by A groundbreaking £4.8 million, eight-year project is using artificial intelligence (AI) to investigate the link between diet, health inequalities and the development of several chronic diseases.
More than a quarter of the UK’s adult population has two or more chronic conditions. The new study, led by the University of East Anglia (UEA) in collaboration with the University of Exeter and others, examines inflammation, which is a key biological cause of many chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis and high blood pressure. Inflammation may also explain how diet and nutrients are linked to these conditions and why they are more common in certain social and ethnic groups.
By applying cutting-edge analytical methods to extensive national and international data sets, the project will identify new ways to slow the progression of numerous long-term health problems in the most vulnerable people.
Lead researcher Prof Alex Macgregor, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said: “Around a quarter of the UK population suffers from multiple chronic conditions.
“It represents one of the greatest challenges for individuals and the health care system both today and in the coming decades, and is associated with a reduction in quality of life, increased use of health services and a shortened life expectancy.”
“The prevention of the onset and progression of numerous chronic diseases is a priority area of utmost strategic importance for the Ministry of Health.
“We have an interdisciplinary team of scientists with expertise in clinical research, nutrition and data science who will use cutting-edge computing technology to investigate the reasons why some people are susceptible to developing multiple chronic diseases.”
Professor Chris Fox, co-researcher and Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the University of Exeter, said: “Our findings will help develop strategies and interventions to prevent numerous long-term health problems in the most vulnerable people.”
“As part of the program, we will also test how well these new strategies and measures can help these vulnerable communities.”
“Inflammation, nutrition, and the development of multiple chronic diseases – an AI-based analysis of intersectionality in longitudinal health data (the InflAIM program)” will run for eight years.
Funding is provided through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), Applied Research Programme Grants.
The study is the result of a national collaboration between epidemiologists, computer scientists, statisticians, nutritionists, clinicians, social scientists and policy makers, with participation from a wide range of institutions, including the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Brunel University London, Queen Mary University of London and the Universities of Southampton, Chester, Hertfordshire and Durham.
For more information about the project, visit https://www.inflaim.com/
