Research Underway

  • The Housing and Independent Living Project (HAIL)

    This project will study the home and neighbourhood environments of a sample of community dwelling older people, to determine the extent to which these environments can be considered to be “supportive” according to international measures.

  • The SEEF Project: Understanding the impact of social, economic and geographic disadvantage on the health of Australians in mid to later life: What are the opportunities for prevention?

    This project is examining the ways in which social, economic and environmental factors influence the health of Australians in mid to later life.

  • NSW Skin Health Study

    This sub-study aims to determine the possible contributions of sun exposure and major lifestyle factors such as tobacco and alcohol consumption to the risk of keratinocyte cancers.

  • A randomised controlled trial of a web-based intervention to improve depression, cognitive function and adherence in people with comorbid cardiovascular disease

    This project aims to determine the effects of an evidence based internet intervention program for depression on depressive symptoms in patients being treated for cardiovascular disease.

  • Retirement transition: a longitudinal P-E fit approach within a “life expectancy” time framework

    This project is using validated psychological measures to explore retirement and examine which adjustment path a person is likely to follow.

  • Pilot study for the collection of biospecimens and biodata from participants in the 45 and Up Study

    The Link-Up Project is the next stage of the 45 and Up Study. The aim of the Link-Up Project is to collect further information from people who are already participating in the 45 and Up Study. 45 and Up Study participants who enrol in the Link-Up Project will be asked to complete a very brief questionnaire about their current health, provide a small blood sample (less than 2 tablespoons / 30ml) and have their height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure and heart rate measured.

  • Health Behaviour Clusters

    This project plans to segment the 45 and Up Study baseline data with a view to identifying groups that engage in a similar array of health-related behaviours.

  • Generalisability of the 45 and Up Study

    The project seeks to investigate the generalisability of 45 and Up Study data by comparing a range of exposure-outcome relationships from the 45 and Up Study and the New South Wales Population Health Survey.

  • Breastfeeding and the subsequent risk of diabetes

    The main aim of this project is to examine the effect of breastfeeding on a woman’s subsequent risk of developing diabetes.   

  • High health resource utilisation

    This project will use data from the 45 and Up Study linked to NSW hospitalisation and death data to describe the characteristics of 45 and Up Study participants who are high users of hospital services, including demographic, lifestyle, health, social and other factors.

  • Maintaining independence

    This project will explore the factors that enhance the likelihood that older people will “age in place”, and stay living independently for as long as possible.

  • Joint replacement study

    This project is investigating the characteristics of 45 and Up Study members who have had hip or knee replacements.

  • Validation of recording of comorbidity in the Admitted Patient Data Collection (APDC)

    This project is using self-reported information from the 45 and Up Study baseline questionnaire to explore the sensitivity and specificity of recording of comorbidities in APDC data

  • Validation of self-report of surgery in the 45 and Up Study

    This project will investigate the agreement between self-report of surgical procedures and the recording of these procedures in routine administrative hospital morbidity data by linking the 45 and Up Study baseline questionnaire to the NSW Admitted Patient Data Collection.

  • The Ageing Heart and Brain Study

    This study will focus primarily on Parksinson's Disease, heart disease and Stroke, seeking to identify risk factors for the development of these conditions, the management of known risk factors and the consequences of developing these conditions in terms of quality of life and daily living activities. Phase I will involve the analysis of baseline questionnaire data derived from the 45 and Up study.

  • Fruit and vegetable intakes among men and women in NSW: who is going for 2 and 5?

    We propose to examine the level of intake of fruit and vegetables among men and women aged 45 years and over in NSW, to estimate the proportions who meet the recommended intake, and to describe those factors associated with adequate fruit and vegetable consumption.

  • Multifactorial Predictors of Positive Ageing: A Biopsychosocial Model of Longevity

    This study aims to empirically examine the concept of “positive ageing” in older Australians.

  • Physical activity and depression in men living in rural and remote areas of NSW

    This project will analyse the baseline data to explore the relationship between physical activity levels and self-reported doctor-diagnosed depression and depressive symptoms in men aged 65 and over living in rural and remote areas of NSW.

  • Diabetes related risk factors among Vietnam-born residents in NSW

    This project aims to investigate the health status, health related risk factors and acculturation into Australia of Vietnam-born residents, especially those who have type 2 diabetes.

  • Sleep duration, obesity and health in middle aged and older Australian adults

    Sleep duration has recently been identified as an important predictor of psychological and physical health in adults. Recent studies indicate that short sleep durations are associated with obesity in children and younger adults, however it is not clear whether these relationships are also evident in middle aged and older adults.

  • Selective estrogen receptor modules (SERMS) for early breast cancer: utilisation and outcomes in Australian practice

    This project will investigate the use and outcomes of selective estrogen receptor modules in post-surgical breast cancer treatment for women with receptor-positive tumours.

  • Prescription medication and traffic crashes among older drivers

    This study aims to estimate the impact of prescription medications on the crash outcomes of older drivers.

  • Investigation of the relationship between intrinsic risk factors in fallers and non-fallers aged 45+ years

    This project will investigate the association of intrinsic fall-related risk factors for different age ranges (including mid-life adults) among 45 and Up Study participants who have reported falling and non-fallers.

  • Utilisation of cancer treatment services in people aged 45 years and over in NSW: A population-based study

    This project aims to determine the cancer treatment utilisation in the 45 years and Up age group in NSW and to identify the factors influencing the utilisation of treatment in this group.

  • The 45 and Up Study: exploring met and unmet needs for home care in NSW

    This project is examining the use of Home and Community Care (HACC) services in NSW.

  • An evaluation of the contribution of cardiovascular risk factors to psychological distress and disability in the 45 and Up study

    This project will utilise baseline questionnaire data to explore the relationships between cardiovascular disease and depression in those of working age (<65 years)

  • Acculturation and ageing: follow-up study of Vietnam-born and Lebanon-born older Australians

    This project is investigating the health and risk factors of Vietnam-born and Lebanon-born Australians and their use of health services and how these change with age, acculturation and time.

  • Investigation of the effect of progestagen-only contraceptives on fracture risk

    This project is investigating the relationship between use of progestagen-only contraceptives and the risk of fracture among women in the 45 and Up Study – with a view to identifying modifiable causes of fracture.

  • Impact and burden of chronic musculoskeletal conditions in Australia

    This project is describing the burden of musculoskeletal conditions with a view to quantify the impact of chronic musculoskeletal conditions. Specifically, the project will evaluate the associations between Osteoarthritis and serious co-morbidities, and the impact of these on work status, physical functioning and lifestyle. Mitigating factors will also be identified.

  • Older Peoples Air Pollution Study

    This project is investigating the associations between exposure to urban ambient air pollutants and: health status and quality of life; and respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease and mortality from respiratory and cardiovascular disease

  • Investigating best practice primary care for older Australians with diabetes using data linkage

    This project will investigate the relationships between processes of primary care and health outcomes among older Australians with diabetes.

  • Population-based study of factors associated with type 2 diabetes

    This project will, simultaneously and on a large scale, explore demographic, lifestyle and behavioural factors associated with type 2 diabetes.

  • Relationship between demographic and lifestyle factors and asthma and hay fever in an older Australian population

    This project will assess the impact of a range of lifestyle and demographic factors that may be associated with asthma and hay fever.

  • Exploring the relationships between indicators of mental health problems and their correlates in the 45 and Up Study

    This project will utilise baseline questionnaire data to conduct a large-scale examination of psychological distress, self reported anxiety and depression and psychotropic medication use and their correlates in mid to late life.

  • Understanding the factors relating to health insurance status

    This project will use data from the 45 and Up Study baseline questionnaire to examine the relationship between health insurance status and a wide range of demographic, lifestyle, health, social and other factors.

  • Prospective investigation of obesity, ageing and hospitalisation: impact, mediating factors and costs

    This project is examining the impact, mediating factors and costs of obesity, ageing and hospitalisation

  • Understanding risk factors for cancer in the 45 and Up Study cohort

    This project is undertaking cross-sectional analyses of variables pertinent to risk factors for cancer that are being collected in the 45 and Up Study baseline questionnaire.

  • The correlates of poor memory, mental health and wellbeing in ageing: are they different in the old-old (aged > 80 years)?

    This project is investigating the risk and protective factors associated with earlier stages of ageing and what changes across the older age bands that signifies a reduction in healthy ageing

  • Sun exposure and its correlates in the NSW 45 and up cohort study

    This project is examining the correlates and potential confounders of the relationship between sun exposure, skin cancer and other cancers in the NSW population

  • The relationship between oral health, diet and systemic health outcomes in the 45 and Up Study Cohort

    This project is examining the relationship between oral health, diet and systemic health outcomes in the 45 and Up Study Cohort.

  • Economic impacts of disease on older workers: costs to government and individuals and opportunities for intervention

    Determining the economic impacts of disease on older workers aged 45-65

  • Health Pathways for Baby Boomers through Middle Age: an Australian and UK Comparison

    This project will re-survey a group of 1,200 participants in the 45 and Up Study and ask them to participate in a telephone interview about events in their life, e.g., work, partners, family and health to better understand the health risks and protective factors over the life course of a baby boomer cohort.

  • The health needs and service use of older frail men aged 70 years and over living in the community

    The project is examining the health needs and service use of older frail men

  • The healthy ageing profile and drivers of health service use for people of diverse cultural backgrounds in NSW (Phase 1)

    Phase 1 of a larger project, this research will utilise baseline questionnaire data to identify differentials in the risk factors and morbidity profiles of people of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds aged 50 to 65 years as compared with their Australian born, non-indigenous counterparts.