Life course determinants of physical capability and musculoskeletal ageing
Lead Research Organisation:
MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing
Abstract
Physical capability refers to an individual’s capacity to undertake the physical tasks of daily living. Maintaining physical capability and musculoskeletal function as we grow older are important aspects of healthy ageing, enabling people to live independently for longer and with a higher quality of life. Simple tests of physical capability, such as hand grip strength, balancing on one leg, and time taken to rise from a chair several times or to walk a specified distance are summary measures of individual biological ageing. We have shown that better performance scores are related not only to factors in adult life such as physical activity, health status and social and economic circumstances but also to early life experiences such as early growth patterns and developmental milestones. Within a research programme called ‘HALCyon’ (Healthy Ageing Across the Life Course), we are investigating whether we find similar patterns of association across other UK cohort studies.
In the next five years, we shall examine the change in physical capability and progression to disability and frailty between midlife and old age, how these changes are related to the health of bones, muscles and joints, and how all these aspects of musculoskeletal ageing are linked to experiences and exposures from across the whole of life.
In the next five years, we shall examine the change in physical capability and progression to disability and frailty between midlife and old age, how these changes are related to the health of bones, muscles and joints, and how all these aspects of musculoskeletal ageing are linked to experiences and exposures from across the whole of life.
Technical Summary
Maintaining physical capability (the capacity to undertake the physical activities of daily living) and musculoskeletal function for the maximal period of time as we grow older are important aspects of healthy ageing, enabling people to be active and independent for longer. Low levels or accelerated loss of capability or musculoskeletal function pose threats to independence and quality of life, are major causes of frailty, disability and death, and impact greatly on health care spending. The ultimate purpose of this programme is to provide evidence to inform the likely timing, intensity and type of future interventions to promote healthy ageing or delay functional decline.
This programme takes a life course approach, investigating biological and social factors from early life that influence later life physical capability and musculoskeletal ageing in population cohorts, in particular in the MRC National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD), a birth cohort study with information on health and life circumstances from 0-65 years. Studies in NSHD and other cohorts have provided evidence that childhood socioeconomic conditions, physical growth and maturation, and motor and cognitive development affect objective measures of midlife capability, such as grip strength, standing balance and chair rise performance, in addition to the cumulative effects of adult health behaviours and socioeconomic conditions.
In the next five years, this programme will capture the change in physical capability and progression to disability and frailty during the transition from midlife to old age in NSHD; and will investigate the lifetime factors (from societal to underlying biology) that drive these changes, and their consequences, for everyday life. Of particular interest for improving human health are the factors that promote the maintenance of maximal functioning, or modify the consequences of functional decline for everyday activities and social integration.
Using new data recently collected or planned, this programme also aims to understand better how factors across life affect bone, muscle and joints in later life and their clinical correlates, osteoporosis and fracture risk, sarcopenia and osteoarthritis. With specialist collaborators we also aim to elucidate underlying biological mechanisms, capitalising on new genomic, epigenomic and metabolomic data in NSHD.
This programme addresses the MRC strategic research priority for 2009-14 to improve the chances of living a long and healthy life by driving forward interdisciplinary research addressing health and wellbeing from childhood to older age.
This programme takes a life course approach, investigating biological and social factors from early life that influence later life physical capability and musculoskeletal ageing in population cohorts, in particular in the MRC National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD), a birth cohort study with information on health and life circumstances from 0-65 years. Studies in NSHD and other cohorts have provided evidence that childhood socioeconomic conditions, physical growth and maturation, and motor and cognitive development affect objective measures of midlife capability, such as grip strength, standing balance and chair rise performance, in addition to the cumulative effects of adult health behaviours and socioeconomic conditions.
In the next five years, this programme will capture the change in physical capability and progression to disability and frailty during the transition from midlife to old age in NSHD; and will investigate the lifetime factors (from societal to underlying biology) that drive these changes, and their consequences, for everyday life. Of particular interest for improving human health are the factors that promote the maintenance of maximal functioning, or modify the consequences of functional decline for everyday activities and social integration.
Using new data recently collected or planned, this programme also aims to understand better how factors across life affect bone, muscle and joints in later life and their clinical correlates, osteoporosis and fracture risk, sarcopenia and osteoarthritis. With specialist collaborators we also aim to elucidate underlying biological mechanisms, capitalising on new genomic, epigenomic and metabolomic data in NSHD.
This programme addresses the MRC strategic research priority for 2009-14 to improve the chances of living a long and healthy life by driving forward interdisciplinary research addressing health and wellbeing from childhood to older age.
Organisations
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Southampton, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- University College London, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- University of Bristol, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- Imperial College London, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- Newcastle University, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- University of Birmingham, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- Medical Research Council (Collaboration)
- University of Jyvaskyla, Finland (Collaboration)
- National Institutes of Health, United States (Collaboration)
- University of Copenhagen, Denmark (Collaboration)
- University of Cambridge (Collaboration)
- University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester (Collaboration)
- University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- University of Nottingham (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
Diana Jane Kuh (Principal Investigator) |
Publications

Alfred T
(2012)
A multi-cohort study of polymorphisms in the GH/IGF axis and physical capability: the HALCyon programme.
in PloS one




Bann D
(2014)
Birth weight and growth from infancy to late adolescence in relation to fat and lean mass in early old age: findings from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development.
in International journal of obesity (2005)

Clouston SA
(2013)
The dynamic relationship between physical function and cognition in longitudinal aging cohorts.
in Epidemiologic reviews

Clouston SA
(2012)
Benefits of educational attainment on adult fluid cognition: international evidence from three birth cohorts.
in International journal of epidemiology

Cooper R
(2011)
Do positive psychological characteristics modify the associations of physical performance with functional decline and institutionalization? Findings from the longitudinal aging study Amsterdam.
in The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences

Cooper R
(2014)
Physical capability and subsequent positive mental wellbeing in older people: findings from five HALCyon cohorts.
in Age (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Cooper R
(2008)
Menopausal status and physical performance in midlife: findings from a British birth cohort study.
in Menopause (New York, N.Y.)
Description | MRC Foundation Equipment Grant |
Amount | £14,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | CO456 |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Department | Medical Research Foundation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2013 |
End | 07/2013 |
Description | MRC Studentship with Newcastle University - Patternand type of protein consumption on physical capability in the elderly |
Amount | £53,160 (GBP) |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2009 |
End | 09/2013 |
Description | MRCF Equipment Grant |
Amount | £18,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | CO456 |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Department | Medical Research Foundation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2013 |
End | 05/2013 |
Description | NIA Intramural programme - 'midlife functioning' |
Amount | £227,900 (GBP) |
Organisation | National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United States |
Start | 01/2005 |
End | 01/2008 |
Description | National Osteoporosis Society Research Grant - Nutriton through the lifecourse and skeletal health at age 60 to 64 years |
Amount | £49,779 (GBP) |
Organisation | Royal Osteoporosis Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2011 |
End | 03/2013 |
Description | Royal Society International Travel Grant - Establishing links with the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam |
Amount | £3,800 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2010 |
End | 03/2010 |
Description | Royal Society International Travel Grant for GSA |
Amount | £1,435 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2010 |
End | 11/2010 |
Title | 60-64 physical performance data collected and cleaned |
Description | New NSHD physical performance data collected includes chair rise, grip strength |
Type Of Material | Biological samples |
Year Produced | 2011 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | A number of publications in press and forthcoming |
Title | Data harmonisation tool |
Description | Development of a data harmonisation tool for the study of physical function in population based cohorts of ageing |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | too soon to tell |
Description | Bone and Muscle Ageing Project Management Group |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Department | MRC Human Nutrition Research Group |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Data provision, data analysis, wirting up of scientific results |
Collaborator Contribution | Established for the purpose of maximising the scientific potential of the new NSHD data on bone and muscle structure and function |
Impact | Numerous research publications |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | Bone and Muscle Ageing Project Management Group |
Organisation | University of Manchester |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Data provision, data analysis, wirting up of scientific results |
Collaborator Contribution | Established for the purpose of maximising the scientific potential of the new NSHD data on bone and muscle structure and function |
Impact | Numerous research publications |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | Bone and Muscle Ageing Project Management Group |
Organisation | University of Southampton |
Department | MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Data provision, data analysis, wirting up of scientific results |
Collaborator Contribution | Established for the purpose of maximising the scientific potential of the new NSHD data on bone and muscle structure and function |
Impact | Numerous research publications |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | Collaboration with the University of Copenhagen |
Organisation | University of Copenhagen |
Country | Denmark |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The Unit shared NSHD data with a visiting worker from University of Copenhagen. Contributions include data analysis, publication writing and editing manuscripts. |
Collaborator Contribution | Contributions include data analysis, publication writing and editing manuscripts. |
Impact | PMID 26176776 |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Collaborations on bone and muscle ageing |
Organisation | University of Cambridge |
Department | MRC Epidemiology Unit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Ongoing collaboration on LHA/NSHD physical capability programme, scientific lead on study design and drafting manuscripts vary, involves data sharing, analysis, interpretation and revision of manuscripts |
Collaborator Contribution | Clinical and biological expertise in muscle and bone ageing |
Impact | 16870632 Kuh et al 2006 23761289 Kuh et al 2013 Cole 27466311 SITAR and bone health Kuh 27472291 menopause Kuh 27401728 Pubertal timing Ward 26817442 Dietary patterns and bone health Bendayan R. Associations of Childhood and Adulthood Cognition with Bone Mineral Density in Later Adulthood: A Population-Based PMID: 28790912 PMCID: PMC5525002 |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | Ethnicity and disability Collaboration UCL |
Organisation | Imperial College London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Collaboration working on ethnicity and disability |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration working on ethnicity and disability |
Impact | Research grant applications submitted The Imperial part of this group has relocated to UCL and our researchers are still exploring possible opportunities for collaboration |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Ethnicity and disability Collaboration UCL |
Organisation | University College London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Collaboration working on ethnicity and disability |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration working on ethnicity and disability |
Impact | Research grant applications submitted The Imperial part of this group has relocated to UCL and our researchers are still exploring possible opportunities for collaboration |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Hip and spine morphologies - Aberdeen Collaboration |
Organisation | Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Collboration to look at hip and spine morphologies in the NSHD. The unit will provide the study members for the project, help with coordination of the project, data analysis, creation and editing of manuscripts and writing grant applications. |
Collaborator Contribution | Coordination of the project, data analysis, creation and editing of manuscripts and writing grant applications. |
Impact | A grant application has been awarded by the MRC - November 2013 Aberdeen have finished deriving a complete dataset of hip shape mode scores and one on spine shape is due to be delivered soon. Conference abstracts have been submitted by the Aberdeen group LHA is now planning analyses that will be led by them Muthuri and Pavlova submitted papers abstracts submitted Muthuri SG.Associations between body mass index across adult life and hip shapes at age 60 to 64: Evidence from the 1946 British birth cohort.PMID:28842363 PMC5658512 Pavlova AV. Statistical shape modelling of hip and lumbar spine morphology and their relationship in the MRC National Survey of Health and Development.PMID:28561274 PMC5522893 Ireland A, Saunders FR, Muthuri SG, Pavlova AV, Hardy RJ, Martin KR, Barr RJ, Adams JE, Kuh D, Aspden RM, Gregory JS, Cooper R. Age at Onset of Walking in Infancy Is Associated With Hip Shape in Early Old Age. J Bone Miner Res. 2018 Nov 29. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.3627. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 30496618. Muthuri SG, Pavlova AV, Saunders FR, Hardy RJ, Gregory JS, Barr RJ, Martin KR, Adams JE, Kuh D, Aspden RM, Cooper R. Associations between back pain across adulthood and spine shape in early old age in a British birth cohort. Sci Rep. 2018 Nov 5;8(1):16309. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-34628-9. PMID: 30397263. Muthuri SG, Saunders FR, Hardy RJ, Pavlova AV, Martin KR, Gregory JS, Barr RJ, Adams JE, Kuh D, Aspden RM, Cooper R. Associations between body mass index across adult life and hip shapes at age 60 to 64: Evidence from the 1946 British birth cohort Bone. 2017 Aug 22. pii: S8756-3282(17)30312-5. PMID:28842363 PMC5658512 Pavlova AV, Saunders FR, Muthuri SG, Gregory JS, Barr RJ, Martin KR, Hardy RJ, Cooper R, Adams JE, Kuh D, Aspden RM. Statistical shape modelling of hip and lumbar spine morphology and their relationship in the MRC National Survey of Health and Development. J Anat. 2017 Aug;231(2):248-259. PMID: 28561274 PMC5522893 |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Hip and spine morphologies - Aberdeen Collaboration |
Organisation | University of Aberdeen |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Collboration to look at hip and spine morphologies in the NSHD. The unit will provide the study members for the project, help with coordination of the project, data analysis, creation and editing of manuscripts and writing grant applications. |
Collaborator Contribution | Coordination of the project, data analysis, creation and editing of manuscripts and writing grant applications. |
Impact | A grant application has been awarded by the MRC - November 2013 Aberdeen have finished deriving a complete dataset of hip shape mode scores and one on spine shape is due to be delivered soon. Conference abstracts have been submitted by the Aberdeen group LHA is now planning analyses that will be led by them Muthuri and Pavlova submitted papers abstracts submitted Muthuri SG.Associations between body mass index across adult life and hip shapes at age 60 to 64: Evidence from the 1946 British birth cohort.PMID:28842363 PMC5658512 Pavlova AV. Statistical shape modelling of hip and lumbar spine morphology and their relationship in the MRC National Survey of Health and Development.PMID:28561274 PMC5522893 Ireland A, Saunders FR, Muthuri SG, Pavlova AV, Hardy RJ, Martin KR, Barr RJ, Adams JE, Kuh D, Aspden RM, Gregory JS, Cooper R. Age at Onset of Walking in Infancy Is Associated With Hip Shape in Early Old Age. J Bone Miner Res. 2018 Nov 29. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.3627. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 30496618. Muthuri SG, Pavlova AV, Saunders FR, Hardy RJ, Gregory JS, Barr RJ, Martin KR, Adams JE, Kuh D, Aspden RM, Cooper R. Associations between back pain across adulthood and spine shape in early old age in a British birth cohort. Sci Rep. 2018 Nov 5;8(1):16309. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-34628-9. PMID: 30397263. Muthuri SG, Saunders FR, Hardy RJ, Pavlova AV, Martin KR, Gregory JS, Barr RJ, Adams JE, Kuh D, Aspden RM, Cooper R. Associations between body mass index across adult life and hip shapes at age 60 to 64: Evidence from the 1946 British birth cohort Bone. 2017 Aug 22. pii: S8756-3282(17)30312-5. PMID:28842363 PMC5658512 Pavlova AV, Saunders FR, Muthuri SG, Gregory JS, Barr RJ, Martin KR, Hardy RJ, Cooper R, Adams JE, Kuh D, Aspden RM. Statistical shape modelling of hip and lumbar spine morphology and their relationship in the MRC National Survey of Health and Development. J Anat. 2017 Aug;231(2):248-259. PMID: 28561274 PMC5522893 |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | MRC guidelines on biomarkers of healthy ageing |
Organisation | Newcastle University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Three LHA scientists contributed to the creation of the new MRC guidelines on biomarkers of healthy ageing and also helped to organise a workshop on the subject. |
Collaborator Contribution | The external collaborators also contributed to the creation of the new MRC guidelines on biomarkers of healthy ageing and helped to organise a workshop on the subject. |
Impact | Creation of the new MRC guidelines is still in progress - drafts are being circulated Kuh et al PMID: 24456831 PMID: 26373927 |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | MRC guidelines on biomarkers of healthy ageing |
Organisation | University of Birmingham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Three LHA scientists contributed to the creation of the new MRC guidelines on biomarkers of healthy ageing and also helped to organise a workshop on the subject. |
Collaborator Contribution | The external collaborators also contributed to the creation of the new MRC guidelines on biomarkers of healthy ageing and helped to organise a workshop on the subject. |
Impact | Creation of the new MRC guidelines is still in progress - drafts are being circulated Kuh et al PMID: 24456831 PMID: 26373927 |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | MRC guidelines on biomarkers of healthy ageing |
Organisation | University of Cambridge |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Three LHA scientists contributed to the creation of the new MRC guidelines on biomarkers of healthy ageing and also helped to organise a workshop on the subject. |
Collaborator Contribution | The external collaborators also contributed to the creation of the new MRC guidelines on biomarkers of healthy ageing and helped to organise a workshop on the subject. |
Impact | Creation of the new MRC guidelines is still in progress - drafts are being circulated Kuh et al PMID: 24456831 PMID: 26373927 |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | MRC guidelines on biomarkers of healthy ageing |
Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Three LHA scientists contributed to the creation of the new MRC guidelines on biomarkers of healthy ageing and also helped to organise a workshop on the subject. |
Collaborator Contribution | The external collaborators also contributed to the creation of the new MRC guidelines on biomarkers of healthy ageing and helped to organise a workshop on the subject. |
Impact | Creation of the new MRC guidelines is still in progress - drafts are being circulated Kuh et al PMID: 24456831 PMID: 26373927 |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | NIA Life course collaboration |
Organisation | National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
Department | National Institute on Aging |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | We have supervised NIA lifecourse fellows working on physical functioning and life course epidemiology in NSHD in collaboration with Prof Guralnik, Chief of NIA Dept. of Epidemiology and Demography Collaboration with Luigi Ferrucci on Ageing research |
Collaborator Contribution | NIA funded a 3 year post (2005 -8) in the MRC team worth £227890. since 2007 have funded 3 fellowships and contribute £32695 for supervision costs. Maximising the research potential of NSHD. Scientific input to numerous papers. Capacity building Collaboration with Luigi Ferrucci on Ageing research |
Impact | Numerous publications, capacity building through NIA lifecourse fellowships. 19124616 18450766 19608560 16870631 PLT participated in a Gerontology Society of America pre-conference workshop PMID: 26975983 Age-related change in mobility: perspectives from life course epidemiology and geroscience' J Gerontology: Medical Sciences 22858531 22209408 21860018 21737047 |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | Nutrition through the life course Kate Ward |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Department | MRC Human Nutrition Research Group |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | NSHD data sharing, epidemiological expertise input, revision of papers |
Collaborator Contribution | NSHD data analysis and interpretation to identify empirical dietary patterns that are characterised by specific dietary nutrients of interest. We will use these dietary patterns to examine the influence of life course dietary intake on musculoskeletal phenotype in males and females separately, at age 60-64 years. |
Impact | Funding from National Osteoporosis Society PMID 22190135 PMID 22777542 PMID 26817442 |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Population health sciences measurements toolkit |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Department | MRC Human Nutrition Research Group |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provide expert advice on life course epidemiology, particularly in relation to lifetime influences on physical capability (the capacity to undertake the physical tasks of daily living) and musculoskeletal ageing. |
Collaborator Contribution | Administration of the grant and development of the toolkit |
Impact | Grant awarded to develop the toolkit |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Population health sciences measurements toolkit |
Organisation | University of Cambridge |
Department | MRC Epidemiology Unit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provide expert advice on life course epidemiology, particularly in relation to lifetime influences on physical capability (the capacity to undertake the physical tasks of daily living) and musculoskeletal ageing. |
Collaborator Contribution | Administration of the grant and development of the toolkit |
Impact | Grant awarded to develop the toolkit |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Population health sciences measurements toolkit |
Organisation | University of Cambridge |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provide expert advice on life course epidemiology, particularly in relation to lifetime influences on physical capability (the capacity to undertake the physical tasks of daily living) and musculoskeletal ageing. |
Collaborator Contribution | Administration of the grant and development of the toolkit |
Impact | Grant awarded to develop the toolkit |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Population health sciences measurements toolkit |
Organisation | University of Nottingham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provide expert advice on life course epidemiology, particularly in relation to lifetime influences on physical capability (the capacity to undertake the physical tasks of daily living) and musculoskeletal ageing. |
Collaborator Contribution | Administration of the grant and development of the toolkit |
Impact | Grant awarded to develop the toolkit |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Population health sciences measurements toolkit |
Organisation | University of Southampton |
Department | MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provide expert advice on life course epidemiology, particularly in relation to lifetime influences on physical capability (the capacity to undertake the physical tasks of daily living) and musculoskeletal ageing. |
Collaborator Contribution | Administration of the grant and development of the toolkit |
Impact | Grant awarded to develop the toolkit |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | SABRE |
Organisation | University College London |
Department | Institute of Cardiovascular Science |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Co applicants on grant to use Southall and Brent Revisited (SABRE) cohort to look at disability status. Advise on study design/grant application. Help with analysis and interpretation, drafting manuscripts, interpretation and revision of manuscripts. |
Collaborator Contribution | Writing of grant applications/research questions. Analysis and interpretation of data. Drafting manuscripts, interpretation and revision of manuscripts. |
Impact | Renewal of funding in 2014 from MRC MR co-I on renewal grant co-author on 2 papers: Mid-life hypertensive status and cognitive function 20 years later: the SABRE study. Depressive symptoms are doubled in older British south Asian and black Caribbean people compared with Europeans: associations with excess co-morbidity and socioeconomic disadvantage. Dehbi PMID 27939045 Air pollution and cardiovascular mortality with over 25years follow-up: A combined analysis of two British cohorts. Joint research meetings between sabre and nshd |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | The menopausal transition |
Organisation | University of Bristol |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | One of our programme leaders is providing epidemiological expertise. Revision of papers |
Collaborator Contribution | Intepretation and analysis of data. Drafting and revision of papers |
Impact | Funding for a research grant from LLHW |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | University of Jyväskylä Collaboration |
Organisation | University of Jyvaskyla |
Department | Department of Health Sciences |
Country | Finland |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | LHA shared NSHD data with a visting working from Finland. Contributions include data analysis, publication writing and editing manuscripts. |
Collaborator Contribution | Contributions include data analysis, publication writing and editing manuscripts |
Impact | PMID 25319998 Von Bonsdorff et al paper revised and resubmitted 'Mid-career work patterns and physical and mental functioning at age 60-64 years: Evidence from the 1946 British birth cohort' |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Article written for Evidence Based Nursing |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Health professionals |
Results and Impact | Researcher contributed to Evidence Based Nursing commentary. The clinical relevance and rigour of the studies is assessed to identify research that is relevant to nursing. A commentary on chosen articles identifies the key findings and implications for clinical practice. None to report |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Canadian Lifestyle and Fitness Institute article on HALCyon paper |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A lay summary was written by the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute about a HALCyon paper on childhood socioeconomic circumstances and physical capability. Increase the awareness (in Canada) of the HALCyon research programme and the importance of cross cohort work. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | Columbia talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Presentation at Columbia University Life course framing of chronic disease opportunities: translating the life course perspective into reduced prevalence Professor Diana Kuh MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing Dean's Seminar, Columbia New York, April 30th 2013 Promotion of a life course approach |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | HALCYon Project Summary Brochure |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A plain english brochure was created which summarised the main findings from the HALCyon research programme. It has been disseminated to study members, on our website and the New Dynamics of Ageing website and at conferences. Increased awareness of the findings from the HALCyon programme and the cohorts that were used within this research programme |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | HALCYon book launch |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | A book launch was arranged to promote the findings from the HALCyon research programme Shared knowledge of the HALCyon findings which were published in a book 'A life course approach to healthy ageing'. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Media coverage of BMJ physical capability and mortality review |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Press releases were prepared for the publication of the physical capability and mortality review published in the British Medical Journal and time was spent communicating the findings to a number of journalists. The paper received wide news coverage and was reported in national newspapers, including the Independent, Guardian and Daily Mail, radio news reports and internationally on internet news sites. Asked to create teaching module for CME. Also featured in the MRC Annual Review 2010/11 Enhanced profile of Unit and NSHD |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | Media coverage of physical activity and physical performance article |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Findings of the paper on physical activity across the life course and physical performance were reported in Time and other media. Asked to create CME teaching module Enhanced profile of NSHD and LHA |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | NDA findings brochure |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The New Dynamics of Ageing programme which funded the HALCyon programme created a findings document summerising the results of the HALCyon programme which was distributed to their local networks Increased awareness of the HALCyon findings and a life course approach to healthy ageing. Increased awareness of longitudinal studies and the cohorts that were involved in HALCyon |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Open City Docs Fest Cradle to Crave |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | DIrector took part in a UCL film festival panel discussion about the NSHD, 7 up tv series and ALSPAC cohort study. Raised awareness of the NSHD and cohort studies |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | http://www.opencitydocsfest.com/index.php?id=362 |
Description | Presentation at Economic and Social Research Institute |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Childhood influences on lifelong health and ageing: evidence from the British 1946 birth cohort study Professor Diana Kuh MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing The Long Shadow of Childhood Adversity: Evidence from Ireland and Policy Implications conference. Economic and Social Research Institute, Dublin, Ireland. 27th June. Promoting the NSHD and life course approach to new audiences |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Presentation at European Consensus Workshop on Robert Koch Institute |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Director presented 'The HALCyon programme. A life course approach to healthy ageing' at European Consensus Workshop on Robert Koch Institute, Berlin 22 November. Promotion of life course approach to healthy ageing |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Presentation at the Nutrition Society meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | A life course approach to healthy ageing: maintaining physical capability Professor Diana Kuh and Dr Rachel Cooper NUTRITION SOCIETY , NEWCASTLE, July 16th 2013 Promotion of life course approach and use of cohorts |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Various presentations to policy makers and general audiences |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | please see details in 'Enhancing NSHD' programme about presentations at Ministerial and Whitehall seminars and at the British Library Enhanced the research findings from this programme |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |