Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maxwell L. Elliott, Daniel W. Belsky, Annchen R. Knodt, David Ireland, Tracy R. Melzer, Richie Poulton, Sandhya Ramrakha, Avshalom Caspi, Terrie E. Moffitt, Ahmad R. Hariri
Summary: BrainAGE, a measure of the difference between predicted age from brain-imaging data and chronological age, has been proposed as a biomarker for age-related brain deterioration. Studies suggest that individuals with older brainAGEs may be more susceptible to Alzheimer's, dementia, and mortality, but further research is needed to validate its effectiveness.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Evelina Bjorkegren, Helena Svaleryd
Summary: Background: Previous studies have shown that birth order affects health outcomes, but they focus on specific outcomes and ages. Objective: This study provides a comprehensive picture of the effects of birth order on health disparities over the life course. Method: Using Swedish register data, the study compares siblings within the same family to identify the effects of birth order on hospitalizations, visits to open care facilities, and mortality. Results: The study finds that firstborns have worse health at birth, while younger siblings are more likely to be hospitalized and visit open care facilities during adolescence. Younger siblings also receive more care for injuries, drug and alcohol abuse, and diseases of the circulatory system compared to older siblings.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Joseph D. Wolfe, Mieke Beth Thomeer, Rin Reczek
Summary: This study examines the differences in the negative association between early childbearing and poor health in later adulthood across different historical contexts in the U.S. It also investigates whether socioeconomic status explains this shift and whether there are additional differences across racial groups. The findings suggest that the negative association of early childbearing with midlife health grew across two cohorts, largely due to differences in educational attainment, especially among White women compared to Black women. This study highlights the importance of sociopolitical context in shaping the health consequences of major life events like childbearing.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yunus Colak, Borge G. Nordestgaard, Peter Lange, Jorgen Vestbo, Shoaib Afzal
Summary: Individuals with supernormal lung function have a lower risk of developing COPD, with none developing COPD within 10 years. They have fewer early-life risk factors and smoking exposure, and also have lower risks of hospitalization for acute obstructive lung disease, pneumonia, and all-cause mortality compared to those with normal lung function.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Lisa M. Jamieson, Joanne Hedges, X. Ju, Kostas Kapellas, Cathy Leane, Dandara G. Haag, Pedro Ribeiro Santiago, Davi Manzini Macedo, Rachel M. Roberts, Lisa G. Smithers
Summary: The South Australian Aboriginal Birth Cohort study aims to investigate various factors contributing to Aboriginal children's oral and general health, as well as social and emotional well-being. The findings suggest that intervention had a better effect on infants exposed earlier, but dental disease rates remained higher compared to general child population estimates at age 5.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Christos Venetis, Stephanie K. Y. Choi, Louisa Jorm, Xian Zhang, William Ledger, Kei Lui, Alys Havard, Michael Chapman, Robert J. Norman, Georgina M. Chambers
Summary: This study investigated the role of underlying infertility and fertility treatment on the risks of congenital anomalies (CAs) in infants. The study found that infants conceived using assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) had an increased risk for major genitourinary abnormalities, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in couples without male infertility was associated with this risk.
ANNALS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Nina T. Rogers, Joanna M. Blodgett, Samuel D. Searle, Rachel Cooper, Daniel H. J. Davis, Snehal M. Pinto Pereira
Summary: The study found that early-life socioeconomic status is associated with frailty in midlife, and that adult socioeconomic status only partially explains this association.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Orthopedics
K. A. Staines, R. Hardy, H. J. Samvelyan, K. A. Ward, R. Cooper
Summary: The study found limited evidence suggesting that taller height in childhood is associated with decreased odds of knee osteoarthritis in adulthood. Associations between height gain during specific life periods or the SITAR growth curve variables and knee osteoarthritis were not found.
OSTEOARTHRITIS AND CARTILAGE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kabir Ahmad, Enamul Kabir, Syed Afroz Keramat, Rasheda Khanam
Summary: The study found that poor maternal physical and mental health during or up to 15 months after childbirth was associated with adverse health outcomes for their offspring, including poor general health, presence of chronic health conditions, and lower physical health scores. Additionally, the presence of a chronic condition in mothers during pregnancy significantly increased the likelihood of their offspring having a chronic condition in infancy and adolescence. Stressful life events and mental health issues in mothers were also found to impact the health of their children during adolescence and infancy, respectively.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Yankun Lu, Yichao Wang, Jing Wang, Adrian J. J. Lowe, Luke E. E. Grzeskowiak, Yanhong J. J. Hu
Summary: Early-life antibiotic exposure is common and can affect the development of the child's microbiome and immune system. This study investigated the impact of early-life antibiotics exposure on childhood asthma development using data from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. The results showed that any early-life antibiotic exposure increased the risk of early-persistent asthma among all children by 2.3-fold.
Article
Psychiatry
Ioannis Bakolis, Emily T. Murray, Rebecca Hardy, Stephani L. Hatch, Marcus Richards
Summary: The purpose of this research was to investigate the long-term association between disadvantaged areas and mental health. The study found that individuals who experienced growing up in disadvantaged areas had a higher risk of poor mental health throughout their life. Therefore, population-wide interventions aimed at improving the social and physical aspects of early neighborhood environments could reduce the socio-economic burden of poor mental health.
SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY AND PSYCHIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Marcella Marinelli, Anne-Elie Carsin, Michelle C. Turner, Ana Fernandez-Somoano, Ana Cristina Rodriguez-Dehli, Mikel Basterrechea, Loreto Santa-Marina, Carmen Iniguez, Maria-Jose Lopez-Espinosa, Jordi Sunyer, Jordi Julvez
Summary: The study found that for mothers who slept less than 7 hours a day before pregnancy, each additional hour of sleep increased neonate birth weight score by 44.7 g. However, for mothers who slept more than 9 hours a day during pregnancy, each additional hour of sleep decreased birth weight score by 39.2 g.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GYNECOLOGY & OBSTETRICS
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Chiara Dello Iacono, Miguel Requena, Mikolaj Stanek
Summary: This population-based study examines the relationship between mothers' partnership status and household structure and children's low birth weights using a database provided by the Spanish Office for National Statistics. The results suggest that living without a partner does not have an effect on low birth weight, contrary to previous studies. Additionally, households with non-nuclear coresidents are associated with low birth weight, indicating that extended families may not fully protect against poor perinatal outcomes even in a familist societal context such as Spain.
BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sebastian W. Stannard, Ann W. Berrington, Nisreen W. Alwan
Summary: This study investigated the associations between number of biological children and multi-partner fertility (MPF) with obesity at midlife. The results showed that mothers who had children with multiple partners had a higher risk of obesity compared to fathers. However, when other factors were taken into account, the association between MPF and obesity was attenuated or disappeared, while mothers with one child only may be at increased odds of obesity.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mingjun Chen, Jianhui Guo, Yawen Lin, Jialiang Xu, Yuduan Hu, Le Yang, Xingyan Xu, Li Zhu, Jungu Zhou, Zhiyu Zhang, Huangyuan Li, Shaowei Lin, Siying Wu
Summary: This study aimed to explore the association between multimorbidity and fertility history among middle-aged and elderly women in China. The results showed that high parity and early childbearing were significantly associated with an increased risk of multimorbidity, while late childbearing was associated with a reduced risk of multimorbidity. The association between fertility history and multimorbidity was influenced by age and urban-rural dual structure.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Anya Kaushik, Efstathios Papachristou, Laurence Telesia, Danai Dima, Sandra Fewings, Evgenia Kostaki, Jorge Gaete, George B. Ploubidis, Marinos Kyriakopoulos
Summary: Mental health-related stigma is not well understood, especially from children's perspectives. This study compared the experiences of stigma between children treated as inpatients and outpatients, and examined the relationship between stigma and global functioning. The findings showed that there were no significant differences in most aspects of stigma between the two groups, except for personal rejection and self-stigma. Both inpatients and outpatients experienced a reduction in stigma over time, but there was no association between the change in stigma and change in global functioning.
EUROPEAN CHILD & ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Demography
Katherine Keenan, Kieron Barclay, Alice Goisis
Summary: The health outcomes of only children are influenced by the presence of half-siblings. Only children without half-siblings are consistently healthier than those with half-siblings.
POPULATION STUDIES-A JOURNAL OF DEMOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Alice Sullivan, Matt Brown, Mark Hamer, George B. Ploubidis
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Patrick Bidulka, Rohini Mathur, David G. Lugo-Palacios, Stephen O'Neill, Anirban Basu, Richard J. Silverwood, Paul Charlton, Andrew Briggs, Liam Smeeth, Amanda Adler, Ian J. Douglas, Kamlesh Khunti, Richard Grieve
Summary: This study assessed the disparities in the prescription of second-line antidiabetic treatments among people with type 2 diabetes in England based on ethnicity and social deprivation. The findings showed no significant differences in the percentage of different types of antidiabetic medications prescribed as second-line treatment based on ethnicity or deprivation level.
DIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Kai Hu, Jo Mhairi Hale, Hill Kulu, Yang Liu, Katherine Keenan
Summary: This study in China's aging population found that certain categories of higher and longer exposure to PM2.5 were associated with poorer cognitive function, while exposure did not hasten cognitive decline. More research is needed to separate PM2.5 exposure from individuals' background characteristics.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Hannah E. Jongsma, Vanessa G. Moulton, George B. Ploubidis, Emily Gilbert, Marcus Richards, Praveetha Patalay
Summary: Valid and reliable comparisons of psychological distress across different cohorts and life stages are hindered by differences in measurement tools. This study aimed to examine the distribution and trends of psychological distress in adulthood by calibrating the scales of distress measures used in different British birth cohorts. The results showed an inverse U-shaped trajectory of distress across adulthood, but there were differences in point estimates between measures and methods, especially when comparing different cohorts.
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Eoin McElroy, Marc Tibber, Pasco Fearon, Praveetha Patalay, George B. Ploubidis
Summary: Background studies show that mental illnesses in adolescents have increased in recent decades, but few have tested the equivalence of their instruments which is crucial for determining changes in prevalence. Moreover, little research has been done to explore whether socioeconomic position (SEP) and sex inequalities in adolescent mental health have changed over time.
JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Katherine L. Keenan, Kathryn J. G. Fredricks, Mary Abed I. Al Ahad, Stella T. Neema, Joseph R. Mwanga, Mike Kesby, Martha F. Mushi, Annette E. Aduda, Dominique L. Green, Andy G. Lynch, Sarah I. Huque, Blandina T. Mmbaga, Hannah Worthington, Catherine Kansiime, Emmanuel Olamijuwon, Nyanda E. Ntinginya, Olga Loza, Joel Bazira, Antonio H. Maldonado-Barragan, VAnne Smith, Arun Gonzales Decano, John Mwaniki J. Njeru, Alison B. Sandeman, John Stelling, Alison E. Elliott, David Aanensen, Stephen H. Gillespie, Gibson Kibiki, Wilber Sabiiti, Derek J. Sloan, Benon B. Asiimwe, John Kiiru, Stephen E. T. Mshana, Matthew T. G. Holden
Summary: This study investigates the patterns and determinants of patient treatment-seeking pathways and their intersection with antibiotic use in East Africa. The findings reveal that patients often follow multi-step treatment pathways, and patients with higher socioeconomic status are more likely to consume antibiotics. The choice of healthcare services is influenced by factors such as cost, location, and time. The study recommends improving healthcare systems, including accessible diagnostics, patient-doctor interactions, information flows, and strengthened regulation of drug sellers.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Susan Kiiru, John Maina, Japhet Katana, John B. Mwaniki, Benon E. Asiimwe, Stephen Mshana, Katherine H. Keenan, Stephen Gillespie, John Stelling, Matthew T. G. Holden, HATUA Consortium, John Kiiru
Summary: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and antibiotic resistance profiles of urinary tract infection (UTI) causative bacteria in three counties in Kenya. Staphylococcus spp. and Escherichia coli were the main pathogens, and high resistance rates were observed for commonly used antibiotics. More robust surveillance is needed to confirm these patterns and consider potential sampling biases.
Article
Psychology, Clinical
V. Moulton, A. Sullivan, P. Patalay, E. Fitzsimons, M. Henderson, D. Bann, G. B. Ploubidis
Summary: This study examined the association between different life-course trajectories of psychological distress and poor mental health outcomes during the pandemic. The results showed that all trajectories with prior symptoms of psychological distress were associated with greater risk of poorer mental health outcomes during the pandemic. Those with chronic and more recent occurrences of psychological distress were at the highest risk.
PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jacques Wels, Bozena Wielgoszewska, Bettina Moltrecht, Charlotte Booth, Michael J. Green, Olivia K. L. Hamilton, Evangelia Demou, Giorgio Di Gessa, Charlotte Huggins, Jingmin Zhu, Gillian Santorelli, Richard J. Silverwood, Daniel Kopasker, Richard J. Shaw, Alun Hughes, Praveetha Patalay, Claire Steves, Nishi Chaturvedi, David J. Porteous, Rebecca Rhead, Srinivasa Vittal Katikireddi, George B. Ploubidis
Summary: This study investigated the impact of home working on the social and mental wellbeing of employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed that home working was negatively associated with psychological distress during the second lockdown, but there was no clear association during other periods. This suggests that long-term shifts to home working might not have adverse impacts on population wellbeing in the absence of pandemic restrictions.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Dario Moreno-Agostino, Helen Fisher, Alissa Goodman, Stephani B. Hatch, Craig Morgan, Marcus Richards, Jayati Das-Munshi, George Ploubidis
Summary: Growing evidence suggests that population mental health outcomes have worsened since the pandemic started. This study aimed to analyze the long-term trajectories of psychological distress and whether they were disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings showed that distress levels increased during the pandemic, surpassing the highest levels observed in up to 40 years of data, with larger increases among women.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Charis Bridger Staatz, David Bann, George B. Ploubidis, Alissa Goodman, Richard J. Silverwood
Summary: Longer exposure to obesity and overweight increases susceptibility to infectious diseases and worsens COVID-19 outcomes. Early onset of obesity is associated with higher odds of adverse COVID-19 outcomes and increased risk of long COVID in later life. These findings highlight the long-term impact of high BMI on infectious disease outcomes in midlife.
JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND GLOBAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Julia Mikolai, Peter Dorey, Katherine Keenan, Hill Kulu
Summary: Recent studies have confirmed individual risk factors and regional disparities in COVID-19 mortality. In England, Wales, and Scotland, COVID-19 death rates are associated with ethnic minorities, deprivation, and population density. Over time, area-level deprivation has become a more important predictor of COVID-19 mortality.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Eoin McElroy, Emily Herrett, Kishan Patel, Dominik M. Piehlmaier, Giorgio Di Gessa, Charlotte Huggins, Michael J. Green, Alex S. F. Kwong, Ellen J. Thompson, Jingmin Zhu, Kathryn E. Mansfield, Richard J. Silverwood, Rosie Mansfield, Jane Maddock, Rohini Mathur, Ruth E. Costello, Anthony Matthews, John Tazare, Alasdair Henderson, Kevin Wing, Lucy Bridges, Sebastian Bacon, Amir Mehrkar, Richard John Shaw, Jacques Wels, Srinivasa Vittal Katikireddi, Nish Chaturvedi, Laurie A. Tomlinson, Praveetha Patalay
Summary: Individuals living alone have poorer mental health and lower life satisfaction, with higher rates of psychological distress and common mental illnesses. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the gap in self-reported distress among those living alone remained unchanged, but there was a narrowing in the gap for service use.
