Characteristics in childhood and adolescence relevant to chronic disease risk later in life

Many chronic adult-onset diseases have their origins in childhood and adolescence, when exposures can influence development and persistent behavioural patterns are established. A large longitudinal cohort of men has been created to examine how psychological and physical characteristics in earlier life signal exposures or aetiological processes relevant to disease risk in later adulthood.  The outcomes are defined as diagnoses in the Swedish health care system or prescribed medication.