ArticleBMJ open2023
Education mediating the associations between early life factors and frailty: a cross-sectional study of the UK Biobank.
Article in BMJ open, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Investigating genetic links between biological aging and adverse pregnancy outcomes.Biogerontology · 2025Pooled it
- Heterogeneity in the association between APOE ε4 carrier status and dementia risk by modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors.GeroScience · 2026Article
- Lifestyle, environment and other major determinants of frailty in older adults: a population-based study from the UK Biobank.Biogerontology · 2025Article
- Risk factors analysis of cognitive frailty among geriatric adults in nursing homes based on logistic regression and decision tree modeling.Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2024Article
- Mendelian randomization shows causal effects of birth weight and childhood body mass index on the risk of frailty.Frontiers in public health · 2024Article
- Childhood and adult socioeconomic status influence on late-life healthy longevity: evidence from the Chinese longitudinal healthy longevity survey.Frontiers in public health · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
objectivesExposures in utero and during infancy may impact the development of diseases later in life. They may be linked with development of frailty, although the mechanism is unclear. This study aims to determine the associations between early life risk factors and development of frailty among middle-aged and older adults as well as potential pathways via education, for any observed association.
designA cross-sectional study. SETTINGS: This study used data from UK Biobank, a large population-based cohort.
participants502 489 individuals aged 37-73 years were included in the analysis. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Early life factors in this study included being breast fed as a baby, maternal smoking, birth weight, the presence of perinatal diseases, birth month and birth place (in or outside the UK). We developed a frailty index comprising 49 deficits. We used generalised structural equation modelling to examine the associations between early life factors and development of frailty and whether any observed association was mediated via educational attainment.
resultsA history of breast feeding and normal birth weight were associated with a lower frailty index while maternal smoking, the occurrence of perinatal diseases and birth month with a longer day length were associated with a higher frailty index. Educational level mediated the relationship between these early life factors and frailty index.
conclusionsThis study highlights that biological and social risk occurring at different stages of life are related to the variations in frailty index in later life and suggests opportunities for prevention across the life course.
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