Approved Research

Association between Lifestyle, Dietary Patterns, and Neurological and Spinal Diseases.

Lay summary

Neurological and spinal disorders are highly prevalent in our society, casting a substantial economic burden on both communities and families. Primary and secondary prevention strategies are of paramount importance. To date, there has been substantial research exploring the potential connection between diet, lifestyle, and the health of the nervous system and spine. Our objective is to conduct this study to shed light on the role of lifestyle and dietary habits in promoting neurological and spinal health.

The UK Biobank is a comprehensive, large-scale cohort study that enrolled about 500,000 participants from 2006 to 2010. It meticulously gathered extensive data on participants' lifestyles and dietary practices while continuously monitoring the occurrence of neurological and spinal disorders. Previous studies have documented correlations between common lifestyle factors like physical activity, diet, smoking, and alcohol consumption and the risk of various neurological and spinal disorders. However, contemporary society is witnessing the emergence of new lifestyle trends and dietary preferences, such as the increasing popularity of shift work and vegetarianism.

Prior research has indicated that shift work may exert detrimental effects on cardiovascular health, skeletal well-being, and liver conditions, while vegetarians may be at a heightened risk of anemia and fractures. Consequently, further research into the impact of these factors on neurological and spinal disorders holds significant importance.

The entire project is planned to span approximately three years. Through a comprehensive analysis of the extensive dataset available from the UK Biobank, we have the opportunity to pinpoint potential risk factors and intervention strategies, ultimately enhancing people's quality of life and reducing the incidence of neurological and spinal diseases.