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Human longevity is in part genetically determined, and the insulin/IGF-1 signal transduction (IIS) pathway has consistently been implicated. In humans, type 2 diabetes is a frequent disease that results from loss of glucose homeostasis and for which new candidate polymorphisms now rapidly emerge from genome wide association studies. In the Leiden Longevity Study (n=2415), the offspring of long lived siblings ("offspring") who are genetically enriched for longevity were shown to have a more beneficial metabolic profile compared to their environmentally matched partners ("controls"), including better glucose tolerance. We tested whether the "offspring" carry a lower burden of diabetes risk alleles. Fifteen polymorphisms derived from genome wide association (GWA) scans in type 2 diabetes were tested for association with parameters of glucose metabolism in offspring and controls, and burden of risk alleles was compared between offspring and controls. Among all participants, a higher number of type 2 diabetes risk alleles associated with a higher prevalence of diabetes (P=0.011) and higher serum concentration of glucose (P<0.016) but not insulin (P=0.450). None of the polymorphisms differed in frequency between the offspring and controls (all P>0.05), nor did the mean total number of risk alleles (P=0.977). The association between polymorphisms and glucose levels did not differ between controls and offspring (Pinteraction=0.523). The better glucose tolerance of the "offspring" is not explained by a lower burden of type 2 diabetes risk alleles, suggesting that specific mechanisms determining longevity exist.

Trends in internal migration in the Netherlands in 1992 are examined. "In 1992 the total internal mobility in the Netherlands amounted to 103 per 1,000 of the average population against about 100 at the beginning of the eighties.... The level of internal mobility as well as the proportion of intramunicipal changes of residence in big municipalities is higher on average than in small ones." (SUMMARY IN ENG), (excerpt)

Data on residential mobility in the Netherlands for 1992 are analyzed and compared by region and family characteristics of movers. "During 1992, 742 thousand persons changed address in family context, whereas 828 thousand persons moved individually. The moving families counted on average 2.94 persons." (SUMMARY IN ENG), (excerpt)

The authors examine ways currently under consideration to link data on the resident population and on immigrants in the Netherlands. "An important development is the introduction of a new computerized population registration system in the near future. One of the features in the new system is that each inhabitant will be identified by a unique identification number. This promises well for opportunities in matching data at the individual level. It is therefore expected that in the new situation it will be possible to better link immigrant stock and flow data.", (excerpt)