Sax Institute Launches 18 and Up Study: 100,000 Australians to Uncover Causes of Mental Health Disorders and Early-Onset Cancer

The Sax Institute, an independent not-for-profit research organization, has launched Australia's largest intergenerational study of wellbeing and ageing, named 18 and Up. The study aims to recruit 100,000 people aged 18 to 45 to investigate the drivers of major health challenges facing younger Australians, including mental illness and rising cancer rates. By following participants throughout their lives, researchers hope to identify risk factors and protective influences that emerge in early adulthood. The 18 and Up study builds on the Sax Institute's landmark 45 and Up study, which has tracked over 250,000 older adults since 2006, providing a unique opportunity to compare generational health trends. Understanding why conditions like anxiety, depression, and certain cancers are increasing among younger people could inform prevention strategies and health policies. The study will collect data on lifestyle, environment, genetics, and social factors, creating a rich resource for future research. As Australia faces growing health system pressures, this long-term investment in population health data is expected to yield insights that benefit individuals and communities for decades to come.