News in 2026

Primary care data now available in ALSPAC

Irritability, anxiety and negative thought patterns in ADHD associated with increased depression risk

Irritability, anxiety and negative thought patterns in children and young people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) could help explain why these individuals are more likely to develop depression later in life.

World’s largest menstrual fluid biobank will transform understanding of menstrual health

A new UK study will seek to help women get faster, better treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding, through creating one of the world’s largest biobanks of menstrual fluid.

University of Bristol celebrates 150 years with programme of public events

The University of Bristol will mark its 150th anniversary with a day-long programme of public events, performances, talks and exhibitions across the city on Saturday 10 October 2026.

Links between genetics and cognition change across childhood

Rare DNA changes are most strongly linked to cognition in early childhood, but the link fades as children age, while common DNA changes show stronger links later in childhood, new research finds.

Children with persistent shorter sleep face twice the risk of ongoing depression in adolescence

Children who experience persistent sleep issues throughout their younger years may have a greater risk of developing depression in adolescence, a new study suggests.

ALSPAC maintains ISO 27001 information security certification

ALSPAC has successfully passed its latest surveillance audit, maintaining its ISO 27001 certification - the internationally recognised gold standard for information security.

Early life disadvantage linked to decreased preventative dental visits into adulthood

People who experienced early socioeconomic disadvantage (SED) were 12-16% less likely to go for preventative dental visits during both adolescence and adulthood, a new University of Bristol study has found. The findings, published in BMC Oral Health, analysed data from over 1,600 participants.

Social connections and health are key to meaning in life and mental health in emerging adults, says new research

From a new study of over 3,300 young adults, those with greater connectivity to others (including emotional and practical support) had a feeling of greater presence of meaning in life.

Exclusive breastfeeding linked to long-term changes in marks on DNA, found in blood

Babies who are exclusively breastfed for at least three months carry markers in their blood that differ from babies who are not breastfed.

A risk factor for liver disease: your parent’s body weight

Study shows risk for common liver disorder starts much earlier in life than thought

Childhood BMI changes genetically linked to adulthood diabetes and heart disease

A new study has modelled how genes can influence a child’s body mass index (BMI) over time and how they may contribute to the risk of developing diseases, such as heart disease or type 2 diabetes, later in life.

Indoor mould exposure in childhood linked to asthma and reduced lung function in childhood and adolescence

A new longitudinal study has linked mould exposure at 5 years of age to reduced lung function at ages 8 and 15, as well as asthma diagnoses at ages 15 and 24. These associations remain after adjusting for other influencing factors including height, sex, age, exposure to smoking and socioeconomic status.

Academic pressure linked to increased risk of depression in teens

Pressure to achieve at school at age 15 is linked to depressive symptoms and risk of self-harm, and the association appears to persist into adulthood, finds a study led by UCL researchers.

Higher maternal blood pressure increases the risk of pregnancy complications, study concludes

Helping women to keep their blood pressure at normal levels could reduce their risk of experiencing pregnancy complications, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Bristol. The research is published in BMC Medicine today [14 January].