TY - JOUR
T1 - Project Y
T2 - The search for clues explaining phenotype variability in MS
AU - Loonstra, Floor C.
AU - De Ruiter, Lodewijk R.J.
AU - Doesburg, Djoeke
AU - Lam, Ka Hoo
AU - Van Lierop, Zoë Y.G.J.
AU - Moraal, Bastiaan
AU - Strijbis, Eva M.M.
AU - Killestein, Joep
AU - Uitdehaag, Bernard M.J.
N1 - Funding Information: This research was financially supported by the FriendsLottery in The Netherlands, the Dutch MS Research Foundation and VUmc Fonds – MS Center Amsterdam Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s)
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Background: To study phenotypic variability in MS patients, well-defined unbiased cohort studies are necessary. The most common and probably most important confounding factor when studying disease phenotype in MS is age. Objective: To describe study design and subject characteristics of a unique birth cohort (Project Y). The overall aim of Project Y is to identify determinants associated with phenotypic variability in MS, eliminating the possibility of confounding by age. Methods: Project Y is a population-based cross-sectional study of all people with MS born in the Netherlands in 1966. Patients and healthy controls were subjected to comprehensive examinations: functional and static imaging, physical and cognitive measurements, and lifestyle factors early and later in life. In addition body fluids were collected and stored for future biomarker research. Results: 452 eligible MS patients were identified. Between December 2017 and January 2021, 367 MS patients and 125 healthy controls participated. The total number of identified cases results in a current prevalence of at least 189/100.000 for people born in the year 1966 in The Netherlands. Conclusion: Project Y is a unique cohort designed to identify factors associated with phenotypic variability in MS patients without the confounding effects of age. This first description of the Project Y cohort indicates that the prevalence of MS in the Netherlands might be higher than previously presumed. Various studies using Project Y data are ongoing and results will be published in upcoming years.
AB - Background: To study phenotypic variability in MS patients, well-defined unbiased cohort studies are necessary. The most common and probably most important confounding factor when studying disease phenotype in MS is age. Objective: To describe study design and subject characteristics of a unique birth cohort (Project Y). The overall aim of Project Y is to identify determinants associated with phenotypic variability in MS, eliminating the possibility of confounding by age. Methods: Project Y is a population-based cross-sectional study of all people with MS born in the Netherlands in 1966. Patients and healthy controls were subjected to comprehensive examinations: functional and static imaging, physical and cognitive measurements, and lifestyle factors early and later in life. In addition body fluids were collected and stored for future biomarker research. Results: 452 eligible MS patients were identified. Between December 2017 and January 2021, 367 MS patients and 125 healthy controls participated. The total number of identified cases results in a current prevalence of at least 189/100.000 for people born in the year 1966 in The Netherlands. Conclusion: Project Y is a unique cohort designed to identify factors associated with phenotypic variability in MS patients without the confounding effects of age. This first description of the Project Y cohort indicates that the prevalence of MS in the Netherlands might be higher than previously presumed. Various studies using Project Y data are ongoing and results will be published in upcoming years.
KW - Multiple sclerosis
KW - Prevalence
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85117863471&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2021.103337
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2021.103337
M3 - Article
C2 - 35158448
SN - 2211-0348
JO - Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
JF - Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
M1 - 103337
ER -