Cystic Fibrosis Trust signs statement of intent to support older people to take part in research

The Trust has signed a statement of intent to encourage and support older people and those with multiple long-term conditions to take part in research. The statement is backed by Sir Chris Whitty, England's Chief Medical Officer, who in 2023 published an annual report stressing the need to adapt for an ageing population.

The 2023 UK CF Registry Report states that 235 people were aged 60 or over, whereas the 2013 report has only 32 people age 61 or over. Nearly two thirds of the UK CF population are now over 16 years old, and one in six people with CF in the UK are over 40 years old, as advances in care and treatment increase life expectancy.

As people with cystic fibrosis live longer into adulthood, they are encountering new challenges and issues. They may also be at increased risk of age-related conditions, but there is still a lot of research needed to be able to understand why this is, and how it can be prevented.

We hope, that by including more older people in research, and encouraging researchers not to exclude those with multiple long-term conditions from taking part in research, this will lead to the development of more effective treatments and an improved quality of life for our ageing population.

You can read the news story here

To take a look at our Clinical Trials Accelerator Platform (CTAP), click here.

To read our Growing Old with CF report, and about our research goal on enabling people with CF to live longer lives, click here.