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Five thousand Busselton "baby boomers" will take part in a new four-year study on healthy ageing that will feed into one of the world's longest running epidemiological studies: the Busselton Health Study.

Western Australian Health Minister Dr Kim Hames today announced that $1 million will be given to the Busselton Population Medical Research Foundation Inc to conduct the study, in conjunction with researchers from The University of Western Australia, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Edith Cowan University, Curtin University, Lions Eye Institute and Ear Science Institute of Australia.

The study will establish a unique data resource to assist in developing management programs aimed at healthy ageing.  It will influence future clinical care, personal behaviour and government health policy.

The study will investigate environmental, social, behavioural, genetic and common disease factors which underlie health and function into old age.  It will identify and expose pre-clinical, clinical and lifestyle risk factors for disease, disability, loss of function and reduced quality of life.

Specialist researchers will investigate factors related to:

• Obesity, nutrition and physical activity
• Heart and blood vessel disease
• Stroke and disability
• Dementia and mental disease
• Respiratory and sleep health
• Physical function
• Spinal pain
• Hearing loss
• Vision loss

Throughout its history the Busselton Population Medical Research Foundation Inc has operated on minimal budgets and the support of West Australian researchers, intermittent funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and other agencies for specific projects and community volunteers who have given thousands of hours of their private time in the quest for new knowledge.

With this support from the State Government, the Busselton Healthy Ageing Study will start in February 2010 in Busselton when the first participants attend the study centre.  Over the next three years, up to 5000 members of the Busselton community will be invited to participate in the study.

Media references

Jennie Hui (Busselton Population Medical Research Foundation)  (+61 4) 11 233 458
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716