The global population is ageing, due to decreased birth rates and increased life expectancy. Whilst increased life expectancy is a positive consequence of factors such as improved health care and lifestyle, it is important that it also brings with it an increased health span, to ensure that people live more healthy years. A longer health span will reduce the impact of diseases common in older people, such as dementia, diabetes and arthritis. Whilst a focus on common diseases such as these is important, an additional element to understanding and overcome age-related disease is to assess the impact of rare diseases.
Whilst individually rare (affecting < 1 in 2000 people), rare diseases are collectively common and affect 1 in 17 people in the UK, highlighting their impact in our society.
This research project aims to harness the UK Biobank to assess both age-related common and rare diseases, utilising genetic, environmental, lifestyle, heath record and socioeconomic data to assess what exposures influence a person's risk of developing age-related diseases. It is hoped that knowledge gained from this 3-year research project will advance our ability to predict the onset and progression of disease, facilitating early intervention and personalised treatment planning. Moreover, it may highlight modifiable lifestyle factors which influence a persons health span, therefore identifying targets for public health interventions.