MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit Cyrus Cooper Director MRC

MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit Cyrus Cooper, Director MRC LEU; Southampton 2013

Mechanisms Child Intervention Adult Lifecourse epidemiology Musculoskeletal ageing Nutrition, development, and lifelong health Work and Health Scientific Mission To 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 disorders Research focus Programmes Mission Aetiology Fetus & Infant Mission Programmes Research focus MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit 2010 -2015

Lifecourse determinants of health and disease Young women’s diet, body composition, physical activity, education and lifestyle before and during pregnancy Infant body composition & development Weight gain and catch-up growth Childhood body composition and development Infant feeding and illnesses Childhood diet, physical activity, lifestyle and education BEHAVIOURS MECHANISMS Developmental plastic responses Epigenetic processes Work, lifestyle and health behaviours in adulthood Vulnerability to chronic disease in later life Retirement and ageing Gluckman, Hanson, Cooper et al New Engl J Med 2008; 359: 61 -73 Harvey N, Cooper C BMJ 2012; 345: e 4695

Lifecourse strategy for disease prevention Chronic NCD risk Adulthood Childhood No intervention Late intervention impactful for vulnerable groups Late intervention Earlier intervention improves functional capacity & responses to new challenges Mother & infant Early intervention Life course Plasticity Inadequate response to new challenges 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