Close
The Psychobiology research group is concerned with the pathways through which sociodemographic and psychosocial factors influence mental and physical disease processes. A major aim of the group is to understand how socioeconomic factors (e.g. social status), psychological states (e.g. depression, positive psychological wellbeing), and social factors (e.g. isolation, loneliness, and social and cultural engagement) 'get under the skin', and influence biological functions in health and disease. We have a particular interest in health at older ages, including long-term conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cognitive impairment, and dementia. A second theme is the investigation of lifestyle and patterns of health and social behaviours, and how behaviours interact with biological processes to affect disease risk. A third theme is understanding the biological, psychological, and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the general population and specific patient groups. Our research includes experimental studies focusing on neuroendocrine and neuro-immune biomarkers, behaviour change interventions, clinical trials, and implementation science studies, and secondary data analyses of cohort studies and electronic patient records.
Group members
Academic staff: Professor Andrew Steptoe
Research staff: Dr Olesya Ajnakina, Dr Laura Brocklebank
PhD Students: Mifuyu Akasaki, Pamela Almeida-Meza, Philipp Frank
Contact
This group is led by Professor Andrew Steptoe (a.steptoe@ucl.ac.uk)
Research
Ongoing Projects
- Ageing Playfully
- English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA)
- ELSA Covid-19 Study
- Frailty and Incidence of Covid-19
- Healthy Cognitive Ageing Project (ELSA-HCAP)
- Let's not forget those who forget!
- Lifestyle Factors in Dementia and Cognitive Impairment in England and China
- Metformin use in Covid-19 Patients with Diabetes
- Polygenic Score (PGS) study
- Social determinants of dementia in the UK and Japan
Current PhD Projects
- Adverse childhood experiences and coronary heart disease (Mifuyu Akasaki)
- Cognitive Reserve and Dementia (Pamela Almeida-Meza)
- Systemic inflammation and specific types of depressive symptoms (Philipp Frank)
Completed Projects
- Acute Coronary Syndrome: Emotions and Triggers (ACCENT) Study
- Adjustment and Recovery after Cardiac Surgery (ARCS) Study
- Cortisol Output and Academic Stress Study
- Daytracker Study
- Depression and Inflammation
- Depression across Physical Illnesses
- Diabetes, glycaemic control, and wellbeing
- Diabetes Study
- Discrimination and Health
- Early life psychosocial adversity, HPA-axis function, and stress-related mental disorders
- Exercise Withdrawal and Stress Study
- Heart Scan Study
- International Health and Behaviour Survey
- Promoting Independence in Dementia (PRIDE)
- Shape-Up Sister
- Silent Ischemia Study
- Stress, Immunity and Mood Study
- Stress Pathways Study
- Tracking Recovery after Cardiac Events (TRACE) Study
- Whitehall Psychobiology Study
- Publications - Andrew Steptoe
RPS Widget Placeholderhttps://research-reports.ucl.ac.uk/RPSDATA.SVC/pubs/ASTEP39