Influences of Early Life

There is strong evidence that early life can shape outcomes later in life, including, for example a person’s health, social, educational and economic status. ILAS work programmes across the themes considers how experiences, like those around family, service support, education and human development, accumulate over time to influence individual well-being.

Looking at the life course in this way allows us to explore how advantages and disadvantages may accumulate over a person’s life. This is important as it helps us to understand how different stages in individual lives are connected over time. Additionally, it raises the potential to develop interventions and services which may be better able to respond to early-life influences.

One example is the ICAN researchers' partnership in the EU consortium for the GEMMA (Genome, Environment, Microbiome, and Metabolome in Autism) project. This groundbreaking research aims to understand the relationship between autism and gastrointestinal symptoms common in autistic children. The project is currently recruiting families in Ireland with an autistic child and a baby under six months old.

Another example is the UNCFRC's Quality Assurance Implementation Protocol for Family Support Services in Europe. This initiative aims to enhance family support services across Europe by implementing a quality assurance protocol through a self-assessment and improvement process. The protocol seeks to integrate evidence-based practices into support systems, fostering a collaborative learning environment among participating countries. By focusing on these areas, we aim to create more effective and supportive environments for families and individuals throughout their lives.