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| Healthy ageing research
By the year 2020, one fifth of the population will be over the age of 65 and there is an urgent need to develop ways to improve immune health in older adults.
Birmingham’s AgeLess Centre will develop research that both significantly improves quality of life in old age and informs and influences future government health policy.
The need
On average, men suffer poor health for the final six years of life and this increases to 11 years for women.
A key reason for this is the profoundly negative effect of ageing on the immune system, with respiratory infections such as pneumonia a leading cause of death in old age and a significant cause of frailty in previously healthy older adults.
The solution
By developing novel ways to improve immune health in older adults, old age can be enjoyed rather than endured.
AgeLess, the Birmingham Centre for Healthy Ageing Research, will build on the University’s existing excellence in immunology and infection. Ultimately, AgeLess will expand from its basis in immune health to encompass a broad range of topics including mental health, ageing in ethnic minorities and cardiovascular health in old age.
Why Birmingham
Birmingham has established links with the NHS and is internationally recognised in this area of research, with £3 million of European Union investment already allocated to fund 14 students as they investigate how stress affects health in old age.
The centre also has access to a database of more than 3,000 healthy older adults, which will allow the team to carry out crucial work characterising determinants of good health in old age.
For the centre to succeed, collaborative working is vital and multi disciplinary teams to investigate age-related health issues have already been created.
The result
• Greater understanding of the determinants of health in old age and the profoundly negative effects of ageing on immunity
• Improved vaccination responses to help reduce incidences of flu and pneumonia in older adults
• Significantly reduced pressure on the NHS and improved government policy
How you can help
Funding is needed for a research manager to work with the 3,000 healthy older people supporting our studies and key laboratory equipment to study tissue samples. The University also needs the initial support to develop ten major research projects. Match funding means that for every £3 donated to the University the government will donate £1 until 2011; for further details, contact Andrew Harris +44 (0)121 414 2708.
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