Uppsala Longitudinal Study of Adult Men (ULSAM) is a unique, ongoing, longitudinal, epidemiologic study based on all available men, born between 1920 and 1924 and living in Uppsala County, Sweden.
ULSAM started as a health investigation, focused at identifying metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease, to which all 50 year-old men living in Uppsala in 1970 were invited. Of these, 82% (2322 men) participated in the investigation. The men were thereafter investigated again at ages 60, 70, 77, 82, 88 and 93 years. In the 93 years investigation, which was completed in spring 2015, even spouses to the men from original cohort have participated.
ULSAM is focused on several areas with a wide range of phenotypes collected. These areas include glucose and insulin metabolism, blood pressure, anthropometry, lipids and fatty acid composition, diet, cognitive function, socio-economic factors, heredity, medical history, and common risk factors for cardiovascular disease. In the latest investigation we are particularly focusing on the factors leading to healthy ageing.
Cognitive status investigation was performed at age 70, 77, 82, 88 and 93 years and includes mini mental state examination and trail making test. Latest assessment of dementia diagnoses was made in 2015 in conjunction with 93 years investigation.
The longitudinal design of the study contributes to the collection of the same (or similar) phenotypes at several points in time. The loss of follow up end points is very low due to yearly matching with official cause-of-death and hospital discharge registries.
Very important research area in ULSAM is analysis of genetic factors affecting common diseases. We have DNA samples available from more than 1200 men. Using modern genotyping technologies, these samples have been analyzed for over 2.5 million SNPs. We are also planning to perform whole genome sequencing for all individuals with DNA samples available.
Large number of researchers are using ULSAM data in their studies. ULSAM is involved in several international collaborations as well. Over 400 articles have been published from ULSAM initiation in 1970 and at least 40 doctoral theses explored data collected in our study.