Diabetes evolution in the population under cultural influences: physiological and agent-based models.

The purpose of this work is to formulate an agent-based model of the evolution of body size and insulin sensitivity inindividuals exposed to mutual cultural influences regarding food intake and physical activity levels. Two basic sub-models will interact, a “longitudinal” physiological and a “transversal” sociological submodel. The model would eventually explain the evolution of diabetes prevalence in populations and allow the assessment of the efficacy of educational campaigns over decades.

This work is developed in collaboration with CNR IRIB Messina Italy.