University of Cambridge

Academic Institute

OFHS250148

This study aims to improve understanding of the biological processes that influence differences in heart, metabolic, and reproductive health as people age. This work has a particular focus on diabetes, obesity, menopause timing, fertility (in both sexes) and polycystic ovary syndrome, but will extend to other related conditions. By analysing human genetic data in both men and women, we will identify changes in genes that affect these aspects of health. The findings will help guide the development of new treatments and improve approaches to predicting disease risk and identifying lifestyle factors that can be changed to support better health. Research has shown that changes in reproductive health over men and women's lifetimes are linked to heart and metabolic health. However, we still do not fully understand the biological reasons for these links. Our earlier studies suggest that some of these connections may reflect direct effects between hormones and metabolism. For example, we have found evidence that testosterone may have a positive effect on men’s metabolic health. We are also learning more about the biological systems that might explain these relationships. One area of interest is how the body repairs and maintains its cells, which appears to affect the health of the ovaries, the risk of certain cancers, and overall metabolism. Our recent research on obesity suggests that changes in how brain cells age may also be important, and could help explain why conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s sometimes occur alongside metabolic diseases. Despite the progress, much remains to be discovered about how these different diseases are linked. Large population studies such as UK Biobank have helped make progress, and Our Future Health will provide richer data to support this research, and it may help scientists find new ways to prevent or treat several related diseases at the same time.

A key aim of our research is to understand the biological processes that contribute to major reproductive and metabolic diseases such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes. These conditions place a large and growing burden on people’s health in the UK and around the world. In 2022–2023, about one in four adults in England were estimated to be living with obesity, and around 4.4 million people in the UK were living with diabetes. Fertility levels have also fallen to record lows. Conditions such as Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) not only affect fertility but can also contribute to metabolic problems and have major effects on both physical and mental health. POI affects roughly one in 100 women in the UK, while PCOS affects up to one in 10. There has been a recent increase in the number of new medicines for obesity and Type 2 diabetes, creating a fast-growing treatment market. However, new drug targets are still needed, as not everyone can take the existing obesity medications. In contrast, treatment options for reproductive health conditions such as early ovarian ageing and PCOS remain limited and often only relieve symptoms rather than address underlying causes.

Public Health Research

05/05/2026

16/02/2026

TRE