MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit

Cyrus Cooper, Director

MRC LEU; Southampton 2013

MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit2010-2015

Musculoskeletal ageing Nutrition, development, and lifelong health Work and Health

Lifecourse epidemiology

Scientific MissionTo delineate:•The environmental causes throughout the lifecourse of

chronic musculoskeletal disorders obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease

•Population-based and high-risk preventive strategies against these disordersMis

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sInterventionMechanisms

Aetiology ChildFetus & Infant

Adult

Lifecourse determinants of health and disease M

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Developmental plastic responsesEpigenetic processes

Childhood body composition and development

Infant feeding and illnesses

Infant body composition & developmentWeight gain and catch-up growth

Young women’s diet, body composition, physical activity, education and lifestyle before and during pregnancy

Childhood diet, physical activity, lifestyle and education

Vulnerability to chronic disease in later life

Work, lifestyle and health behaviours in adulthood

Retirement and ageing

Gluckman, Hanson, Cooper et al New Engl J Med 2008; 359: 61-73 Harvey N, Cooper C BMJ 2012; 345: e4695

Chronic NCD risk

Plasticity

Life course

No intervention

Mother& infant

Earlier intervention improves functionalcapacity & responsesto new challenges

Inadequate responseto new challenges

Childhood

Adulthood

Early intervention

Late intervention

Late intervention impactful for vulnerable groups

Lifecourse strategy for disease prevention

Gluckman, Hanson, Cooper et al New Engl J Med 2008; 359: 61-73 Hanson M , Godfrey K et al Prog Biophys Molec Biol 2011; 106: 272-280

Scientific Programmes• Lifecourse determinants of bone and joint disease

• Sarcopenia, physical frailty and clinical care in older people

• Nutrition, development and lifelong health (Developing/transitioning populations)

• Nutrition, development and lifelong health (Developed populations)

• Work and Health

Scientific achievements

– Maternal vitamin D insufficiency and childhood bone mineral accrual

– Developmental origins of sarcopenia and cognitive function

– Maternal micronutrient status, birthweight and childhood adiposity

– Self-efficacy and control as determinants of food choice among young women

– Health beliefs, somatising tendency, physical exposures and musculoskeletal disability