freqMAP R package

R package for computing and plotting moving average plots (MAP). MAP uses the standard case-control association data and generates a birds-eye view of the frequency distributions across the age spectrum; a picture in which one can see if, how, and when the marker frequencies in cases differ from that in controls. The marker can be specified as an allele, genotype, haplotype, or environmental factor; and age can be age-at-onset, age when subject was last known to be unaffected, or duration of exposure. Signature patterns that emerge can help distinguish true disease associations from spurious associations due to age effects, age-varying associations from associations that are uniform across all ages, and associations with risk from associations with age-at-onset.

Payami H, Kay DM, Zabetian CP, Schellenberg GD, Factor SA, McCulloch CC. Visualizing disease associations: graphic analysis of frequency distributions as a function of age using moving average plots (MAP) with application to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Genet Epidemiol. 2010 Jan;34(1):92-9. doi: 10.1002/gepi.20439. PMID: 19582778

To install, open an R terminal and run:

> install.packages("freqMAP_0.2.tar_.gz", type="source", repos=NULL)