Published: 01-10-2018 08:52 | Updated: 02-10-2018 14:44

FINGER researchers acknowledged on World Alzheimer's Day

September 21st of each year is World Alzheimer’s Day, when organizations all over the world focus on raising awareness about Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia. This September the work of two FINGER and Nordic Brain Network researchers was acknowledged in both Sweden and Finland.

Bild på Miia KivipeltoProfessor Miia Kivipelto from Karolinska Institutet and University of Eastern Finland received the first gold medal awarded by the Alzheimer Society of Finland for her contributions to dementia prevention and patient care. The medal acknowledged her groundbreaking research into understanding the etiology and prevention of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as her work to increase patients’ wellbeing. The Alzheimer Society of Finland emphasized that Miia Kivipelto, besides her internationally outstanding research, has a remarkable ability as a medical doctor to meet patients as unique individuals and with empathy, and to also consider the needs of the caregivers. As the principal investigator of the FINGER study, Miia Kivipelto has taken great care to communicate the results in a clear and practical way, which has changed the attitude towards possibilities to reduce dementia risk and promote brain health.

Kivipelto says: "The award is a great honour for me and for my team and I am especially glad that it also recognizes our attempts to increase awareness and implement the results. It will give extra motivation to continue this important work. Team work is the key!"

Associate professor Alina Solomon was awarded a prize from Stiftelsen Fondkistan at the Alzheimer Day event organized in Stockholm, Sweden by Alzheimerfonden. The prize acknowledged her research on early identification of people who have an increased dementia risk, and who may benefit most from preventive interventions. During her lecture at Aula Medica, Karolinska Institutet, Alina Solomon talked about the FINGER trial to prevent dementia through lifestyle changes, and the team’s current work to adapt and test the FINGER model worldwide.

"I was very happy to be part of this Alzheimer Day event in Stockholm, especially as many participants were people with Alzheimer’s and family members. It’s very important for us as researchers to communicate directly with the people for whom we ultimately do all of our work. It was also important to transmit a positive message, that there are things we can do already now to address this difficult disease. The prize came as a great surprise, and I was very honored that the work of our team was acknowledged on this special day", said Alina Solomon.