MRC Epidemiology Unit

Dietary pattern and epigenetic aging: a longitudinal twin study

Diet is an environmental factor influencing aging and life expectancy. Age-associated DNA methylation and epigenetic clocks are primary hallmarks of aging and may be modified by diet. However, observed associations between diet and epigenetic clocks may be confounded by familial...

Implementing and upscaling pregnancy and postpartum physical activity: a workgroup report from the international society of behavioral nutrition and physical activity — from individual-level barriers to multilevel implementation and scale-up

Abstract Background Physical activity during pregnancy and the postpartum period is important for maternal health, yet participation remains suboptimal, and the implementation and scale-up of physical activity initiatives across diverse cultural and health-system contexts remain...

Examining Data-Driven Approaches for Clean Air Advocacy in a Changing Climate: a Scoping Review

Abstract Purpose of Review Air pollution remains a global public health and climate challenge, causing millions of premature deaths annually and disproportionately affecting marginalised communities. This scoping review examines how data-driven approaches have been used to advoca...

Common variant contributions to neurodevelopmental risk in orofacial clefts

Abstract Background Children with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) experience increased rates of neurodevelopmental difficulties, including ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and educational challenges. While rare neurodevelopmental copy number variants (ND-CNVs) are enriched in this...

Glycemic and bodyweight effects of GIPR coding variation reflect differences in surface expression and intrinsic functional impairment

The glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR) is a major therapeutic target in type 2 diabetes and obesity. Missense variation in GIPR could confer phenotypic effects through alterations to constitutive activity or functional responses to GIP or pharmacological...

Latent paths in mode choice models: incorporating street-level environment features for active travel policy

There is growing empirical evidence that walking and cycling are influenced by street-level environment features such as greenness and traffic stress. To assess active travel policy, these features are increasingly incorporated into mode choice models through predictors that aggr...

Adherence to the Eatwell Guide and associations with markers of adiposity: a prospective analysis within the UK Biobank cohort

Abstract Background Obesity remains a major public health concern in the UK, contributing towards increased disease risk and premature mortality. The Eatwell Guide - the UK’s health eating model - is widely applied in policy and practice, yet evidence linking adherence to this di...

Effects of maternal and paternal smoking on offspring cardiometabolic risk factors in adulthood: a multi-method intergenerational Mendelian randomization study

Abstract Background Parental smoking has been linked to several adverse offspring cardiometabolic outcomes; however, evidence is conflicting regarding the causal and long-term nature of these associations. Methods We investigated the effects of maternal and paternal smoking, capt...