Midlife antecedents of the disease burden at old age: individual participant data meta-analysis of multi-cohort studies (IPD-MAD)

The world is facing the challenge of aging societies with a growing burden of morbidities and disabilities in old age. The current evidence lacks the consideration of the working conditions in a life-course, predictors of changing patterns of health trajectories, and subsequent health burden. IPD-MAD studies the effect of midlife antecedents on health at old age and seeks to explain mechanisms associating with the old age health impairment and ultimately to reduce the disease burden. Data from prospective cohort that followed people from midlife to old age will be utilized. Individual participant data meta-analytical approach will be used to analyze the pooled effect of the exposures on the outcomes. This study will contribute to the current knowledge on how to handle the new societal challenge of aging. Multidisciplinary collaboration with international experts advances the research level, improves the generalizability of the findings and provides opportunities for renewal of science.