estrogen use has been studied. Other genes studied in the Rotterdam Study include IGF-I , PRNP , HFE , ACE, NOS, and COL2A1. The second line of research aims to identify new genetic factors involved in complex genetic disorders using family as well as population-based approaches. These studies focus on neuropsychiatric diseases, cardiovascular disease and metabolic diseases.
Several studies using linkage and sibpair analysis are ongoing.
The focus of research within this line of research is on genetic isolated populations . These studies are primarily conducted in an isolated population in the South West of the Netherlands comprising 20,000 inhabitants. Genome screens concerning several disorders are ongoing. The third line of research specfically targets methods and statistical analysis of genetic epidemiologic research. This line of research is embedded within the emperical studies conducted in the first two lines of research.