Lifestyle and longevity mechanisms

Individuals function into older age is highly variable, both healthspan and lifespan are highly affected by diet, physical activity, and other environmental factors. By probing individuals who are highly successfully ageing, our work uncovers underlying mechanisms of ageing, uncover new biomarkers of ageing, produce new targets to intervene in ageing processes, and ultimately maximise societies years of healthy living. 

This work is funded by philanthropical gift via the George Caley Circle.

For further information contact Dr Bradley Elliott .

How ageing affects gut function and health 

Disorders of lower bowel functions (e.g., chronic constipation, faecal incontinence) affect ~7M older people (>65years) in the UK, especially those in care. If poorly treated, the elderly may suffer chronic pain, reduced quality of life and independence and becoming a financial burden. Our work currently examines the key factors in the ageing colonic wall contributing to these disorders to achieve greater understanding into how the bowel changes during ageing. 

For further information contact Dr Nicholas Baidoo .

Understanding heart function at extremes

From hearts of long-lived Greenland sharks, incredibly functional hearts of elite and ultra-endurance athletes, or injured hearts by acute or chronic stresses, our work seeks to understand the ageing heart. Our work uncovers and tests biomarkers of heart function, pivotal in patient care with undiagnosable ECG changes, as well as how both intrinsic and external regulatory factors affect the function of the human heart throughout the life course. 

For further information contact Dr Danial Brayson  or Dr Priya Gururajan .