Approved Research

Lifestyle, biological factors, genetic predisposition, and age-related diseases: associations and mechanisms

Lay summary

With population aging and environmental changes, the number of people living with age-related diseases continues to grow. Precision prevention and management of age-related diseases remain public health priorities. Development of age-related diseases (e.g., diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and dementia) is determined by a constellation of factors including, but not limited to, lifestyle factors, biological factors, and genetic factors. However, the independent and joint associations of the aforementioned factors with the development and progression of many age-related diseases are unclear. The interactions between non-genetic factors themselves as well as between genetic and environmental factors in relation to the development and progression of age-related diseases remain to be thoroughly evaluated. The biological mechanisms underlying the development and progression of age-related diseases remain to be elucidated.

Using the data already collected in UK Biobank, we aim to 1) determine individual and joint associations of lifestyle and/or biological factors with age-related diseases or their subclinical markers, 2) determine how lifestyle and biological factors interact with each other or with genetic predisposition and consequently affect development and progression of age-related diseases, and (3) understand the mechanisms underlying the associations of lifestyle and/or biological factors with age-related diseases.

We expect the project to take 3 years. Completion of this project will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the etiology, progression and management of age-related diseases and provide actionable public health and clinical solutions.