Dr Erin Kelty
Research Fellow
School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia
Association between long-term medication use and ageing
Project Incubator Program
Project Summary
Long-term medication use may affect how we age. We will examine how commonly used medicines, such as those used to treat chronic pain, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, are associated with biological indicators of age. Biological indicators of age such as laboratory tests, genetic markers, imaging, and physical measures can be used to tell if a person鈥檚 body is older or younger than their actual or chronological age.听
For this study we are utilising UK Biobank data to examine participants who have used specific medicines and how this relates to biological indicators of aging compare to their chronological age. We will also compare how different medicines used to treat the same condition may differ in terms of their association with biological indicators of aging. Having a good understanding of the long-term impacts of different medicines on ageing is important to ensure the health of people treated with these medicines, especially as many countries continue to see an increasing aging population.听听听听
Project Date
June 2022 - Dec 2025
Investigators
Project Lead
Collaborators
听-听University of Western Australia
听- University of Western Australia
听- University of Western Australia听
听- University of Western Australia
听-听University of Western Australia
听- University of South Australia听
听- University of South Australia听
Ms Ramya Padmavathy Radha Krishnan - University of Sydney
听
Research Question
Is the long-term use of medications associated with ageing?听听
Data Sources
UK Biobank听
Policy Implications
The project may identify additional risks and benefits associated with the long-term medication that may alter their prescribing and use.听听
Aging is associated with diverse array of health conditions (e.g. cancer, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and dementia).听
The study may provide evidence to support an association between certain medications and an increase or decrease in age related conditions.听听听听
Understanding which medicines can accelerate aging will better allow health providers to manage this risk or reduce the effects of aging through interventions like regular surveillance and rehabilitation, de-prescribing, or medication swapping.听听
Dependent on findings, this work is likely to gain significant international attention and media interest
End Users
- Prescribers听
- Patients (typically aged +40 years)
Impact
Stay tuned
This section will be updated throughout the project. Please return in the future to see the impact from this project.