Rachel Cooper (BA MSc PhD FHEA) is Professor of Musculoskeletal Epidemiology.
Rachel leads a programme of epidemiological research which aims to contribute to an improved understanding of how and when across life key opportunities exist to maximise people’s chances of living healthier, independent lives for longer. Impaired musculoskeletal health and function and reductions in mobility, which these impairments precipitate, are major threats to healthy ageing and independence in later life. Rachel’s research focuses on how these specific threats may be avoided and/or overcome.
Using a life course epidemiological approach, Rachel’s research aims to characterise the associations of potentially modifiable factors across life with the development, maintenance and age-related decline of musculoskeletal health, physical capability and mobility. She primarily uses data from population-based longitudinal studies including the British birth cohorts and, between 2007 and 2018 was part of the team responsible for running the oldest of the national British birth cohort studies, the MRC National Survey of Health and Development.
Alongside her academic experiences, Rachel is also able to draw on the 10 months she spent working in the UK Government’s Department of Health and Social Care, to help ensure her research has policy relevance and achieves impact.
Rachel applies a life course epidemiological approach to the study of healthy ageing, with a specific focus on the maintenance of physical capability and musculoskeletal health and function. The ultimate goals of this research are to improve people’s chances of remaining active and independent in later life and to reduce lifetime inequalities in these chances. This is important in the context of global population ageing, the potential opportunities of which cannot be realised unless effective targets for intervention are identified that ensure that people live not only longer lives but also healthier, independent lives for longer.
Rachel's recent research has involved using data from large observational, population-based studies to:
D. Kuh, R. Cooper, R. Hardy, M. Richards, Y. Ben-Shlomo (2014). A Life Course Approach to Healthy Ageing. Oxford University Press.
R. Witkam, JM. Gwinnutt, J. Humphreys, J. Gandrup, R. Cooper, et al. SMM. Verstappen. (2021). Do associations between education and obesity vary depending on the measure of obesity used? A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. SSM - Population Health. 15, pp.100884-100884.
R. Caleyachetty, M. Stafford, R. Cooper, EL. Anderson, LD. Howe, et al. TD. Cosco, D. Kuh, R. Hardy. (2021). Exposure to multiple childhood social risk factors and adult body mass index trajectories from ages 20 to 64 years. European Journal of Public Health. 31(2), pp.385-390.
KA. Staines, R. Hardy, HJ. Samvelyan, KA. Ward, R. Cooper (2021). Life course longitudinal growth and risk of knee osteoarthritis at age 53 years: evidence from the 1946 British birth cohort study. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 29(3), pp.335-340.
AAL. Kok, M. Huisman, R. Cooper, TD. Cosco, DJH. Deeg, et al. D. Kuh, M. Stafford. (2020). Lifetime trajectories of socio-economic adversity and their associations with psychosocial factors and attitudes towards social class. Longitudinal and Life Course Studies. 11(1), pp.81-104.
B. Cheval, C. Chabert, S. Sieber, D. Orsholits, R. Cooper, et al. I. Guessous, D. Blane, M. Kliegel, DS. Courvoisier, M. Kelly-Irving, MP. Boisgontier, S. Cullati. (2019). Association between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Muscle Strength in Older Age. Gerontology. 65(5), pp.474-484.
A. Elhakeem, K. Hannam, KC. Deere, A. Wong, T. Gaysin, et al. D. Kuh, R. Cooper, M. Richards, JH. Tobias. (2019). Day-to-day physical activity producing low gravitational impacts is associated with faster visual processing speed at age 69: Cross-sectional study. European Review of Aging and Physical Activity. 16(1),
AAL. Kok, M. Stafford, TD. Cosco, M. Huisman, D. Deeg, et al. D. Kuh, R. Cooper. (2019). Factors across life associated with remaining free from functional limitations despite lifelong exposure to socioeconomic adversity. J Epidemiol Community Health. 73(6), pp.529-536.
M. Bateson, A. Aviv, L. Bendix, A. Benetos, Y. Ben-Shlomo, et al. SE. Bojesen, C. Cooper, R. Cooper, IJ. Deary, S. Hägg, SE. Harris, JD. Kark, F. Kronenberg, D. Kuh, C. Labat, CM. Martin-Ruiz, C. Meyer, BG. Nordestgaard, BWJH. Penninx, GV. Pepper, D. Révész, MA. Said, JM. Starr, H. Syddall, WM. Thomson, P. Van Der Harst, M. Whooley, T. Von Zglinicki, P. Willeit, Y. Zhan, D. Nettle. (2019). Smoking does not accelerate leucocyte telomere attrition: A meta-analysis of 18 longitudinal cohorts. Royal Society Open Science. 6(6),
D. Kuh, R. Cooper, N. Sattar, P. Welsh, R. Hardy, et al. Y. Ben-Shlomo. (2019). Systemic Inflammation and Cardio-Renal Organ Damage Biomarkers in Middle Age Are Associated With Physical Capability Up to 9 Years Later. Circulation. 139(17), pp.1988-1999.
MA. Jay, R. Bendayan, R. Cooper, SG. Muthuri (2019). Lifetime socioeconomic circumstances and chronic pain in later adulthood: Findings from a British birth cohort study. BMJ Open. 9(3),
A. Elhakeem, K. Hannam, KC. Deere, A. Hartley, EM. Clark, et al. C. Moss, MH. Edwards, E. Dennison, T. Gaysin, D. Kuh, A. Wong, KR. Fox, C. Cooper, R. Cooper, JH. Tobias. (2018). Correlates of high-impact physical activity measured objectively in older British adults. Journal of Public Health. 40(4), pp.727-737.
SG. Muthuri, KA. Ward, D. Kuh, A. Elhakeem, JE. Adams, et al. R. Cooper. (2018). Physical Activity Across Adulthood and Bone Health in Later Life: The 1946 British Birth Cohort. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. 34(2), pp.252-261.
SM. Robinson, LD. Westbury, R. Cooper, D. Kuh, K. Ward, et al. HE. Syddall, AA. Sayer, C. Cooper. (2018). Adult Lifetime Diet Quality and Physical Performance in Older Age: Findings from a British Birth Cohort. Journals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. 73(11), pp.1532-1537.
RM. Dodds, D. Kuh, AA. Sayer, R. Cooper (2018). Can measures of physical performance in mid-life improve the clinical prediction of disability in early old age? Findings from a British birth cohort study. Experimental Gerontology. 110, pp.118-124.
R. Bendayan, R. Cooper, SG. Muthuri (2018). Lifetime cigarette smoking and chronic widespread and regional pain in later adulthood: Evidence from the 1946 British birth cohort study. BMJ Open. 8(8),
A. Elhakeem, R. Cooper, P. Whincup, S. Brage, D. Kuh, et al. R. Hardy. (2018). Physical activity, sedentary time, and cardiovascular disease biomarkers at age 60 to 64 years. Journal of the American Heart Association : Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease. 7(16),
G. Peeters, NM. Van Schoor, R. Cooper, L. Tooth, RA. Kenny (2018). Should prevention of falls start earlier? Co-ordinated analyses of harmonised data on falls in middle-aged adults across four population-based cohort studies. PLoS ONE. 13(8),
A. Elhakeem, R. Hardy, D. Bann, D. Kuh, R. Cooper (2018). Motor performance in early life and participation in leisure-time physical activity up to age 68 years. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology. 32(4), pp.327-334.
M. Ezzati, B. Zhou, J. Bentham, M. Di Cesare, H. Bixby, et al. G. Danaei, K. Hajifathalian, C. Taddei, RM. Carrillo-Larco, S. Djalalinia, S. Khatibzadeh, C. Lugero, N. Peykari, WZ. Zhang, J. Bennett, V. Bilano, GA. Stevens, MJ. Cowan, LM. Riley, Z. Chen, IR. Hambleton, RT. Jackson, AP. Kengne, YH. Khang, A. Laxmaiah, J. Liu, R. Malekzadeh, HK. Neuhauser, M. Sorić, G. Starc, J. Sundström, M. Woodward, L. Abarca-Gómez, ZA. Abdeen, NM. Abu-Rmeileh, B. Acosta-Cazares, RJ. Adams, W. Aekplakorn, K. Afsana, CA. Aguilar-Salinas, C. Agyemang, NA. Ahmad, A. Ahmadvand, W. Ahrens, K. Ajlouni, N. Akhtaeva, R. Al-Raddadi, MM. Ali, O. Ali, A. Alkerwi, E. Aly, DN. Amarapurkar, P. Amouyel, A. Amuzu, LB. Andersen, SA. Anderssen, LH. Ängquist, RM. Anjana, D. Ansong, H. Aounallah-Skhiri, J. Araújo, I. Ariansen, T. Aris, N. Arlappa, D. Arveiler, KK. Aryal, T. Aspelund, FK. Assah, MCF. Assunção, M. Avdicová, A. Azevedo, F. Azizi, BV. Babu, S. Bahijri, N. Balakrishna, M. Bamoshmoosh, M. Banach, P. Bandosz, JR. Banegas, CM. Barbagallo, A. Barceló, A. Barkat, AJD. Barros, MV. Barros, I. Bata, AM. Batieha, A. Batyrbek, LA. Baur, R. Beaglehole, HB. Romdhane, M. Benet, LS. Benson, A. Bernabe-Ortiz, G. Bernotiene, H. Bettiol, A. Bhagyalaxmi, S. Bharadwaj, SK. Bhargava, Y. Bi, M. Bikbov. (2018). Contributions of mean and shape of blood pressure distribution to worldwide trends and variations in raised blood pressure: A pooled analysis of 1018 population-based measurement studies with 88.6 million participants. International Journal of Epidemiology. 47(3), pp.872-883i.
TD. Cosco, R. Cooper, D. Kuh, M. Stafford (2018). Socioeconomic inequalities in resilience and vulnerability among older adults: A population-based birth cohort analysis. International Psychogeriatrics. 30(5), pp.695-703.
SG. Muthuri, D. Kuh, R. Cooper (2018). Longitudinal profiles of back pain across adulthood and their relationship with childhood factors: Evidence from the 1946 British birth cohort. PAIN. 159(4), pp.764-774.
R. Caleyachetty, R. Hardy, R. Cooper, M. Richards, LD. Howe, et al. E. Anderson, D. Kuh, M. Stafford. (2018). Modeling Exposure to Multiple Childhood Social Risk Factors and Physical Capability and Common Affective Symptoms in Later Life. Journal of Aging and Health. 30(3), pp.386-407.
A. Elhakeem, ET. Murray, R. Cooper, D. Kuh, P. Whincup, et al. R. Hardy. (2018). Leisure-time physical activity across adulthood and biomarkers of cardiovascular disease at age 60–64: A prospective cohort study. Atherosclerosis. 269, pp.279-287.
SG. Muthuri, FR. Saunders, RJ. Hardy, AV. Pavlova, KR. Martin, et al. JS. Gregory, RJ. Barr, JE. Adams, D. Kuh, RM. Aspden, R. Cooper. (2017). Associations between body mass index across adult life and hip shapes at age 60 to 64: Evidence from the 1946 British birth cohort. Bone. 105, pp.115-121.
M. Stafford, R. Cooper, D. Cadar, E. Carr, E. Murray, et al. M. Richards, S. Stansfeld, P. Zaninotto, J. Head, D. Kuh. (2017). Physical and cognitive capability in mid-adulthood as determinants of retirement and extended working life in a British cohort study. Scand J Work Environ Health. 43(1), pp.15-23.
GD. Mishra, H-F. Chung, N. Pandeya, AJ. Dobson, L. Jones, et al. NE. Avis, SL. Crawford, EB. Gold, D. Brown, LL. Sievert, E. Brunner, JE. Cade, VJ. Burley, DC. Greenwood, GG. Giles, F. Bruinsma, A. Goodman, K. Hayashi, JS. Lee, H. Mizunuma, D. Kuh, R. Cooper, R. Hardy, CM. Obermeyer, KA. Lee, MK. Simonsen, T. Yoshizawa, NF. Woods, ES. Mitchell, M. Hamer, P. Demakakos, S. Sandin, H-O. Adami, E. Weiderpass, D. Anderson. (2016). The InterLACE study: Design, data harmonization and characteristics across 20 studies on women's health. Maturitas. 92, pp.176-185.
L. Ferrucci, R. Cooper, M. Shardell, EM. Simonsick, JA. Schrack, et al. D. Kuh. (2016). Age-Related Change in Mobility: Perspectives From Life Course Epidemiology and Geroscience. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 71(9), pp.1184-1194.
D. Davis, R. Cooper, GM. Terrera, R. Hardy, M. Richards, et al. D. Kuh. (2016). Verbal memory and search speed in early midlife are associated with mortality over 25 years’ follow-up, independently of health status and early life factors: A British birth cohort study. International Journal of Epidemiology. 45(4), pp.1216-1225.
JA. Schrack, R. Cooper, A. Koster, EJ. Shiroma, JM. Murabito, et al. WJ. Rejeski, L. Ferrucci, TB. Harris. (2016). Assessing Daily Physical Activity in Older Adults: Unraveling the Complexity of Monitors, Measures, and Methods. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 71(8), pp.1039-1048.
. NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC), R. Cooper (2016). A century of trends in adult human height. eLife. 5,
MB. von Bonsdorff, D. Kuh, ME. von Bonsdorff, R. Cooper (2016). Mid-career work patterns and physical and mental functioning at age 60-64: evidence from the 1946 British birth cohort. Eur J Public Health. 26(3), pp.486-491.
E. Fuller-Thomson, S. Brennenstuhl, R. Cooper, D. Kuh (2016). An investigation of the healthy migrant hypothesis: Pre-emigration characteristics of those in the British 1946 birth cohort study. Can J Public Health. 106(8), pp.e502-e508.
TL. North, TM. Palmer, SJ. Lewis, R. Cooper, C. Power, et al. A. Pattie, JM. Starr, IJ. Deary, RM. Martin, SA. Aihie, M. Kumari, C. Cooper, M. Kivimaki, D. Kuh, Y. Ben-Shlomo, IN. Day. (2015). Effect of smoking on physical and cognitive capability in later life: a multicohort study using observational and genetic approaches. BMJ Open. 5(12),
D. Bann, R. Hardy, R. Cooper, H. Lashen, B. Keevil, et al. FCW. Wu, JMP. Holly, KK. Ong, Y. Ben-Shlomo, D. Kuh. (2015). Socioeconomic conditions across life related to multiple measures of the endocrine system in older adults: Longitudinal findings from a British birth cohort study. Soc Sci Med. 147, pp.190-199.
J. Bousquet, D. Kuh, M. Bewick, T. Standberg, J. Farrell, et al. R. Pengelly, ME. Joel, L. Rodriguez Mañas, J. Mercier, J. Bringer, T. Camuzat, R. Bourret, A. Bedbrook, ML. Kowalski, B. Samolinski, S. Bonini, C. Brayne, JP. Michel, J. Venne, P. Viriot-Durandal, J. Alonso, A. Avignon, Y. Ben-Shlomo, PJ. Bousquet, B. Combe, R. Cooper, R. Hardy, G. Iaccarino, T. Keil, E. Kesse-Guyot, I. Momas, K. Ritchie, JM. Robine, C. Thijs, C. Tischer, B. Vellas, A. Zaidi, F. Alonso, K. Andersen Ranberg, V. Andreeva, J. Ankri, S. Arnavielhe, H. Arshad, P. Augé, C. Berr, P. Bertone, H. Blain, A. Blasimme, GJ. Buijs, D. Caimmi, A. Carriazo, A. Cesario, J. Coletta, T. Cosco, M. Criton, F. Cuisinier, P. Demoly, S. Fernandez-Nocelo, B. Fougère, J. Garcia-Aymerich, M. Goldberg, N. Guldemond, Z. Gutter, D. Harman, A. Hendry, D. Heve, M. Illario, C. Jeandel, S. Krauss-Etschmann, O. Krys, D. Kula, D. Laune, S. Lehmann, D. Maier, J. Malva, P. Matignon, E. Melen, G. Mercier, G. Moda, A. Nizinkska, M. Nogues, M. O'Neill, JY. Pelissier, D. Poethig, D. Porta, D. Postma, F. Puisieux, M. Richards, C. Robalo-Cordeiro, V. Romano, F. Roubille, H. Schulz, A. Scott, P. Senesse, S. Slagter, HA. Smit, D. Somekh, M. Stafford, J. Suanzes, A. Todo-Bom, J. Touchon, V. Traver-Salcedo, M. Van Beurden, R. Varraso, I. Vergara, E. Villalba-Mora, N. Wilson, E. Wouters, M. Zins. (2015). Operational Definition of Active and Healthy Ageing (AHA): A Conceptual Framework. J Nutr Health Aging. 19(9), pp.955-960.
CM. Martin-Ruiz, D. Baird, L. Roger, P. Boukamp, D. Krunic, et al. R. Cawthon, MM. Dokter, P. Van Der Harst, S. Bekaert, T. De Meyer, G. Roos, U. Svenson, V. Codd, NJ. Samani, L. Mcglynn, PG. Shiels, KA. Pooley, AM. Dunning, R. Cooper, A. Wong, A. Kingston, T. Von Zglinicki. (2015). Is Southern blotting necessary to measure telomere length reproducibly? Authors' Response to: Commentary: The reliability of telomere length measurements. Int J Epidemiol. 44(5), pp.1686-1687.
M. Mänty, D. Kuh, R. Cooper (2015). Associations of Midlife to Late Life Fatigue With Physical Performance and Strength in Early Old Age: Results From a British Prospective Cohort Study. Psychosom Med. 77(7), pp.823-832.
SV. Black, R. Cooper, KR. Martin, S. Brage, D. Kuh, et al. M. Stafford. (2015). Physical Activity and Mental Well-being in a Cohort Aged 60-64 Years. Am J Prev Med. 49(2), pp.172-180.
J. Bousquet, D. Kuh, M. Bewick, T. Strandberg, J. Farrell, et al. R. Pengelly, ME. Joel, L. Rodriguez Mañas, J. Mercier, J. Bringer, T. Camuzat, R. Bourret, A. Bedbrook, ML. Kowalski, B. Samolinski, S. Bonini, C. Brayne, JP. Michel, J. Venne, P. Viriot-Durandal, J. Alonso, A. Avignon, PJ. Bousquet, B. Combe, R. Cooper, R. Hardy, G. Iaccarino, T. Keil, E. Kesse-Guyot, I. Momas, K. Ritchie, JM. Robine, C. Thijs, C. Tischer, B. Vellas, A. Zaidi, F. Alonso, K. Andersen Ranberg, V. Andreeva, J. Ankri, S. Arnavielhe, SH. Arshad, P. Augé, C. Berr, P. Bertone, H. Blain, A. Blasimme, GJ. Buijs, D. Caimmi, A. Carriazo, A. Cesario, J. Coletta, T. Cosco, M. Criton, F. Cuisinier, P. Demoly, S. Fernandez-Nocelo, B. Fougère, J. Garcia-Aymerich, M. Goldberg, N. Guldemond, Z. Gutter, D. Harman, A. Hendry, D. Heve, M. Illario, C. Jeandel, S. Krauss-Etschmann, O. Krys, D. Kula, D. Laune, S. Lehmann, D. Maier, J. Malva, P. Matignon, E. Melen, G. Mercier, G. Moda, A. Nizinkska, M. Nogues, M. O’Neill, JY. Pelissier, D. Poethig, D. Porta, D. Postma, F. Puisieux, M. Richards, C. Robalo-Cordeiro, V. Romano, F. Roubille, H. Schulz, A. Scott, P. Senesse, S. Slagter, HA. Smit, D. Somekh, M. Stafford, J. Suanzes, A. Todo-Bom, J. Touchon, V. Traver-Salcedo, M. Van Beurden, R. Varraso, I. Vergara, E. Villalba-Mora, N. Wilson, E. Wouters, M. Zins. (2015). Operative definition of active and healthy ageing (AHA): Meeting report. Montpellier October 20–21, 2014. European Geriatric Medicine. 6(2), pp.196-200.
PJ. Edwards, R. Cooper, R. Wentz, J. Fernandes (2015). Methods to influence the completeness of response to self-administered questionnaires. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015(2),
D. Bann, D. Hire, T. Manini, R. Cooper, A. Botoseneanu, et al. MM. McDermott, M. Pahor, NW. Glynn, R. Fielding, AC. King, T. Church, WT. Ambrosius, T. Gill, LIFES. Group. (2015). Light Intensity Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Relation to Body Mass Index and Grip Strength in Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Findings from the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) Study. PLoS ONE. 10(2),
RM. Dodds, HE. Syddall, R. Cooper, M. Benzeval, IJ. Deary, et al. EM. Dennison, G. Der, CR. Gale, HM. Inskip, C. Jagger, TB. Kirkwood, DA. Lawlor, SM. Robinson, JM. Starr, A. Steptoe, K. Tilling, D. Kuh, C. Cooper, AA. Sayer. (2014). Grip strength across the life course: normative data from twelve British studies. PLoS ONE. 9(12),
R. Cooper, C. Power (2014). Pregnancy obesity is associated with increased rates of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular hospital admissions in adult offspring. Evid Based Nurs. 17(4), pp.104-104.
T. Alfred, Y. Ben-Shlomo, R. Cooper, R. Hardy, C. Cooper, et al. IJ. Deary, J. Elliott, D. Gunnell, SE. Harris, M. Kivimaki, M. Kumari, RM. Martin, C. Power, AA. Sayer, JM. Starr, D. Kuh, IN. Day, HS. Team. (2014). Associations between APOE and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol genotypes and cognitive and physical capability: the HALCyon programme. AGE. 36(4),
D. Bann, D. Kuh, AK. Wills, J. Adams, S. Brage, et al. R. Cooper. (2014). Physical Activity Across Adulthood in Relation to Fat and Lean Body Mass in Early Old Age: Findings From the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development, 1946–2010. American Journal of Epidemiology. 179(10), pp.1197-1207.
R. Cooper, BH. Strand, R. Hardy, KV. Patel, D. Kuh (2014). Physical capability in mid-life and survival over 13 years of follow-up: British birth cohort study. BMJ. 348(apr28 7), pp.g2219-g2219.
R. Cooper, R. Hardy, D. Bann, AA. Sayer, KA. Ward, et al. JE. Adams, D. Kuh. (2014). Body Mass Index From Age 15 Years Onwards and Muscle Mass, Strength, and Quality in Early Old Age: Findings From the MRC National Survey of Health and Development. Journals of Gerontology, Series A. 69A(10), pp.1253-1259.
M. Gardner, D. Bann, L. Wiley, R. Cooper, R. Hardy, et al. D. Nitsch, C. Martin-Ruiz, P. Shiels, AA. Sayer, M. Barbieri, S. Bekaert, C. Bischoff, A. Brooks-Wilson, W. Chen, C. Cooper, K. Christensen, T. De Meyer, I. Deary, G. Der, A. Diez Roux, A. Fitzpatrick, A. Hajat, J. Halaschek-Wiener, S. Harris, SC. Hunt, C. Jagger, H-S. Jeon, R. Kaplan, M. Kimura, P. Lansdorp, C. Li, T. Maeda, M. Mangino, TS. Nawrot, P. Nilsson, K. Nordfjall, G. Paolisso, F. Ren, K. Riabowol, T. Robertson, G. Roos, JA. Staessen, T. Spector, N. Tang, B. Unryn, P. van der Harst, J. Woo, C. Xing, ME. Yadegarfar, JY. Park, N. Young, D. Kuh, T. von Zglinicki, Y. Ben-Shlomo, . Halcyon study team. (2014). Gender and telomere length: systematic review and meta-analysis. Exp Gerontol. 51(1), pp.15-27.
L. Hurst, M. Stafford, R. Cooper, R. Hardy, M. Richards, et al. D. Kuh. (2013). Lifetime socioeconomic inequalities in physical and cognitive aging. Am J Public Health. 103(9), pp.1641-1648.
T. Alfred, Y. Ben-Shlomo, R. Cooper, R. Hardy, IJ. Deary, et al. J. Elliott, SE. Harris, M. Kivimaki, M. Kumari, C. Power, JM. Starr, D. Kuh, IN. Day. (2013). Associations between a polymorphism in the pleiotropic GCKR and Age-related phenotypes: the HALCyon programme. PLoS ONE. 8(7),
D. Bann, A. Wills, R. Cooper, R. Hardy, SA. Aihie, et al. J. Adams, D. Kuh, . NSHD Scientific and Data Collection Team. (2013). Birth weight and growth from infancy to late adolescence in relation to fat and lean mass in early old age: findings from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development. International Journal of Obesity. 38, pp.69-75.
SAP. Clouston, P. Brewster, D. Kuh, M. Richards, R. Cooper, et al. R. Hardy, MS. Rubin, SM. Hofer. (2013). The dynamic relationship between physical function and cognition in longitudinal aging cohorts. Epidemiologic Reviews. 35(1), pp.33-50.
MP. Gardner, S. Lightman, AA. Sayer, C. Cooper, R. Cooper, et al. D. Deeg, S. Ebrahim, J. Gallacher, M. Kivimaki, M. Kumari, D. Kuh, RM. Martin, G. Peeters, Y. Ben-Shlomo, . Halcyon Study Team. (2013). Dysregulation of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis and physical performance at older ages: an individual participant meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 38(1), pp.40-49.
T. Alfred, Y. Ben-Shlomo, R. Cooper, R. Hardy, C. Cooper, et al. IJ. Deary, D. Gunnell, SE. Harris, M. Kumari, RM. Martin, AA. Sayer, JM. Starr, D. Kuh, INM. Day, . HALCyon study team. (2013). Genetic markers of bone and joint health and physical capability in older adults: the HALCyon programme. Bone. 52(1), pp.278-285.
R. Dodds, HJ. Denison, G. Ntani, R. Cooper, C. Cooper, et al. AA. Sayer, J. Baird. (2012). Birth weight and muscle strength: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Nutr Health Aging. 16(7), pp.609-615.
D. Kuh, R. Cooper, M. Richards, C. Gale, T. von Zglinicki, et al. J. Guralnik. (2012). A life course approach to healthy ageing: the HALCyon programme. Public Health. 126(3), pp.193-195.
AK. Wills, DA. Lawlor, G. Muniz-Terrera, F. Matthews, R. Cooper, et al. AK. Ghosh, D. Kuh, R. Hardy, . FALCon Study Team. (2012). Population heterogeneity in trajectories of midlife blood pressure. Epidemiology. 23(2), pp.203-211.
SE. Tom, R. Cooper, KV. Patel, JM. Guralnik (2012). Menopausal characteristics and physical functioning in older adulthood in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III. Menopause. 19(3), pp.283-289.
SE. Tom, R. Cooper, RB. Wallace, JM. Guralnik (2012). Type and timing of menopause and later life mortality among women in the Iowa Established Populations for theEpidemiological Study of the Elderly (EPESE) cohort. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 21(1), pp.10-16.
ET. Murray, R. Hardy, BH. Strand, R. Cooper, JM. Guralnik, et al. D. Kuh. (2011). Gender and life course occupational social class differences in trajectories of functional limitations in midlife: findings from the 1946 British birth cohort. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 66(12), pp.1350-1359.
AK. Wills, S. Black, R. Cooper, RJ. Coppack, R. Hardy, et al. KR. Martin, C. Cooper, D. Kuh. (2011). Life course body mass index and risk of knee osteoarthritis at the age of 53 years: Evidence from the 1946 British birth cohort study. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 71, pp.655-660.
R. Cooper, GD. Mishra, D. Kuh (2011). Physical activity across adulthood and physical performance in midlife: findings from a British birth cohort. Am J Prev Med. 41(4), pp.376-384.
C. Power, T. Pouliou, L. Li, R. Cooper, E. Hyppönen (2011). Parental and offspring adiposity associations: Insights from the 1958 British birth cohort. Annals of Human Biology. 38(4), pp.390-399.
R. Cooper, E. Hyppönen, D. Berry, C. Power (2010). Associations between parental and offspring adiposity up to midlife: the contribution of adult lifestyle factors in the 1958 British Birth Cohort Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 92(4), pp.946-953.
R. Cooper, D. Kuh, R. Hardy, . Mortality Review Group, . FALCon and HALCyon Study Teams (2010). Objectively measured physical capability levels and mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 341(sep09 1), pp.c4467-c4467.
SE. Tom, R. Cooper, D. Kuh, JM. Guralnik, R. Hardy, et al. C. Power. (2010). Fetal environment and early age at natural menopause in a British birth cohort study. Hum Reprod. 25(3), pp.791-798.
GD. Mishra, R. Cooper, D. Kuh (2010). A life course approach to reproductive health: theory and methods. Maturitas. 65(2), pp.92-97.
R. Hardy, R. Cooper, I. Shah, S. Harridge, J. Guralnik, et al. D. Kuh. (2010). Is chair rise performance a useful measure of leg power?. Aging Clin Exp Res. 22(5-6), pp.412-418.
PJ. Edwards, I. Roberts, MJ. Clarke, C. Diguiseppi, R. Wentz, et al. I. Kwan, R. Cooper, LM. Felix, S. Pratap. (2009). Methods to increase response to postal and electronic questionnaires. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009(3),
R. Cooper, G. Mishra, R. Hardy, D. Kuh (2009). Hysterectomy and subsequent psychological health: findings from a British birth cohort study. J Affect Disord. 115(1-2), pp.122-130.
GD. Mishra, R. Cooper, SE. Tom, D. Kuh (2009). Early life circumstances and their impact on menarche and menopause. Womens Health (Lond). 5(2), pp.175-190.
R. Cooper, K. Atherton, C. Power (2009). Gestational age and risk factors for cardiovascular disease: evidence from the 1958 British birth cohort followed to mid-life. Int J Epidemiol. 38(1), pp.235-244.
PJ. Edwards, I. Roberts, MJ. Clarke, C. Diguiseppi, R. Wentz, et al. I. Kwan, R. Cooper, LM. Felix, S. Pratap. (2009). Methods to increase response to postal and electronic questionnaires. Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online).
D. Kuh, R. Cooper, R. Hardy, J. Guralnik, M. Richards, et al. . Musculoskeletal Study Team. (2009). Lifetime cognitive performance is associated with midlife physical performance in a prospective national birth cohort study. Psychosom Med. 71(1), pp.38-48.
R. Cooper, R. Hardy, D. Kuh (2008). Timing of menarche, childbearing and hysterectomy risk. Maturitas. 61(4), pp.317-322.
R. Cooper, C. Power (2008). Sex differences in the associations between birthweight and lipid levels in middle-age: findings from the 1958 British birth cohort. Atherosclerosis. 200(1), pp.141-149.
R. Cooper, J. Lucke, DA. Lawlor, G. Mishra, J-H. Chang, et al. S. Ebrahim, D. Kuh, A. Dobson. (2008). Socioeconomic position and hysterectomy: A cross-cohort comparison of women in Australia and Great Britain. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. 62, pp.1057-1063.
R. Cooper, R. Hardy, D. Kuh (2008). Is adiposity across life associated with subsequent hysterectomy risk? Findings from the 1946 British birth cohort study. BJOG. 115(2), pp.184-192.
R. Cooper, G. Mishra, S. Clennell, J. Guralnik, D. Kuh (2008). Menopausal status and physical performance in midlife: findings from a British birth cohort study. Menopause. 15(6), pp.1079-1085.
PJ. Edwards, R. Cooper, R. Wentz, J. Fernandes (2007). Methods to influence the completeness of response to self-administered questionnaires. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
R. Cooper, D. Kuh, R. Hardy, C. Power (2007). Is there an association between hysterectomy and subsequent adiposity?. Maturitas. 58(3), pp.296-307.
P. Edwards, I. Roberts, M. Clarke, C. DiGuiseppi, S. Pratap, et al. R. Wentz, I. Kwan, R. Cooper. (2007). Increasing response to postal questionaires. International Journal of Epidemiology. 36(5), pp.966-967.
P. Edwards, I. Roberts, M. Clarke, C. DiGuiseppi, S. Pratap, et al. R. Wentz, I. Kwan, R. Cooper. (2007). Methods to increase response rates to postal questionnaires. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.
R. Cooper, M. Blell, R. Hardy (2007). CORRECTION. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. 61(2), pp.175-175.
P. Edwards, I. Roberts, M. Clarke, C. DiGuiseppi, S. Pratap, et al. R. Wentz, I. Kwan, R. Cooper. (2007). Methods to increase response rates to postal questionnaires. Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online).
R. Cooper, M. Blell, R. Hardy, S. Black, TM. Pollard, et al. MEJ. Wadsworth, MS. Pearce, D. Kuh. (2006). Validity of age at menarche self-reported in adulthood. J Epidemiol Community Health. 60(11), pp.993-997.
G. Mishra, H. Kok, R. Ecob, R. Cooper, R. Hardy, et al. D. Kuh. (2006). Cessation of hormone replacement therapy after reports of adverse findings from randomized controlled trials: evidence from a British Birth Cohort. Am J Public Health. 96(7), pp.1219-1225.
HS. Kok, D. Kuh, R. Cooper, YT. van der Schouw, DE. Grobbee, et al. MEJ. Wadsworth, M. Richards. (2006). Cognitive function across the life course and the menopausal transition in a British birth cohort. Menopause. 13(1), pp.19-27.
P. Edwards, R. Cooper, I. Roberts, C. Frost (2005). Meta-analysis of randomised trials of monetary incentives and response to mailed questionnaires. J Epidemiol Community Health. 59(11), pp.987-999.
R. Cooper, DA. Lawlor, R. Hardy, S. Ebrahim, DA. Leon, et al. MEJ. Wadsworth, D. Kuh. (2005). Socio-economic position across the life course and hysterectomy in three British cohorts: a cross-cohort comparative study. BJOG. 112(8), pp.1126-1133.
D. Kuh, C. Langenberg, R. Hardy, H. Kok, R. Cooper, et al. S. Butterworth, MEJ. Wadsworth. (2005). Cardiovascular risk at age 53 years in relation to the menopause transition and use of hormone replacement therapy: a prospective British birth cohort study. BJOG. 112(4), pp.476-485.
P. Edwards, R. Cooper (2004). Previous trials of dissemination were identified. J Epidemiol Community Health. 58(4), pp.354-355.
R. Cooper, K. Ward, AA. Sayer A life course approach to musculoskeletal ageing. In: A life course approach to women's health.
D. Kuh, R. Hardy, C. Gale, J. Elliott, Y. Ben-Shlomo, et al. R. Cooper. (2018). Healthy ageing across the life course. In: The New Dynamics of Ageing. pp.59-79.
R. Cooper, R. Hardy, AA. Sayer, D. Kuh (2014). A life course approach to physical capability. In: A Life Course Approach to Healthy Ageing. Oxford University Press,
D. Kuh, M. Richards, R. Cooper, R. Hardy, Y. Ben=Shlomo (2014). Life course epidemiology, ageing research, and maturing cohort studies: a dynamic combination for understanding healthy ageing. In: A Life Course Approach to Healthy Ageing. Oxford University Press,
D. Kuh, R. Cooper, R. Hardy, J. Goodwin, M. Richards, et al. Y. Ben-Shlomo. (2014). What have we learnt for future research and knowledge exchange?. In: A Life Course Approach to Healthy Ageing. Oxford University Press,
G. Mishra, R. Cooper (2009). Consequences of changes in reproductive patterns on later health in women: a life course approach. In: Reproductive Ageing. Cambridge University Press, pp.183-192.
M. Yusuf, J. McPhee, G. Montgomery, R. Cooper Associations between socioeconomic position across life and grip strength at age 46 years: findings from the 1970 British Cohort Study. Online, 15/9/2021.
M. Yusuf, J. McPhee, G. Montgomery, R. Cooper Associations between socioeconomic position across life and grip strength at age 46 years: findings from the 1970 British Cohort Study. Online, 10/6/2021.
Member of the Scientific Organising Committee for the Wellcome Trust Scientific Conference - Longitudinal Studies: Maximising their Value for Ageing Research (July 2015)
Regularly peer review papers for journals including: BMJ, JAMA, Lancet, American Journal of Epidemiology, Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Age and Ageing, BMC Geriatrics, International Journal of Obesity
Review grant applications for: the UK Medical Research Council; ZonMw (The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development); the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (New Zealand); the Icelandic Research Fund; the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Postdoctoral Researchers International Mobility Experience (PRIME) funding programme (Germany); Dunhill Medical Trust
Editorial board member of Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences (Sept 2016 - ongoing)
Member of the Society for Social Medicine & Population Health