Jane Fleming

Dr Jane Fleming moved into research from a clinical background in nursing, mainly with older people, through epidemiology training and a PhD on falls and their consequences in older old age. She has since co-ordinated the Cambridge City over-75s Cohort (CC75C) Study, supporting postgraduate students, visiting researchers and external collaborators working on a wide range of ageing-related and neuropathological research projects. A rare resource combining almost three decades of epidemiological data collection and a brain donation programme, CC75C is the longest-running of several population-based studies of ageing run from the Life-course and Ageing group in Cambridge Public Health.  

Jane’s own programme of research, using mixed methods approaches to inform policy and practice affecting older people, has a focus on the growing numbers of ‘older old’ people and common challenges so many face in their later years – falls, osteoporosis, incontinence, social isolation, physical frailty, cognitive impairment and dementia. Particular interests include very old people’s care needs, preferences and transitions towards the end of life; the role that exercise, social and physical activity can play in postponing frailty, maximising independence and quality of life; policy implications and impacts on older people and their carers, both family and staff working across care settings. Clinically, Jane has specialised in osteoporosis, most recently working part-time as a fall and fracture prevention clinical nurse specialist in Addenbrooke’s Hospital.