Australia launches 18 and Up study to track health of young adults

Australia has launched a new long-term health study targeting adults aged 18 to 45.

The initiative, known as 18 and Up, seeks to recruit 100,000 participants.

The Sax Institute, a not-for-profit research body, announced the project on Thursday.

The primary goal is to identify the drivers behind major health issues affecting younger generations.

Mental illness and rising rates of early-onset cancer are the two focal points.

The study addresses a gap in long-term data for people under 45.

Current research often provides only a snapshot of health status rather than a longitudinal view.

Adjunct Prof Justine Gatt, the scientific director of 18 and Up, noted that almost two in five young Australians aged 16 to 24 experienced a mental disorder in the past year.

Gatt, a neuroscientist and mental health researcher, stated that the number has been rising but long-term evidence is lacking to explain why.

Suicide remains the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15 to 44.

Researchers say there is an urgent need to understand the driving factors to improve prevention and treatment.

The study will track how family history, lived experiences, and social conditions influence health across generations. Children and grandchildren of participants in the existing 45 and Up study will be invited to join. This intergenerational design allows researchers to see how these factors interact over time. Dr Martin McNamara, CEO of the Sax Institute, said cancer will be a key part of the initial surveys. Early-onset cancers, defined as those diagnosed before age 50, have increased in Australia since 2000. This trend includes bowel, thyroid, and breast cancers. Scientists suspect increased screening, changing lifestyles, and early life exposures may be contributing factors. Participants will answer questions about their health, lifestyle, and social circumstances. With consent, this data will be linked to records from cancer registries and Medicare. McNamara said following people over time will help figure out ways to fix and re-organize health and care systems. The study will evolve with participants, adding age-relevant questions and factoring in emerging health conditions or pandemics. A $4.5m grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council funds the project. Recruitment begins in November. Professor Emily Banks, an epidemiologist at the Australian National University, previously used the 45 and Up data to find that smoking-related illnesses kill 66 Australians every day. Banks described large-scale cohort studies as powerful tools for detailing life exposures. She noted that about 10% of New South Wales residents over 45 are in the 45 and Up study. Banks said some of the biggest advances in health have come from using this kind of information.