Supporting older age in health and care research

Why is this important?

In 2023, the Chief Medical Officer published a report on health in an ageing society, which outlined priority areas that focus on improving the quality of life for older people. For everyone, including people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D), older age is often associated with an increase in frailty, multiple long-term conditions and complications including poor mental health. The report identified that research aimed at the older population is significantly below what is needed, and what should be expected. Even in clinical trials and studies, there can be strict exclusion criteria that prevent older individuals, and people living with multiple long-term conditions, from participating. This can lead to research not being fully representative and may result in therapies and interventions that are less effective for individuals with multiple health conditions.  

Our focus on ageing and type 1 diabetes

This initiative is timely, coinciding with our ‘Facing the Future’ report. Thanks to advances in diabetes technology and medical research, people living with T1D are living longer. In our report, we explored the experiences, concerns, and needs of people over the age of 45 living with T1D. It revealed that older people living with T1D are more likely to experience multiple health conditions and frailty. And from the Chief Medical Officer’s report, we know that this group of individuals is underrepresented in clinical research. With over 40% of the adults living with T1D in England, Scotland and Wales aged 50 or above, and 9% over the age of 70, this is not acceptable. 

What does this mean for Breakthrough T1D UK?

We know that there are gaps in research in T1D and ageing. But we also know that there are over 41,000 children and young people living with T1D in England, Scotland, Wales and Jersey. As such, there may be a need for tailored projects, focusing on a certain age group. We are asking researchers to show that they have considered, and justified, age and people living with multiple conditions, when applying for funding for clinical research projects from Breakthrough T1D UK. 

By signing this statement of intent, we are committing to providing the research community with further guidance and tools to ensure that T1D research is fully representative of all the people who live with this condition, regardless of their age or if they live with multiple conditions.  

Read the full statement on the NIHR website.