BMC Geriatrics is calling for submissions to our Collection on The impact of early-life/childhood circumstances or conditions on the health of older adults. Childhood circumstances have long since been understood to influence adult patterns of behaviour and health. However, much of the research on this topic focuses on deficits in development and how these link to a variety of health outcomes in adulthood. This collection aims to identify a greater variety of early-life circumstances and conditions that impact specifically on the health of older adults. This includes explorations of the trajectory patterns of health outcomes in later life.
We are interested in evidence pertaining to a wide range of childhood health and healthcare aspects. We have categorised key topics according to the biopsychosocial model of health:
Biology
- Early-life anthropometrics
- Nutrition
- Childhood health conditions
- Genetic inheritance
Psychological
- Psychosocial conditions
- Depressive illness
- Parental influencers (e.g., parenting style)
Social
- Socioeconomic status
- Childhood healthcare resources
- Social capital and reserve
- Adverse childhood events (ACE), such as maltreatment
In order to observe data on the above topics and be able to track both the impact of these early-life experiences and healthcare disparities over time, this collection would welcome a wide variety of study types, but with a particular focus on longitudinal studies that allow for analysis using a life course perspective.
We live in an aging population and it is imperative that we better understand the individual determinants of health in older populations across the lifespan. We welcome primary research, review papers and studies that advance our knowledge of the influence of childhood circumstances on the health of older adults.
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