Study of 100,000 Australians seeks causes of mental health disorders and early onset cancer
News Source
β’Thu, 29 Oct 2026 14:00:48 GMT
π° What Happened
The Sax Institute has launched a study of 100,000 Australians aged 18 to 45. The study is called 18 and Up. It will follow their health for life. Recruitment starts in November.
Participants will answer questions about their health, lifestyle and background. They will also be asked about their social circumstances. With consent, those answers will be linked to health records. That includes cancer registries and Medicare.
The study has a $4.5m grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council. It aims to find the causes of mental illness and early-onset cancers.
π The Backstory
The project follows the institute's 45 and Up study, which began two decades ago. That study now has more than 267,000 participants. It is the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
Data from 45 and Up led to findings on smoking and dementia prevention. It also showed differences in heart disease between men and women. More than 800 researchers worldwide have used the data.
Prof Justine Gatt is the new study's scientific director. She said long-term data on younger people is missing. Most studies only capture a snapshot in time, she said.
π― Why It Matters
Almost two in five Australians aged 16 to 24 had a mental disorder last year. Suicide is the leading cause of death for people aged 15 to 44. Better data could mean earlier help.
The Sax Institute has launched a study of 100,000 Australians aged 18 to 45. The study is called 18 and Up. It will follow their health for life. Recruitment starts in November.
Participants will answer questions about their health, lifestyle and background. They will also be asked about their social circumstances. With consent, those answers will be linked to health records. That includes cancer registries and Medicare.
The study has a $4.5m grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council. It aims to find the causes of mental illness and early-onset cancers.
The project follows the institute's 45 and Up study, which began two decades ago. That study now has more than 267,000 participants. It is the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
Data from 45 and Up led to findings on smoking and dementia prevention. It also showed differences in heart disease between men and women. More than 800 researchers worldwide have used the data.
Prof Justine Gatt is the new study's scientific director. She said long-term data on younger people is missing. Most studies only capture a snapshot in time, she said.
Almost two in five Australians aged 16 to 24 had a mental disorder last year. Suicide is the leading cause of death for people aged 15 to 44. Better data could mean earlier help.