Life course determinants of physical capability and musculoskeletal ageing
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
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
- University College London, United Kingdom (Collaboration, Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Southampton, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- University of Copenhagen, Denmark (Collaboration)
- University of Cambridge (Collaboration)
- University of Bristol, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- Newcastle University, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- Medical Research Council (Collaboration)
- University of Birmingham, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- University of Nottingham (Collaboration)
- University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
Diana Jane Kuh (Principal Investigator) |
Publications

Al Saikhan L
(2022)
Relationship Between Image Quality and Bias in 3D Echocardiographic Measures: Data From the SABRE (Southall and Brent Revisited) Study.
in Journal of the American Heart Association

Allinson JP
(2016)
The Presence of Chronic Mucus Hypersecretion across Adult Life in Relation to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Development.
in American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine

Allinson JP
(2017)
Combined Impact of Smoking and Early-Life Exposures on Adult Lung Function Trajectories.
in American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine

Anderson EL
(2017)
Adversity in childhood and measures of aging in midlife: Findings from a cohort of british women.
in Psychology and aging

Anwar S
(2018)
Rehabilitation for Cancer Survivors How We Can Reduce the Healthcare Service Inequality in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
in American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Astuti Y
(2017)
Cigarette smoking and telomere length: A systematic review of 84 studies and meta-analysis.
in Environmental research

Bann D
(2014)
Socioeconomic position across life and body composition in early old age: findings from a British birth cohort study.
in Journal of epidemiology and community health


Bann D
(2015)
Changes in testosterone related to body composition in late midlife: Findings from the 1946 British birth cohort study.
in Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)

Bann D
(2015)
Socioeconomic conditions across life related to multiple measures of the endocrine system in older adults: Longitudinal findings from a British birth cohort study.
in Social science & medicine (1982)
Title | Board to explain Vascular Ageing to the General Public |
Description | This comic board was designed by Chloe Park and the VascAgeNet Public Engagement Team to explain the concepts of vascular ageing to the general public. |
Type Of Art | Artwork |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Impact | This board is being used to educate the public on Vascular Ageing |
URL | https://vascagenet.eu/public-engagement |
Title | Educational Posters- Vascular Ageing |
Description | Chloe Park and the VascAgeNet public engagement Team developed posters to explain the concepts of Vascular Ageing to clincians and the general public. These posters have been translated into >20 languages. |
Type Of Art | Artwork |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Impact | These posters will help to educate both clinicians and the general public. |
URL | https://vascagenet.eu/public-engagement |
Title | Introduction to Vascular Ageing |
Description | Chloe Park co-created this vascular ageing animation with collaborators in the European Network VascAgeNet |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Impact | This animation has been viewed by thousands of individuals across the world. |
URL | https://youtu.be/7s0_Rkg_bRE |
Title | Vascular Ageing Illustration |
Description | An illustration of Vascular Ageing, created by Chloe Park and the VascAgeNet Public Engagement Team |
Type Of Art | Artwork |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Impact | This illustration explains the concepts of vascular ageing to the general public. |
URL | https://vascagenet.eu/public-engagement |
Description | All-Party Parliamentary Group on Medical Research (international mobility for scientists) |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
Description | CLOSER Workshops |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | Increased awareness and understanding of researchers in the following areas Functioning well in later life: What is the evidence from longitudinal studies?* ** Symposium January 15th 2013 Knowledge Exchange Workshop: Challenges for Data Harmony* ** KEW January 16th 2013 Knowledge Exchange Workshop: Integrating the social and biological* KEW April 12th 2013 Training workshop: Life Course Research* ** Training workshop Monday 17 March 2014 Successful cohort leadership and management* ** Training workshop Friday 16 May 2014 |
Description | Diana Kuh became Vice-Chair on SAPEA International Working Group 'Transforming the Future of Ageing' in support of European Commission's Scientific Advice Mechanism |
Geographic Reach | Europe |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a advisory committee |
Description | Diana Kuh became a member of the Scientific Advisory Board, German National Cohort (GNC, NAKO) |
Geographic Reach | Europe |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Description | Diana Kuh is a member of the Springboard Review Working Group for the Academy of Medical Sciences |
Geographic Reach | Europe |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Description | Diana Kuh was Principal member of the Scientific Committee. Wellcome Trust Scientific Meeting. Longitudinal studies: Hinxton, Cambridge, May 20th-June 1st 2018 |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a advisory committee |
Description | Diana Kuh was a Review panel member. Leiden University Medical Centre. |
Geographic Reach | Europe |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Description | Pre-conference workshop on 5 November 2014 at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Washington DC, USA |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | Increased researcher awareness and understanding of using a life course approach to understanding physical capability. |
Description | Research visit to University of Solo City |
Geographic Reach | Asia |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | Research visit to University of Solo City to share best practice on the topic of life course/ healthy ageing research |
Description | Sucessful cohort leadership and management course |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | Our director co-organised a training event about successful cohort leadership and management. We hope this event will lead to more researchers taking an interest in leading a cohort and understanding what it means to manage a cohort on a day to day basis. We hope it will lead to the cohort leaders of the future. |
Description | Written submission to the House of Commons Health Committee inquiry on the impact of physical activity and diet on health. |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a national consultation |
Description | Biomedical follow-up of 1958 Birth Cohort Study members at age 60 |
Amount | £1,630,449 (GBP) |
Funding ID | MR/P023444/1 |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2017 |
End | 12/2021 |
Description | CLOSER innovation funding Socioeconomic differentials in physical activity |
Amount | £156,961 (GBP) |
Organisation | Economic and Social Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | Grand Challenges Doctoral Students Small Grant |
Amount | £1,600 (GBP) |
Organisation | University College London |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG) 2017 World Congress Travel Stipend |
Amount | $1,000 (USD) |
Organisation | International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Belgium |
Start | 06/2017 |
End | 07/2017 |
Description | MRC Career Development Award How will the obesity epidemic influence healthly ageing |
Amount | £811,514 (GBP) |
Funding ID | MR/P020372/1 |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2017 |
End | 09/2022 |
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 | 1958 biomedical collaboration |
Organisation | University College London |
Department | Institute of Education (IOE) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | provide expertise on physical capability measures |
Collaborator Contribution | submission of grant application and data collection and analysis |
Impact | Grant application submitted |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Biomedical follow-up of 1958 Birth Cohort Study members at age 60 |
Organisation | University College London |
Department | Centre for Longitudinal Studies |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Participation in successful funding bid 1/7/2017-31/12/2021 Biomedical follow-up of 1958 Birth Cohort Study members at age 60 MRC, £1,630,449 |
Collaborator Contribution | Participation in successful funding bid 1/7/2017-31/12/2021 Biomedical follow-up of 1958 Birth Cohort Study members at age 60 MRC, £1,630,449 |
Impact | Successful finding bid |
Start Year | 2017 |
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 | 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 | 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 |
Title | New data sharing platform - Skylark |
Description | Skylark is our new data sharing platform. Skylark is aimed at providing researchers with all the information they need to apply for survey data from the NSHD. Skylark is composed of two companion systems: A wiki (https://skylark.ucl.ac.uk) provides users with a detailed description of the study including all data collections across its 70+ years. The wiki includes: 1. background information about the NSHD; 2. all annotated questionnaires and other paper instruments; 3. a description of the major topics, including information on repeated measures and standard variables; 4. information about the variable search facility and guides on how to locate variables; 5. NSHD information governance; 6. a complete description of the NSHD data sharing process, including all the forms necessary to set up a data sharing agreement and submit a data access request. A variable search facility (https://skylark/ucl.ac.uk/Skylark) provides a platform to locate metadata covering more than 25,000 NSHD variables. Users will need to register, before they can log in to search for variables of interest, which can then be added to personal shopping baskets and saved. Following a successful data sharing application and satisfactory information security assessment, these baskets will then be processed by NSHD staff and the data sent out. This is different from our current data sharing platform, SWIFT, is that it is more secure, transparent and the process of data sharing will be more automated. Data applications are now all completed on line improvements are continuously being made to this platform |
Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Impact | We are in the testing phase, with a full launch scheduled for end of September / beginning of October. |
URL | https://skylark.ucl.ac.uk |
Description | 72nd birthday card workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Two workshops were held with ~20 school students (year 9 and year 13) to discuss the history of cohort studies and why they are important. Students were then asked to design a birthday card for our study members using collage. They used old memorabilia from the study. This was a collaboration between a collage artist and two historians from LSHTM. A number of birthday cards were created and two were chosen to send to our study members. As a result of this collaboration a research paper about the history of the NSHD is in progress as well as another public engagement event. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Article in The Conversation - Grip Strength |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Increased awareness of NSHD research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Article in new scientist and bbc 10 things we didn't know. |
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 | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Article in new scientist and bbc 10 things we didn't know about NSHD research. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2104251-people-born-underweight-do-less-exercise-throughout-their-lives/ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-37255890 https://wolterskluwer.altmetric.com/details/11008605). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Green Man 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Green Man 2018 - As part of this, with funding from MRC, researchers from UCL partnered with fanSHEN theatre company to create an activity to engage the public with findings from longitudinal life course research. The successful collaboration led to the development of "Life Course golf course"; part crazy golf, part insight into research from longitudinal cohort studies. In this activity, festival goers were recruited into the life course-themed six-hole golf course. Their caddy (research scientists) navigated them through the 'life course golf course' by discussing and describing how studying birth cohorts have helped us to understand how early life factors can affect later health outcomes. Over 1,500 adults and children successfully progressed through the course. With an audience made up of families, teenagers and adults who wouldn't normally attend a scientific event, it presented a fantastic opportunity to share about our research in a fun and creative way. We have had lots of positive feedback and have been approached by other universities and even the Science Museum to explore re-running the activity at future events |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/cardiovascular/research/population-science-and-experimental-medicine/mrc-unit-... |
Description | Green Man Festival |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Green Man Festival. Scientists from the Medical Research Council Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL wanted to tell people all about their work- a UK birth cohort study of 5000 people who have been studied by the unit ever since they were born in 1946. Funded by the Wellcome Trust, artists helped to transform the study into 'Tangle', an activity designed to represent how scientists gather up the threads of many people's lives and weave them together to answer research questions. Festival goers were asked to contribute their data on eight variables the scientists examine, for example stress, memory, and health behaviours. Instead of filling out questionnaires, the participants got a piece of coloured fabric for each of their answers, which they wound onto a rope to create their "life course". Anything else that they thought was important in their lives they wrote onto a fabric luggage tag to share with everyone. More than 600 people came to talk to the scientists and make their own life course, which they then used to help answer a research question: "What is most important to your quality of life." Against the backdrop of Welsh mountains a tapestry frame stood displaying various answers such as, "health", "wealth" and "music" (well, it was a music festival). The new study members threaded their own life course into the section that represented them. It soon became obvious what was most important to their quality of life. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
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 | International Innovation Article |
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 | Programme Leader and Programme Leader track were interviewed about the NSHD, the need for life course data to be used in healthy ageing research and physical capability Increased awareness of the NSHD, the MRC Unit for Life course Health and Ageing and the need to use life course research in healthy ageing research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Invited Talk: BIHS 2021 Resilience in Research |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Chloe Park gave an Invited Talk at the Young Investigators session of the BIHS meeting, Brighton, Sep 2021, on Resilience in Research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Liverpool Policy Provocations |
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 debate about Ageing: more life or just more years? How can we make an ageing society a good thing? organised by Liverpool University Policy Provocations Raising awareness of ageing and life course studies with the general public |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | http://www.liv.ac.uk/events/policy-provocations/ageing.php |
Description | MRC Festival of Medical Research 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Science Fair in South Cloisters with MRC LMCB and MRC Prion Unit. Our stall used a modified Green Man 2017 "Tangled" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://www.nshd.mrc.ac.uk/news-events/recent-news/mrc-festival-2018-blog/ |
Description | MRC Festival of Medical Research Exhibition 70 years of... |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The activty showcased the history of the cohorts birthday cards as well as old letters from the study and how data used to be presented. The work was presented in a gallery space in collaboration with an art student from the Univerisyt of the arts as well as the president of the UCL medical and arts society. The idea was to create an art exhibition using historical items from the study |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
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 | NSHD 70th birthday events and media interest |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | The department organised two birthday events for our study members in London and Manchester. The parties gained significant media attention (print and feature on BBC news). The study member feedback was also very positive and the events were seen as a success. Health Study - why we owe so much to the class of '46, The Observer BBC News at 10, Tuesday 1st March BBC Breakfast short version, Wednesday 2nd March BBC Inside Science, Thursday 3rd March The Naked Scientists, Monday 7th March A video of the London event was created by Dreaming Fish on behalf of the MRC. The NSHD also featured on a number of local BBC radio stations on Wednesday 1st March. BBC Radio Cambridgeshire MRC Network Magazine MRC Life Magazine MRC Sound Cloud https://soundcloud.com/the_mrc/mrc-talks-episode-7 Sunday People http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/douglas-babies-who-helped-shape-7634768 http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-03/05/c_135159132.htm Study member interviewed on Radio Stoke 4 March 2016 14:26 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | NSHD paper cited in Men's Health article about maintaining muscle as you age |
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 | Increased awareness of NSHD research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | New story on MRC website about Einstein's garden at Green Man Festival |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | News story on the MRC public engagement section of their website detailing the activity we took part in for the Green Man Festival |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | News article on low birth weight babies |
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 | To share knowledge - News story written about findings that highlight that those people born with a low birth weight might require more support than others in order to achieve sustained physical activity throughout their lives for lesmills website |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.lesmills.com/knowledge/newsfeed/low-birth-weight-babies/ |
Description | Presentation at American Heart Association conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Health professionals |
Results and Impact | Director invited to give a presentation A life course approach to cardiovascular health Professors Diana Kuh and Rebecca Hardy MRC Unit for Life Course Health and Ageing at UCL American Heart Association 17th November 2013 Dallas Texas Promoting life course approach to cardiovascular ageing to cardiac health professionals |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Press interest in RC physical capability in midlife |
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 | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Press interest in a paper published on physical capability in midlife and survival - numerous news articles and internet articles PLT did an interview for The Telegraph Increased awareness of the NSHD and life course approach used in research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Press release - Adult lifetime diet quality and physical performance in older age: findings from a British birth cohort |
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 | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Press release for scientific paper - picked up by some internet news websites focussed on nutrition |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Press story on biomarkers and physical capability |
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 | Press story on biomarkers and physical capability: https://www.heart.org/en/news/2019/01/22/too-much-of-this-in-the-blood-could-predict-certain-signs-of-premature-aging. American Heart Association News |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | RC member of the International Longevity Centre UK Early and Mid Career Researcher Panel. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | A programme leader is a member of the International Longevity Centre UK Early and Mid Career Researcher Panel. ILC-UK is the leading think tank on longevity and demographic change. Providing opportunities for collaborative working and academic support to ILC-UK researchers, the panel brings together academics from a range of disciplines, with the aim of integrating academia and policy. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | School Visit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | In March 2022, C.Park played a key role in science week for 'Kings Court First School' in Old Windsor. She led an assembly of 300 4-10 year olds and spoke to them about becoming a scientist. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Talk at Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The Director gave a talk on healthy ageing at the Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution to increase awareness of the life course approach to healthy ageing Increased awareness of healthy ageing, the life course approach used in research and the NSHD |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Ted Talk by Helen Pearson about The Life Project |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Scientists at the Unit contributed to Helen Pearson's book 'The Life Project'. Helen gave a talk featureing the NSHD for TED. It has had 1,649,889 views and has increased the awareness of the NSHD and longitudinal research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.ted.com/talks/helen_pearson_lessons_from_the_longest_study_on_human_development |