Men’s health: What we know and where to next?

After more than two decades of groundbreaking research into the health of Australian men, the team behind the Florey Adelaide Male Ageing Study (FAMAS) and the Male Adelaide Inflammation, Lifestyle, Environment and Stress (MAILES) Study are inviting the public, policy makers, healthcare professionals, and media to a special event showcasing what we’ve learned and what comes next.

Hosted by the Freemasons Centre for Male Health & Wellbeing, this free public symposium on Thursday, 16 October will explore some of the important and sometimes surprising findings from two of Australia's most comprehensive male cohort studies.

“From metabolic health, to sleep, mental wellbeing, sexual function, urinary problems and use of health services, these studies have shaped how we understand ageing in men and have had tangible impact on both clinical guidelines and public health programs,” said University of Adelaide Professor Gary Wittert, Director of the Freemasons Centre of Male Health and Wellbeing.

Together, these longitudinal studies followed over 2,500 men aged 40+ across metropolitan Adelaide, including deep-dive clinical assessments and multichannel sleep studies. This research has delivered novel insights into:

• Testosterone and Men's Health: The team was among the first to challenge the overdiagnosis of late-onset hypogonadism, showing that low testosterone often reflects obesity and poor health, rather than causes it—redirecting global conversations around hormone therapy.
• Demonstrate the relationships between testosterone, obesity and skeletal muscle.
• Mental Health and Masculinity: The MAILES study contributed to a nuanced understanding of how traditional male norms intersect with depression, suicide risk, and low healthcare engagement in midlife men.
• Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: Through at home-sleep studies, the team was among the first to demonstrate an alarmingly high prevalence of undiagnosed sleep apnoea, the importance of subtypes of sleep apnoea and the consequences for physical mental health and sexual function.
• Erectile Dysfunction and Nocturia (Getting up at night to pass urine) are caused by the same risk factors that cause other chronic disorders for which they act as sentinel indicators, much like a canary in a coal mine.
• Use of Health Services by Men: Men do not intentionally ignore their health and use health services differently in comparison to women and prefer particular styles of communication from healthcare practitioners.

The symposium will also feature presentations on how this evidence base is now being translated into programs and policy, including:

• Improving Men’s Engagement with Primary Care: New community strategies are being piloted to help men better connect with GPs tackling one of the most persistent barriers to early diagnosis and preventive care.
• Preventing Diabetes Through Muscle Gain and Fat Loss: Building on earlier insights, researchers are now testing interventions aimed at increasing skeletal muscle and reducing visceral fat, targeting metabolic health in high-risk men.

The FAMAS and MAILES Cohorts & Beyond: What Have We Learned About Men’s Health—and What Are We Doing Now?
When: Thursday, 16 October 2025. 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Where: SAHMRI Auditorium, North Terrace, Adelaide
Cost: Free, but registration is essential. Click here to register.