NewTwin study
The 'NewTwin' research study from the Swedish Twin Registry aims to investigate how genetic and environmental factors influence health and behavior throughout life. This study seeks to understand why some people develop diseases while others remain healthy.
In the fall of 2021, we began recruiting participants by contacting caregivers of twins aged 9 to 12 months. The study involves an online survey (in Swedish) and, for those who choose, providing a saliva sample.
The primary goal of the study is to enhance our understanding of the roles of heredity and environment in the development of diseases and their risk factors. Genetic inheritance can influence the risk of various illnesses and behaviors, and twin-based studies offer unique opportunities to study and control for these differences, making them invaluable tools for medical and behavioral research.
By comparing monozygotic (identical) and dizygotic (fraternal) twin pairs, we can examine the impact of heredity on different diseases and behaviors. Identical twins are genetically identical, sharing the same genetic features. In contrast, fraternal twins share, on average, half of their genes, just like any siblings. If identical twins are more similar than fraternal twins in a particular trait, it suggests that genetic factors play a role. Thus, both identical and fraternal twins are equally important to the Swedish Twin Registry.