News archive

Maria Eriksdotter, professor of geriatrics at Karolinska Institutet, has been awarded this year’s Bengt Winblad Award by the Swedish Society of Medicine. She receives it for her long-standing and outstanding contributions to translational Alzheimer’s and dementia research. Behind the award are both pioneering research into new treatments and the development of SveDem, the world’s largest quality registry for dementia disorders.

The Division of Neurogeriatrics and NVS are gaining yet another new research group leader as Luana Naia steps forward with her newly established group, Brain Mitochondrial Communications.

Even though Alzheimer’s disease, the hereditary vascular disorder CADASIL, and traumatic brain injury are all associated with inflammation and changes in the brain’s blood vessels, many vascular cells appear to retain their normal genetic programmes during disease, reports a study from Karolinska Institutet published in Nature Communications. Researchers also identified a possible explanation why traumatic brain injuries may raise the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases.

Why do women and men develop Alzheimer’s disease differently? In her thesis, Aphrodite Demetriou, PhD student the Division of Neurogeriatrics, NVS, explores how sex hormones, particularly estrogen, may influence the development of the disease. Using both animal models and miniature human brain models grown from stem cells, she has uncovered new insights that could contribute to more personalised treatments for Alzheimer’s disease in the future.

In her thesis, the researcher shows that activation of the oestrogen receptor ERβ reduces Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain and improves memory. The results also highlight important sex differences that may have implications for future treatments and clinical studies.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Karolinska Institutet had received a total donation of SEK 538 million through the will of Leif Lundblad, of which SEK 500 million has been allocated to research project funding. The first calls for research funding for 2026 are now open.

People with both atrial fibrillation and Alzheimer’s disease who are treated with modern NOAC blood-thinning medicines may experience a slower rate of cognitive decline. This is shown by a study from Karolinska Institutet published in the European Heart Journal.

Professor Miia Kivipelto and other researchers at Karolinska Institutet have contributed to the development of the World Health Organization’s updated guidelines on reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. The recommendations provide countries with an evidence-based framework for prevention and could help address risk factors associated with up to 45 per cent of dementia cases worldwide.

People with metabolic syndrome tend to have brains that appear older than their actual age, according to a new study published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association. The new findings provide fresh insights into the biological processes that may link metabolic health to the brain.

The amount and distribution of the tau protein in the brain differs between early and late-onset Alzheimer's disease. This is shown by a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in the journal European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. The results also indicate that blood tests do not always reflect changes in the brain.

A healthier diet may be associated with a lower risk of dementia among older adults, including those with blood biomarkers indicating an increased biological risk of Alzheimer's disease pathology. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in JAMA Network Open.

This thesis explores how diverse sleep features relate to biological markers of aging and Alzheimer’s risk, revealing strong links between poor sleep and key indicators of cognitive decline.

A researcher at Karolinska Institutet has been awarded a three-year fellowship from the US Alzheimer’s Association to study a new, non-invasive way of delivering potential treatments to the brain in Alzheimer’s disease.

Older people with a genetic risk of Alzheimer's disease did not experience the expected increase in cognitive decline and dementia risk if they consumed relatively large amounts of meat. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in JAMA Network Open. The results may contribute to the development of more individually tailored dietary advice.

A simple combination of daily physical exercise and protein-rich nutritional drinks appears to offer significant health benefits for people with dementia. In a new study from Karolinska Institutet, not only did the participants' physical ability improve, but after three months the researchers also saw signs that they were able to manage more everyday tasks themselves. The study is published in the journal Alzheimer's and Dementia.

People with lower kidney function may have higher levels of several blood markers often used in research on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. This is shown in a new systematic review and meta‑analysis published in The Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

How hereditary Alzheimer’s disease develops in its early stages depends on which genetic mutation a person carries. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in the journal Translational Psychiatry.

Bill Gates visited Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital last Friday at his own initiative to discuss the latest advances in Swedish Alzheimer’s research, a field that interests him and that he supports.

Older adults with reduced kidney function show higher levels of Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers in the blood, but are not more likely to develop dementia, according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet.

How do everyday health issues affect new blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease? A study from Karolinska Institutet, in Alzheimer's & Dementia, suggests that factors like kidney function, cholesterol, and diabetes can influence some of these biomarkers—though the most promising marker remains reliable.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the RIKEN Center for Brain Science in Japan have identified two receptors in the brain that control the breakdown of amyloid beta, a substance that accumulates in Alzheimer’s disease. According to the researchers, the study could pave the way for future drugs that are both safer and cheaper than current antibody treatments.

The Aging Research Center (ARC) was established in the year 2000, at a time when geriatric research was still in its infancy and little was known about dementia-related diseases. This happened during a period when politicians and decision-makers began to take an interest in the growing ageing population and the challenges that were becoming apparent in healthcare and social care as a result.

Hi Francesca Eroli, doctoral student at the Division of Neurogeriatrics. On November 7 november you will defend your thesis ”Toward precision medicine : sex-specific effects of multi-drug therapies in mouse models of aging and Alzheimer's pathology” What is the main focus of the thesis?

It is exciting to announce that NVS has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IDAC for academic exchange and to further strengthen the academic ties between the two institutions. The MoU was signed on August 11th, 2025, by Professor Maria Ankarcrona, Head of Department, NVS and Professor Kozo Tanaka, Director of IDAC.

A new international study led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet demonstrates that it is possible to detect subtle changes in the brain and identify early signs of hereditary frontotemporal dementia using advanced brain imaging techniques. The study has recently been published in Molecular Psychiatry.

On September 2, 2025, seven physicians, five occupational therapists, and five physiotherapists were awarded diplomas by H.M. The Queen during a formal ceremony at Drottningholm Court Theatre. The ceremony marked the completion of the Master's courses in dementia care developed by Karolinska Institutet in close collaboration with Stiftelsen Silviahemmet. The participants may now use the titles Silvia Physician, Silvia Occupational Therapist, and Silvia Physiotherapist.

Shireen Sindi at NVS and her team have been awarded this major award. It is the first time an applicant from Karolinska Institutet (KI) has received such a large award from Wellcome Leap, with whom KI has had an agreement since 2021.

A protein from the bacterium Helicobacter pylori has been shown to block the formation of harmful protein aggregates - known as amyloids - that are linked to Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and type 2 diabetes, among other diseases, and bacterial infections. This is the result of a new study published in the journal Science Advances.

Hi Vilma Alanko, doctoral student at the Division of Clinical Geriatrics. On June 13 you will defend your thesis ”Translational studies on biological signatures, risk profiles, and prevention of dementia.” What is the main focus of the thesis?

The partnership between Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine (J&J) and Karolinska Institutet (KI) marks this year a decade of joint initiatives for promoting the development of tomorrow’s therapies. This long-standing collaboration between industry and academy has given rise to significant scientific advances in several fields of medicine.

The 2025 Svedberg Prize is awarded to Michael Landreh, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology at Karolinska Institutet, "for the development and innovative use of mass spectrometric tools that reveal hidden protein interactions."

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have demonstrated how specific biomarkers in the blood can predict the development of dementia up to ten years before diagnosis, among older adults living independently in the community.

Certain widely used drug combinations may either slow down or worsen the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, but their effects differ between sexes. A new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in the leading journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, highlights these important findings.

New research suggests that antidepressants can accelerate cognitive decline in people with dementia. At the same time, some drugs appear to be less harmful than others, which can help doctors make better treatment decisions, according to the study published in BMC Medicine.

A new Swedish study has, for the first time, shown a link between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and cognitive decline in dementia patients. The study, published in the scientific journal Neurology, emphasizes the importance of careful monitoring and management to prevent cognitive decline.

On 30 January, a symposium on dementia was held in honour of HM Queen Silvia at Karolinska Institutet. The event was part of the "experience gift" that KI presented in connection with the Queen’s 80th birthday.

Using an AI tool, researchers at Karolinska Institutet have analysed brain images from 70-year-olds and estimated their brains’ biological age. They found that factors detrimental to vascular health, such as inflammation and high glucose levels, are associated with an older-looking brain, while healthy lifestyles were linked to brains with a younger appearance. The results are presented in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

How are emerging plasma biomarkers related to the diagnostic tests currently used in clinical routines? And does the earlier evidence from highly selective research cohorts translate to the heterogeneous real-world data? Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have sought to answer these questions in a study published in eBioMedicine with Dr. Marina Bluma from the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society as the first author.

The Mats Paulsson Foundations award Jan Johansson, professor at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, SEK 10 million for research into new innovative treatment methods for Alzheimer's disease. The aim of the research project is to create a new drug that can achieve a breakthrough in the treatment of the most common dementia disease.

The Swedish Brain Foundation has awarded its grants. NVS received five research grants and one scholarship.

The Swedish Society of Medicine (SLS) awards Professor Lars-Olof Wahlund, Karolinska Institutet, the Bengt Winblad Prize 2024. The prize honors outstanding contributions in Alzheimer’s research, and Lars-Olof Wahlund is seen as a pioneer in MRI imaging of the brain.

Some of the world’s most prominent Alzheimer’s researchers congregated recently in Stockholm for the tenth anniversary of the prestigious Goodes Prize. The programme included a seminar day and a study visit to Karolinska Institutet followed by a social event in Stockholm City Hall.

A groundbreaking study from Karolinska Institutet, recently published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry offers new insights into the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The research reveals critical differences in the progression of memory loss based on the presence of specific proteins in the brain.

Karolinska Institutet has discovered that an already registered antidepressant, duloxetine, may also have positive effects on memory and cognitive functions in the elderly.

Per Nilsson, docent at the Division of Clinical Geriatrics, receives this amount together with Evandro Fang at the University of Oslo. Additionally, the funding is 200,000 USD per year for two years with the possibility of extension.

He receives the grant for the project ‘Preclinical Evaluation of Potential Cholinergic PET Imaging Tracers’ and it is valid for a three-year period.

Hi Jasper Holleman, doctoral student at the Division of Clinical Geriatrics. On June 18 you will defend your thesis "Novel biomarkers associated with stress : from normal aging to Alzheimer's disease ". What is the main focus of the thesis?

Hi Johanna Mayer, doctoral student at the Division of Neurogeriatrics. On June 17 you will defend your thesis "The role of autophagy in Aβ and tau metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease ". What is the main focus of the thesis?

While mentally stimulating activities and life experiences can improve cognition in memory clinic patients, stress undermines this beneficial relationship. This is according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Minister for Health Care Acko Ankarberg Johansson and Minister for Older People and Social Security Anna Tenje recently visited BioClinicum at Karolinska Institutet to learn more about the current status of Alzheimer’s research. "We’re getting closer to being able to devise an effective treatment," says Bengt Winblad, professor at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, who hosted the visit.