Almar A. L. Kok
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View article: Genetics of Major Depressive Disorder in a Homogeneous Population with Uniform Phenotyping
Genetics of Major Depressive Disorder in a Homogeneous Population with Uniform Phenotyping Open
Harmonized phenotyping and diverse population-specific studies are crucial for advancing gene discovery in psychiatric genetics. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of DSM-defined lifetime Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in…
View article: What Changes First? Mapping the Temporal Ordering of Age-related Functional Decline Across Domains Using 30-year Longitudinal Data
What Changes First? Mapping the Temporal Ordering of Age-related Functional Decline Across Domains Using 30-year Longitudinal Data Open
Introduction. Age-related functional decline is assumed to be a complex process in which declines in one domain may trigger decline in others. Yet research empirically identifying the temporal ordering of age-related decline across emotion…
View article: Correction: Adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet and change in cognitive functioning in older adults
Correction: Adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet and change in cognitive functioning in older adults Open
View article: The interplay between perceived fatigability, intrinsic capacity, and physical activity: network analysis in a British birth cohort study
The interplay between perceived fatigability, intrinsic capacity, and physical activity: network analysis in a British birth cohort study Open
Background Fatigability—an individual’s susceptibility to fatigue when performing standardized activities—may arise from diminished functional reserves and contribute to reduced physical activity (PA) levels, potentially reinforcing the di…
View article: Adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet and change in cognitive functioning in older adults
Adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet and change in cognitive functioning in older adults Open
View article: Incorporating longitudinal variability in prediction models: A comparison of machine learning and logistic regression in a cohort study with long follow-up
Incorporating longitudinal variability in prediction models: A comparison of machine learning and logistic regression in a cohort study with long follow-up Open
Machine Learning methods did not outperform logistic regression. Nonetheless, incorporating variability in longitudinal predictors enhances prediction, especially with expected changes in predictors, e.g., ageing populations.
View article: From pre-pandemic to pandemic: Unravelling mental health trajectories in clinical and general population cohorts
From pre-pandemic to pandemic: Unravelling mental health trajectories in clinical and general population cohorts Open
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is often portrayed as a universal mental health crisis, especially in studies lacking pre-pandemic data. Research including pre-pandemic measures nonetheless yields mixed results, making the pandemic’s imp…
View article: Temporal dynamics of perceived self-reliance and psychiatric symptoms in older adults: applying dynamic time warping to longitudinal cohort data
Temporal dynamics of perceived self-reliance and psychiatric symptoms in older adults: applying dynamic time warping to longitudinal cohort data Open
Within-person changes in self-reliance may have limited value as early warning signs for declining mental health, although in older adults who develop anxiety, declining mastery may signal worsening symptoms. Findings underscore the comple…
View article: Genetics of Major Depressive Disorder in a Homogeneous Population with Uniform Phenotyping
Genetics of Major Depressive Disorder in a Homogeneous Population with Uniform Phenotyping Open
Harmonized phenotyping and diverse population-specific studies are crucial for advancing gene discovery in psychiatric genetics. We conducted a genome-wide association (GWAS) mega-analysis of DSM-defined lifetime major depressive disorder …
View article: The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam: design and cohort update 2025
The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam: design and cohort update 2025 Open
The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) is an ongoing prospective cohort study of older adults in the Netherlands, with data on multiple domains of functioning available over a period of more than 30 years of follow-up. The study sta…
View article: Six-year trajectories of core depressive symptoms and insomnia symptoms in depressed older adults: a NESDO study
Six-year trajectories of core depressive symptoms and insomnia symptoms in depressed older adults: a NESDO study Open
Trajectories of core depressive and insomnia symptoms in depressed older adults were partly associated, but insomnia symptoms often persisted despite improving core depressive symptoms, highlighting the importance of different targeted int…
View article: Individual Sleep Problems Are Associated With an Accelerated Decline in Multiple Cognitive Functions in Older Adults
Individual Sleep Problems Are Associated With an Accelerated Decline in Multiple Cognitive Functions in Older Adults Open
Poor sleep is a known risk factor of cognitive disorders, but the role of individual sleep problems in age‐related cognitive changes remains unclear. This study used two complementary statistical models to estimate nonlinear trajectories o…
View article: Lifestyle and cognition: Separating the effects of average lifestyle and lifestyle changes based on the LIBRA score
Lifestyle and cognition: Separating the effects of average lifestyle and lifestyle changes based on the LIBRA score Open
An individual's mean LIBRA score, but not their change in LIBRA score over time, was longitudinally associated with cognitive functioning. In the general population, the investigated version of the LIBRA score is possibly not suitable to c…
View article: Mental health outcomes and loneliness in older transgender individuals receiving long-term gender-affirming hormone therapy compared with older cisgender individuals
Mental health outcomes and loneliness in older transgender individuals receiving long-term gender-affirming hormone therapy compared with older cisgender individuals Open
Mental health outcomes and loneliness are compromised in older transgender individuals compared to cisgender individuals, particularly in transgender women. The socio-economic, psychological and somatic risk factors identified warrant furt…
View article: Identifying pathways to the prevention of dementia: the Netherlands consortium of dementia cohorts
Identifying pathways to the prevention of dementia: the Netherlands consortium of dementia cohorts Open
The combination of population-based and clinical cohorts, the coordinated assessment of plasma markers in previously collected samples and implementation and use of the Personal Health Train infrastructure for federated analysis are both f…
View article: Adopting a Complex Systems Approach to Functional Ageing: Bridging the Gap between Gerontological Theory and Empirical Research
Adopting a Complex Systems Approach to Functional Ageing: Bridging the Gap between Gerontological Theory and Empirical Research Open
Related to but distinct from biological and environmental systems, we define functional ageing as the interacting changes in physical and mental body functions, behavioural factors and social participation that occur as individuals age. We…
View article: Adopting a complex systems approach to functional ageing: bridging the gap between gerontological theory and empirical research
Adopting a complex systems approach to functional ageing: bridging the gap between gerontological theory and empirical research Open
Functional ageing, related to but distinct from biological and environmental systems, is defined as the changes in physical, psychological, cognitive, and social functioning, as well as behavioural factors of individuals as they age. In th…
View article: The effect of sleep disturbances on the incidence of dementia for varying lag times
The effect of sleep disturbances on the incidence of dementia for varying lag times Open
We found that the association of sleep disturbances with incident dementia becomes stronger with longer lag times (particularly ≥15 years). Studies with lag times <15 years may suffer from reverse causation due to the changes in sleep patt…
View article: Incorporating Longitudinal Variability in Prediction Models: A Comparison of Machine Learning and Logistic Regression in a Cohort Study with Long Follow-Up
Incorporating Longitudinal Variability in Prediction Models: A Comparison of Machine Learning and Logistic Regression in a Cohort Study with Long Follow-Up Open
View article: Interaction of chronic diseases and levels of mastery on the course of depression
Interaction of chronic diseases and levels of mastery on the course of depression Open
View article: Biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and cognition: A two‐step IPD meta‐analysis
Biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and cognition: A two‐step IPD meta‐analysis Open
INTRODUCTION This study assessed the association of plasma biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction with cognitive performance and decline. METHODS Data from 9414 individuals from eight Dutch cohorts were included (Ø age‐range: 57–93 years). …
View article: Adopting a Complex Systems Approach to Functional Ageing: Bridging the Gap between Gerontological Theory and Empirical Research
Adopting a Complex Systems Approach to Functional Ageing: Bridging the Gap between Gerontological Theory and Empirical Research Open
Related to but distinct from biological and environmental systems, we define functional ageing as the interacting changes in physical and mental body functions, behavioural factors and social participation that occur as individuals age. We…
View article: Adopting a Complex Systems Approach to Functional Ageing: Bridging the Gap between Gerontological Theory and Empirical Research
Adopting a Complex Systems Approach to Functional Ageing: Bridging the Gap between Gerontological Theory and Empirical Research Open
Related to but distinct from biological and environmental systems, we define functional ageing as the interacting changes in physical and mental body functions, behavioural factors and social participation that occur as individuals age. We…
View article: Contamination fear during the COVID-19 pandemic in patients with lifetime obsessive compulsive disorder and healthy controls: A longitudinal cohort study
Contamination fear during the COVID-19 pandemic in patients with lifetime obsessive compulsive disorder and healthy controls: A longitudinal cohort study Open
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic could be considered a 'symptom provocation test,' which may trigger specific OCD and other psychiatric symptoms. Therefore, we aimed to compare the long-term impact of the pandemic on fear of COVID-19, and…
View article: Exploring the interplay between control beliefs, cortisol levels and depression in old age: Is feeling in control always beneficial?
Exploring the interplay between control beliefs, cortisol levels and depression in old age: Is feeling in control always beneficial? Open
Objectives: We investigated the relationship between levels of mastery/conscientiousness and cortisol response in older adults, considering depression status. Based on former research we hypothesized that high and low and not intermediate …
View article: The mediating role of health behaviors in the association between depression, anxiety and cancer incidence: an individual participant data meta-analysis
The mediating role of health behaviors in the association between depression, anxiety and cancer incidence: an individual participant data meta-analysis Open
Background Although behavioral mechanisms in the association among depression, anxiety, and cancer are plausible, few studies have empirically studied mediation by health behaviors. We aimed to examine the mediating role of several health …
View article: Long-term trajectories of peak expiratory flow rate in older men and women show linear decline mainly determined by baseline levels
Long-term trajectories of peak expiratory flow rate in older men and women show linear decline mainly determined by baseline levels Open
Background Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) predicts mortality and other negative health outcomes. However, little evidence exists on how PEFR changes with ageing and how trajectories of change differ among older people. Aims To identify t…
View article: Spousal bereavement and its effects on later life physical and cognitive capability: the Tromsø study
Spousal bereavement and its effects on later life physical and cognitive capability: the Tromsø study Open
Spousal bereavement is associated with health declines and increased mortality risk, but its specific impact on physical and cognitive capabilities is less studied. A historical cohort study design was applied including married Tromsø stud…
View article: Depressive Symptoms and Plasma Markers of Alzheimer's Disease and Neurodegeneration: A Coordinated Meta-Analysis of 8 Cohort Studies
Depressive Symptoms and Plasma Markers of Alzheimer's Disease and Neurodegeneration: A Coordinated Meta-Analysis of 8 Cohort Studies Open
View article: Genomics Research of Lifetime Depression in the Netherlands: The BIObanks Netherlands Internet Collaboration (BIONIC) Project
Genomics Research of Lifetime Depression in the Netherlands: The BIObanks Netherlands Internet Collaboration (BIONIC) Project Open
In this cohort profile article we describe the lifetime major depressive disorder (MDD) database that has been established as part of the BIObanks Netherlands Internet Collaboration (BIONIC). Across the Netherlands we collected data on Dia…