A life course approach to chronic disease epidemiology: conceptual models, empirical challenges and interdisciplinary perspectives

What is a Life Course Approach to Chronic Disease Epidemiology?Over the last few years there has been increasing interest in conceptualizing disease aetiology within a life course framework. 1,2This approach is not new to Public Health or unique to epidemiology (see below).However, its current resonance and interest within epidemiology reflects the challenging theoretical framework this approach provides.This issue of the International Journal of Epidemiology has several papers with a 'life course theme'.This accompanying editorial is intended to highlight what we believe are the key conceptual issues around life course epidemiology.We have chosen to use examples from chronic disease epidemiology, but this approach is also applicable within the context of infectious diseases 3 and wider notions of health and wellbeing. 4e have defined a life course approach to chronic disease epidemiology 1 as the study of long-term effects on chronic disease risk of physical and social exposures during gestation, childhood, adolescence, young adulthood and later adult life.It includes studies of the biological, behavioural and psychosocial pathways that operate across an individual's life course, as well as across generations, to influence the development of chronic diseases.