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Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as depression, hypertension, type 2 diabetes
mellitus, asthma, or rheumatoid arthritis, have reached epidemic proportions with enormous
socio-economic impacts. Although the exact causes underlying NCDs are largely unknown, the
development of these diseases can be triggered by factors like unhealthy diet, overweight,
extensive consumption behavior, insufficient physical activity, and unfavorable coping
behavior under stress.
The «Institute for Response-Genetics (IFRG)», University of Zurich (Switzerland),
is involved in clinical research with particular focus on (1) the treatment of major
depressive disorders, and (2) the early detection and prevention of stress-related health
problems. Data from more than 2,500 students from the U.S., Europe, and South America
revealed 2 scales, "activity" and "defeatism", that allow one to quantify coping behavior
in a socio-culturally independent way. Most notably, these scales have turned out to be
closely related to impaired physical and mental health.
Mission Statement
«IFMA Preventive Health Management Inc» aims to translate research results
of the «Institute for Response-Genetics» into high-quality practical
applications, available to the general public at low costs. IFMA doesn't promote just
another fitness tracker but, rather, an integrated self-assessment system that yields
insights into the complex interplay between body, mind, environment, and the dynamics
of human health (vulnerability versus robustness).
This integrated system is backed by large-scale clinical studies. By making these
easy-to-use systems generally available we aim to stimulate "natural" curiosity and to
promote education regarding:
- how body and mind are inseparably linked to each other;
- how uncontrolled fluctuations in affective state can impact physical and mental health;
- how stress-related health problems can be detected and managed;
- how monitoring the dynamics of health can contribute to an improved quality of life.
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Mean scores and variation of scales "activity" (x‑axis) versus "defeatism" (y‑axis)
as derived from the COPE data of 419 students from Milan/ Italy (dark blue), 400 students
from Castellon/ Spain (red), 407 students from Pasadena/USA (purple), 484 students from
Argentina (green), 406 Students from Zurich/ Switzerland (German: light blue), and 401 students
from Lausanne/ Switzerland (French: yellow) after normalization and orthogonalization. There
are virtually no between-center differences with respect to "defeatism" (zero on the y‑axis),
whereas students from Italy, Spain, USA and Argentina achieved, on average, higher activity
scores compared to Swiss students.
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