Million Women Study

The Million Women Study is the largest study of women’s health in the world. In 1996-2001, a quarter of UK women then aged 50-64 years (1.3 million women) joined the study. The aim of the study is to provide reliable information on potentially modifiable causes of common and serious illnesses, to help improve individual and public health. Study participants have provided details about their lifestyle and health and given signed consent for follow-up. Since recruitment their health has been followed mainly through electronic linkage to routinely collected NHS records (only 1.5% loss to follow-up after 20 years) and the whole surviving cohort has been re-contacted 4 times by postal re-survey to update exposures (1999-03, 2006-7, 2009-12 & 2013-14). Subsets of women have completed additional postal and online re-surveys.

Million Women Study is part of the Dementias Platform UK (DPUK), a multi-million pound public-private partnership to accelerate progress in dementias research http://www.mrc.ac.uk/research/facilities/dementias-platform-uk

Last update – 13/06/2017

Types General population-based cohort
Participant Types No diagnosis
Countries United Kingdom
Genders Female
Sample sizes 500,000+
Ages 40 to 59|60 to 100
Brain related measures
Funtional rating
Anthropometric Blood pressure|Height|Hip circumference|Waist circumference|Weight
Physical Cardiovascular|Hearing and Vision|Musculoskeletal|Reproductive|Respiratory
Biological samples Blood
Genotyping Gene screening
Brain imaging
Brain banking Consent for brain donation
Lifestyle Alcohol|Dietary habits|Physical activity|Smoking
Socio-economic Education|Ethnic group|Family circumstances|Housing and accommodation|Informal support|Marital status|Occupation and employment|Unpaid care
Health service utilisation Formal health and social care service utilisation including private care
Institute names Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Oxford
Current Sample Sizes 500,000+

age at recruitment 50-64
last updated
recruitment period 1996-2001
estimated current sample size number value 1170000
cohort acronym
start date 1996-2001
pi Professor Dame Valerie Beral
website http://www.millionwomenstudy.org
contact details The Million Women Study Co-ordinating Centre
Cancer Epidemiology Unit
Richard Doll Building
Roosevelt Drive
Oxford OX3 7LF
abstract  The Million Women study is focused on research in dementia, osteoporosis, stroke and other severe disabling conditions. 1.3 Million Women between the ages of 50-64 joined the study in 1996-2001. Details were recorded about their health and lifestyle.
funders  Cancer Research UK
Medical Research Council
contact email [email protected]
contact phone number +44 (0)1865 289600
estimated current sample size 500,000+
sample sizes 1360000