Genetic epidemiologic studies on age-specified traits

This commentary calls attention to the value of combining genetic and epide miologic methods in studies to understand the determinants of two crucial a spects of aging: ages at which certain outcomes (e.g., disease, mortality) occur and rates of change with age of individual's characteristics (e.g., p hysiologic functions, disease risk factors). Inclusion of age in the specif ication of traits in genetic epidemiologic studies could lead to improved s trategies to increase healthy life expectancy and evaluate individuals' ris k for age-related morbidity. Special issues that make genetic epidemiologic approaches important for studies of age-specified phenomena as well as opp ortunities and challenges for such studies are discussed, including study d esigns, sampling frames, databases, analytic tools, and related methodologi cal issues. This commentary is based on a report prepared by the Aging and Genetic Epidemiology Working Group, convened by the National Institute on A ging to review opportunities for research on the genetic epidemiology of ag ing-related outcomes. The report, which contains more extensive discussion, literature review, and references, is available on the World Wide Web at h ttp://www.nih.gov/nia/conferences/GenetReport111199.htm. Am J Epidemiol 200 0;152;1003-8.