Principal investigator and contact person of the survey
Linda Enroth
- Senior Research Fellow
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Tampere University
- +358401901647
- linda.enroth@tuni.fi
About me
My background is in health sciences and I got my PhD in the field of Gerontology (University of Tampere, Finland). In addition, I have a title of a docent in Ageing and social change (Linköping University, Sweden).
I am a principal investigator of the Vitality 90+ Study, which is a multidisciplinary research project on health, functioning, living conditions, quality of life and care needs among the oldest old individuals.
My research interests include health, functioning, health and social care use, and longevity. Especially I am interested in their predictors, social inequality and change over time. In addition, I am interested in extreme air temperature-related public health effects such as quality of life, health care use and mortality among older people.
Research topics
Health and functioning
Socioeconomic status
Health inequality
Life expectancy
Health expectancy
Longevity
Health and social care services
Research fields
Gerontology
Health Sciences
Epidemiology
2022- Chair in the Finnish Society for Growth and Ageing Research
2022- Board member in the Nordic Gerontological Federation
2022- Member of the Faculty Council, Tampere University, Faculty of Social Sciences
2020-2021 Board member in Gerontology Research Center
2015-2022 Board member in the Finnish Society for Growth and Ageing Research, A deputy member 2018-2022
2017-2020 Secretary and an accountant in the Nordic Gerontological Federation
2018-2020 Deputy member of the board in the GeroCenter Foundation
2014-2016 Membership secretary in the Finnish Society for Growth and Ageing Research
Peer reviewed publications
Nosraty L, Nevalainen J, Raitanen J, Enroth L. 2024. Tree-based analysis of longevity predictors and their ten-year changes: a 35-Year mortality follow-up. BMC Geriatrics 24, 817. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-05404-4
Enroth L, Halonen P, Tiainen K, Raitanen J, Jylhä M. 2023. Cohort profile: The Vitality 90+ Study. A cohort study on health and living conditions of the oldest old in Tampere, Finland. BMJ open, 13(2). http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068509
Halonen P, Jämsen E, Enroth L, Jylhä M. 2023. Agreement between self-reported information and health register data on chronic diseases in the oldest old. Clinical Epidemiology 785-794. https://doi.org/10.2147/CLEP.S410971
Vargese S, Jylhä M, Raitanen J, Enroth L, Halonen P, Aaltonen M. 2023. Dementia-related disability in the population aged 90 years and over: Differences over time and the role of comorbidity in the Vitality 90+ Study. BMC Geriatrics 23(1), 276. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-03980-5
Halonen P, Enroth L, Tiainen K, Jylhä M 2022. Dementia and related comorbidities in the population aged 90 and over in the Vitality 90+ Study, Finland: patterns and trends from 2001 to 2018. Journal of Aging and Health. https://doi.org/10.1177/08982643221123451
Enroth L, Jasilionis D, Németh L, Strand BH, Tanjung I, Sundberg L, Fors S, Jylhä M & Brønnum-Hansen H. Changes in socioeconomic differentials in old age life expectancy in four Nordic countries – The impact of educational expansion and education-specific mortality. European Journal of Ageing, 19, 161–173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-022-00698-y
Enroth L, Fors S 2021. Trends in the social class inequalities in disability and self-rated health: Repeated cross-sectional surveys from Finland and Sweden 2001-2018. International Journal of Public Health, 66:645513. https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2021.645513
Kananen L, Enroth L, Raitanen J, Jylhävä J, Bürkle A, Moreno Villanueva M, Bernhardt J, Toussaint O, Grubeck Loebenstein B, Malavolta M, Basso A, Piacenza F, Collino S, Gonos E.S, Sikora E, Gradinaru D, Jansen E.H.J.M, Dollé M.E.T, Salmon M, Stuetz W, Weber D, Grune T, Breusing N, Simm A, Capri M, Franceschi C, Slagboom P.E, Talbot D.C.S, Libert C, Koskinen S, Bruunsgaard H, Hansen Å.M, Lund R, Hurme M, Jylhä M 2021. Self rated health in individuals with and without disease is associated with multiple biomarkers representing multiple biological domains. Scientific Reports 11, 6139. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85668-7
Enroth L, Pulkki J 2021. Aistivaikeudet, arki ja toimintakyky 90 vuotta täyttäneillä. (Sensory difficulties, everyday life and functional ability among people aged 90+). Gerontologia, 35(2), 121-137. https://doi.org/10.23989/gerontologia.96102
Enroth L, Raitanen J, Halonen P, Tiainen K, Jylhä M 2021. Trends of Physical Functioning, Morbidity, and Disability-Free Life Expectancy Among the Oldest Old: Six Repeated Cross-Sectional Surveys Between 2001 and 2018 in the Vitality 90+ Study. The Journals of Gerontology; Series A, 76(7), 1227-1233. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glaa144
Enroth L, Veenstra M, Aartsen M, Kjær AA, Juul Nilsson C & Fors S 2019. Are there educational disparities in health among the oldest old? Evidence from the Nordic countries. European Journal of Ageing, 16, 415-424. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-019-00517-x
Hoogendijk EO, van der Noordt M, Onwuteaka-Philipsen BD, Deeg DJH, Huisman M, Enroth L & Jylhä M 2019. Sex differences in healthy life expectancy among nonagenarians: A multistate survival model using data from the Vitality 90+ study. Experimental Gerontology, 116, 80-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2018.12.015
Halonen P, Raitanen J, Enroth L, Jämsen E & Jylhä M 2019. Chronic conditions and multimorbidity in population aged 90 years and over: associations with mortality and long-term care admission. Age and Ageing, 48(4), 564-570. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afz019
Nosraty L, Pulkki J, Raitanen J, Enroth L & Jylhä M 2019. Successful Aging as a Predictor of Long-Term Care Among Oldest Old: The Vitality 90+ Study. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 38(4), 553-571. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817716968
Jylhä M, Enroth L, Halonen P (2019). Vanhoista vanhimpien terveys ja toimintakyky. Duodecim, 135 (11), 1085-1091.
Enroth L, Aaltonen M, Raitanen J, Nosraty L & Jylhä M 2018. Does use of long-term care differ between occupational classes among the oldest old? Vitality 90+ Study. European Journal of Ageing, 15(2), 143-153. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10433-017-0445-0
Jørgensen TSH, Fors S, Nilsson CJ, Enroth L, Aaltonen M, Sundberg L, Brønnum-Hansen H, Strand BH, Chang M ja Jylhä M. 2018. The ageing populations in the Nordic countries: mortality and longevity from 1990-2014. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 47(6), 611-617. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckx187.608
Kauppi M, Raitanen J, Stenholm S, Aaltonen M, Enroth L & Jylhä M 2018. Predictors of long-term care among nonagenarians: the Vitality 90 + Study with linked data of the care registers. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 30(8), 913-919. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-017-0869-6
Halonen P, Enroth L, Jylhä M, Tiainen K. 2017. Pitkäaikaissairaudet ja monisairastavuus hyvin vanhoilla sekä niiden yhteys toimintakykyyn ja itse arvioituun terveyteen-Tervaskannot 90+ -tutkimus. (Chronic conditions and multimorbidity - associations with functioning and self-rated health among nonagenarians: The Vitality 90+ Study). Gerontologia, 31(4), 269-281. https://doi.org/10.23989/gerontologia.65943
Enroth L, Raitanen J, Hervonen A, Lehtimäki T, Jylhävä J, Hurme M & Jylhä M 2016. Cardiometabolic and Inflammatory Biomarkers as Mediators between Educational Level and Functioning at the Age of 90 Years. The Journals of Gerontology; Series A, 71(3), 412–419. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glv105
Enroth L, Raitanen J, Hervonen A, Nosraty L & Jylhä M. 2015. Is Socioeconomic Status a Predictor of Mortality in Nonagenarians? The Vitality 90+ Study. Age and Ageing, 44, 123-129. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afu092
Nosraty L, Enroth L, Raitanen J, Hervonen A & Jylhä M. 2015. Do Successful Agers Live Longer? The Vitality 90+ Study. Journal of Aging and Health, 27(1), 35-53. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264314535804
Enroth L, Raitanen J, Hervonen A & Jylhä M. 2013. Do Socioeconomic Health Differences Persist in Nonagenarians? The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 68(5), 837-847. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbt067
Jylhä M, Enroth L & Luukkaala T. 2013. Trends of functioning and health in nonagenarians − the Vitality 90+ Study. In Robine JM. Jagger C. & Crimmins E. Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 33, ”Healthy Longevity”. Springer Publishing Company, 313-332.
Helminen S, Sarkeala T, Enroth L, Hervonen A & Jylhä M. 2012. Vanhoista vanhimpien terveys ja elämäntilanne – tuloksia vuoden 2010 Tervaskannot 90+ -tutkimuksesta. Gerontologia, 26(3), 162–171. https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:uta-201702131130
THESES
Enroth L. 2017. Doctoral thesis: Social inequality in the health of the oldest old: Socioeconomic differences in health, functioning, mortality and long-term care use in the population aged 90+. University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland. Tampere University Press. (Acta Electronica Universitatis Tamperensis 1840). http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-03-0599-4
Enroth L. 2011. Master’s thesis: Sosioekonomiset erot vanhoista vanhimpien terveydessä. Tampereen yliopisto. http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uta-1-21599
Contact person of life story interviews
Anu Siren
- Professor
- gerontologia
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Tampere University
- +358504750373
- anu.siren@tuni.fi
About me
I am a Professor of Gerontology and hold a PhD in Psychology. I am also a Docent (Adjunct Professor) of Social Gerontology at the University of Helsinki. I worked in Denmark between 2005 and 2021, and began my position as Professor of Gerontology in spring 2021.
My research interests focus particularly on the social, cultural, and material environments of ageing and their significance for individuals. In the early years of my career, I studied older adults’ mobility in traffic and its social and cultural regulation. In recent years, my research has more broadly addressed a range of topics in social gerontology, including senior co‑housing, use of digital services, retirement, the significance of family relationships in old age, as well as the needs and preferences of future older populations.
I am currently accepting new doctoral students only to a very limited extent, and only for projects related to the following topics:
- Preparation for old age and ageing
- Lifestyle, social class, and risks associated with long life
- Research topics related to retirement and late working life
- Childlessness and ageing, particularly from the perspectives of lifestyles and social inequalities
Siren, A. & Amilon, A. (2025) Longevity, Linked Lives, and Generational Time: Does Extended Work Life Impact Older Adults’ Help to Their Adult Children? Demography 62(6), 2099-2123. https://doi.org/10.1215/00703370-12349872
Amilon, A. Larsen, M, & Siren, A. (2025) Work Adversities, Job Lock, and Well-being: A Study of Low-Skilled Older Workers in the Era of Delayed Retirement. Journal of Aging & Social Policy. https://doi-org.libproxy.tuni.fi/10.1080/08959420.2025.2587366
Amilon, A., Siren, A., Larsen, M., Holt, H. (2024) Mental Wellbeing among Workers approaching Retirement: a Scoping Review. Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies. https://doi.org/10.18291/njwls.150077
Amilon, A., Kjær, A.A., Ladenburg, J., Siren, A. (2022). Trust in the publicly financed care system and willingness to pay for long-term care: A discrete choice experiment in Denmark. Social Science and Medicine, 311: 115332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115332
Siren et al (2022) Negotiations of vulnerability in aging with vision impairment. Journal of Aging Studies, 61: 101036. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2022.101036
Siren, A. (2022). Boformer og den aldrende befolkning. In T.A. Andersen & J. R. Skaksen (Eds.): Et aldrende Danmark. Gyldendal, Copenhagen. Pp. 77-86.
Amilon, A. & Siren, A. (2022). The link between vision impairment and depressive symptomatology in late life: does having a partner matter? European Journal of Ageing,19: 521–532
Siren, A. (2021). Beyond accessibility: Transport system as a societal structure supporting inclusion in late life. In K. Walsh, T. Scharf, S. Van Regenmortel & A. Wanka (eds.): Social Exclusion in Later Life: Interdisciplinary and Policy Perspectives. International Perspectives on Aging, Volume 28. Springer. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-51406-
Kjær, A.A. & Siren, A. (2021). Aging without children: The link between parental status and tangible support. Journal of Family Issues. doi: 10.1177/0192513X21993203
Filges, T., Siren, A., Fridberg, T. (2020). Voluntary work for the physical and mental health of older volunteers: A systematic review. Campbell Systematic Reviews. doi: 10.1002/cl2.1124.
Amilon, A. Ladenburg, J., Siren, A., Østergaard, S., (2020). Willingness to pay for long-term home care services: Evidence from a stated preferences analysis. The Journal of the Economics of Ageing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeoa.2020.100238
Siren, A., Amilon, A., Larsen, G. K., Mehlsen, L. (2019). The promise of assistive technology in institutionalized care: economic efficiency, improved working conditions, and better quality of care? Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology. Publication before print. doi: 10.1080/17483107.2019.1659862
Kjær, A.A. & Siren, A. (2019). Formal and informal care: exploring trajectories of home care use among Danish older adults. Ageing and Society. Publication before print. doi:10.1017/S0144686X19000771.
Kjær, A. A., Siren, A., Seested, M. H., Fridberg, T. & Casier, F. (2019). Cohort profile: The Danish Longitudinal Study of Ageing (DLSA). International Journal of Epidemiology, 48: 1050-1050g. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyz026
Siren, A. & Casier, F. (2019). Socioeconomic and lifestyle determinants of giving practical support to adult children in the era of changing late life. Ageing and Society, 39(9): 1933-1950. doi:10.1017/S0144686X18000338
Siren, A. & Knudsen, S. G. (2017) Older adults and the emerging digital service delivery. A mixed methods study on ICT use, skills and attitudes. Journal of Aging and Social Policy, 29(1): 35-50. doi: 10.1080/08959420.2016.1187036
Siren, A. & Haustein, S. (2016). How do baby boomers' mobility patterns change with retirement? Ageing and Society, 36: 988-1007. doi:10.1017/S0144686X15000100
Siren, A. & Haustein, S. (2016) Driving Cessation Anno 2010: Which older drivers give up their license and why? Evidence from Denmark. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 35(1): 18-38. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0733464814521690.
Haustein, S. & Siren, A. (2015). Older people’s mobility: segments, factors, trends. Transport Reviews: A Transnational Transdisciplinary Journal, 35 (4): 466-487. doi: 10.1080/01441647.2015.1017867
Siren, A., Hjorthol, R., & Levin, L. (2015). Different types of out-of-home activities and well-being amongst urban residing old persons with mobility impediments. Journal of Transport & Health, 2: 14-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jth.2014.11.004
Siren, A. & Haustein, S. (2015) Driving licences and medical screening in old age. Review of literature and the European licensing policies. Journal of Transport & Health, 2: 68-78. doi:10.1016/j.jth.2014.09.003
Siren, A. & Haustein, S. (2015). What are the impacts of giving up the driver license? Ageing and Society, 35(9): 1821 – 1838. DOI: 10.1017/S0144686X14000610
Siren, A. & Sørensen, C. H. (2015). Immense changes in traffic—considerable stability in discourses. Road speed in Danish parliamentary documents 1900-2010. Transport Policy, 40: 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2015.02.005
Meng, A. & Siren, A. (2015). Older drivers’ reasons for reducing the overall amount of their driving and for avoiding selected driving situations. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 34(3): NP62–NP82. doi: 10.1177/0733464812463433
Haustein, S. & Siren, A. (2014). Seniors' unmet mobility needs - how important is a driving licence? Journal of Transport Geography, 41:45-51.
Figueroa, M., Nielsen T.S., & Siren, A. (2014). Comparing Urban Form Correlations of the Travel Patterns of Older and Younger Adults. Transport Policy, 35, 10-20.
Siren, A. & Haustein, S. (2013). Baby boomers' mobility patterns and preferences: What are the implications for future transport demand? Transport Policy, 29: 136-144.
Siren, A. & Meng, A. (2013). Older drivers' self-assessed driving skills, driving-related stress and self-regulation in traffic. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 17: 88-97.
Meng, A., Siren, A. & Teasdale, T. (2013). Older drivers with cognitive impairment: perceived changes in driving skills, driving-related discomfort and self-regulation of driving. European Geriatric Medicine, 3: 154-160.
Meng, A. & Siren, A. (2012). Cognitive problems, self-rated changes in driving skills, driving-related discomfort and self-regulation of driving in old drivers. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 49: 322-329.
Siren, A. & Meng, A. (2012). Cognitive screening of older drivers does not produce safety benefits. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 45: 634-638.
Siren, A. & Kjær, M. R. (2011). How is the older road users’ perception of risk constructed? Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 14(3): 222-228.
Hjorthol, R., Levin, L. & Siren, A. (2010). Mobility in different generations of older persons. The development of daily travel in different cohorts in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Journal of Transport Geography, 18: 624-633.
Siren, A. & Hakamies-Blomqvist, L. (2009). Mobility and well-being in old age. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 25(1): 3-11.
Siren, A. & Hakamies-Blomqvist, L. (2006). Does gendered driving create gendered mobility? Community-related mobility of Finnish women and men aged 65+. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 9(5): 374-382.
Siren, A. & Hakamies-Blomqvist, L. (2005). Sense and Sensibility. A Narrative Study of Older Women’s Car Driving. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 8(3): 213-228.
Siren, A., & Hakamies-Blomqvist, L. (2004). Car as the grand equaliser? Demographic factors and mobility in Finnish men and women aged 65+. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 7(2): 107-118.
Siren, A., Hakamies-Blomqvist, L., & Lindeman, M. (2004). Driving cessation and health in older women. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 23(1): 58-69.
Hakamies-Blomqvist, L. & Siren, A. (2003). Deconstructing a Gender Difference: Driving Cessation and Personal Driving History of Older Women. Journal of Safety Research, 34(4):383-388.
Contact person of health examination
Juulia Jylhävä
- Senior Research Fellow
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology
- Tampere University
- +358504784181
- juulia.jylhava@tuni.fi
About me
I am the group leader of the Systems Biology of Aging research group at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University. My research group studies biological aging — how to measure it, what drives it, and how it’s linked to adverse outcomes, such as age-related diseases and mortality. We use genetic, multiomics and AI approaches and causal inference methods to unravel why some people age in good health while others become frail and dependent on assistance earlier in life. Another aim and ongoing project in our group is to develop an electronic frailty index for healthcare – a tool to measure whole-organism aging and identify vulnerable individuals at early stages.
Project members
Terhi Lampio
- Doctoral Researcher
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Tampere University
- terhi.lampio@tuni.fi
About me
I am a doctoral researcher in Gerontology at Tampere University. In addition, I hold a Master's degree in Health Sciences (MHS) and a Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Nursing (Registered Nurse, RN).
In my doctoral study, I examine mental health and mental well-being among the oldest old. I investigate 1) prevalence of depression among people aged 90 and over and associated sociodemographic, functional ability, and housing-related factors, and (2) how people aged 90 and over describe the interplay between mental well-being and their housing environment.
My doctoral study includes quantitative and qualitative research methods.
Research networks:
Gerontology Research Center (GEREC)
Social Inequalities in Ageing (SIA) network
Research topics
Ageing, very old age, mental health among older people, mental well-being among older people, housing and living environments of older people, everyday well-being of older people
Research fields
Gerontology, Health Sciences
SENORA: Senioriasumisen yhteisöllinen tulevaisuus – tutkimushanke 5/2024-4/2025
Jolanki, O., Lampio, T., Rantala, A., Valkama, O., Lukka, J. & Maununaho, K., 2025, Tampereen yliopisto. 100 SivumääräTutkimustuotos: Tutkimusraportti
“Nature in the neighborhood”: the importance of greenspaces near older people's homes
Lampio, T., Maununaho, K., Lukka, J., Tiainen, K. & Jolanki, O., 2025, julkaisussa: Wellbeing, space and society. 9, 10 Sivumäärä, 100277.Tutkimustuotos: Artikkeli › Tieteellinen › vertaisarvioitu
Ikääntyvien hoivan tulevaisuus
Valkama, O., Lampio, T., Mykkänen, S. & Siren, A., 2024, Tampereen yliopisto. 35 SivumääräTutkimustuotos: Tutkimusraportti
Onko kotona yksinäistä? – kodin ominaisuudet ja koettu yksinäisyys
Maununaho, K., Lampio, T., Castano De la Rosa, R. & Pelsmakers, S., 30 lokak. 2024, Koti elämänkulussa. Maununaho, K., Kulmala, J. & Jolanki, O. (toim.). Jyväskylän yliopisto, s. 33-58 26 Sivumäärä (SoPhi; Vuosikerta 158).Tutkimustuotos: Luku › Tieteellinen › vertaisarvioitu
Suomalaisten kotityytyväisyys: läheisyys, järjestys ja tilantarpeet kotona
Lampio, T. & Kulmala, J., 30 lokak. 2024, Koti elämänkulussa. Maununaho, K., Kulmala, J. & Jolanki, O. (toim.). Jyväskylän yliopisto, s. 13-32 (SoPhi; Vuosikerta 158).Tutkimustuotos: Luku › Tieteellinen › vertaisarvioitu
Ikääntyneet digitalisoituvassa yhteiskunnassa: Kuulumisia Kasvun ja vanhenemisen tutkijoiden (KaVa ry) syysseminaarista
Lampio, T., Valkama, O., Lahti, L. & Enroth, L., 2023, julkaisussa: Gerontologia. 37, 4, s. 383–385 3 SivumääräTutkimustuotos: Artikkeli › Tieteellinen
Aivoterveyden edistäminen perusterveydenhuollossa vaatii vielä vahvistusta
Plaami, E., Lampio, T., Pulkkinen, P., Hammar, T., Ngandu, T., Roitto, H.-M., Kivipelto, M. & Kulmala, J., 2022, julkaisussa: Gerontologia. 36, 4, s. 420-425 6 SivumääräTutkimustuotos: Artikkeli › Tieteellinen
The connection between residents’ feeling of loneliness and their living environment
Pelsmakers, S., Castano De la Rosa, R., Maununaho, K. & Lampio, T., lokak. 2022.Tutkimustuotos: Muu konferenssimateriaali › Tieteellinen
Jani Raitanen
- Researcher
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Tampere University
- +358401901686
- jani.raitanen@tuni.fi
Kristina Tiainen
- Visiting Researcher
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Tampere University
- kristina.tiainen@tuni.fi
Laura Kananen
- Senior Research Fellow
- Docent of gerontology
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Tampere University
- +358503186296
- laura.kananen@tuni.fi
About me
I am PhD, Associate Professor (Docent of gerontology) performing research on aging at Tampere University, Finland and Karolinska institutet, Sweden. My research focuses on aging from various perspectives. Currently, my main research interests are population aging and longevity as well as self-rated health and frailty. The research is performed using various human populations in different countries and data types (survey, register, biological) as multiorganizational and multidisciplinary collaboration efforts.
As part of my research theme, Mechanisms and Applications of Comprehensive Health Indicators, COMP-HEALTH, I have studied and/or study, for example, comprehensive health indicators, including the frailty index, epigenetic age, telomeres, cell-free DNA level (a marker of cellular and tissue damage), and self-rated health, some of which also serve as indicators of the biological aging (BA) process. I am particularly interested in what each indicator represents—what they are truly reflecting, their theoretical background, and their utility in research and clinical practice. Read more about some studies in COMP-HEALTH: Biological age predicts cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality and Tutkimus selvitti epigeneettisen kellon toiminnan taustasyitä.
One of my current projects, funded by the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, Biological aging trends among Finns in the 21st century and the effects of health intervention (BioAgeFin) examines how populations age today: whether it is similar to ageing a few decades ago. The study investigates the causes and consequences of this phenomenon, as well as the ways in which ageing can be influenced. The work is performed in collaboration with Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, THL, Finland, and Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.
Beside research activities, I am an active member of the FIRI-FIRE infrastructure (https://fire-infra.com/en/), and participate in the development of register-based research education at the national level together with various organisations in Finland (universities, research institutes, data permit authorities[Findata, Statistics Finland]).
Funding since 2024
KAKS, The Finnish Foundation for Municipal Development, Finland, PI of the work package: Inequalities in Population Health in Finland, a full population register study
Sigrid Juselius Foundation, Finland, Project PI, 'Biological aging trends among Finns in the 21st century and the effects of health intervention (BioAgeFin)', nationwide study including register and survey data
Karolinska Institutet’s Research Foundation, Sweden, Special grant for younger scientists, PI, Research theme: Comprehensive Assessment of Internal and External Factors in Patient Recovery (IE-FACT), a region-wide register study of geriatric patients
Åke & Annie Marie Lundbergs Foundation, Sweden, IE-FACT
Funding 2018-2023
In Finland: Tampere Tuberculosis Foundation, Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation, Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation, Juho Vainio Foundation, Emil Aaltonen Foundation
Responsibilities
- leading, planning and implementing scientific research
- supervising the projects, conceptualizing research ideas, formulating research questions, establishing collaborations at both national and international levels, writing research plans, managing permits for research [e.g., ethical permits and legal access rights for sensitive data]; supervising data management, statistical analyses, results interpretation, and dissemination of the findings in both national and international academic forums and to general public
- applying funding for the research
- academic teaching and supervision of undergraduate and post graduate students in Finland and Sweden
- relevant activities in the FIRI-FIRE infrastructure
Field of expertise
- 9/2025, Completed pedagogy course, Collaborative Development Project (5 ECTS), TAU, Finland
- 5/2023, Completed pedagogy course, Academic Supervision and Guidance (5 ECTS), TAU, Finland
- 2/2016, Completed pedagogy course, Teaching and learning in higher education (10 ECTS), TAU, Finland
Total number of peer-reviewed scientific publications: 48
- Incl. studies on aging and longevity using various register, survey and biological data from different countries in multidisciplinary collaborations
- Incl. phenomewide and genomewide studies
Preprints
Pauliina Halonen, Markus J Haapanen, Seppo Koskinen, Tuija Jääskeläinen, Mikaela von Bonsdorff, Johan G Eriksson, Rikke Lund, Sara Hägg, Juulia Jylhävä, Dorota Religa, Christian Molnár, Linda Enroth, Jenni Kulmala, Marja Jylhä, Laura Kananen. A comparison of self-rated health, frailty-index, and multimorbidity as mortality predictors: a multi-cohort study in Nordic 30+ populations. Under review in BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making. Preprint available: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8099259/v1
Christian Molnár, Maria Eriksdotter, Jonathan KL Mak, Oliver Pihl, Steven Nehme, Martin Annetorp, Sara Hägg, Dorota Religa, Laura Kananen. Clinical study on common infections and mortality among 40 000 geriatric patients hospitalized in Stockholm, Sweden. Under review in Scientific Reports. Preprint available https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7907149/v1
Peer-reviewed scientific articles
1. Linda Enroth, Laura Kananen, Ella Tapola, Jutta Pulkki. How are non-optimal air temperatures related to health care use among older populations in Europe? A systematic scoping review 2000-2025. Accepted in Scandinavian Journal of Public Health - Decision on Manuscript ID SPUB-LR-2025-0432.R1, May 2026.
2. Linda Enroth, Katariina Tuominen, Pauliina Halonen, Terhi Lampio, Laura Kananen, Saara Marttila, Maija Satamo, Juulia Jylhävä, Anu Siren. Tervaskannot 90+: Monitieteinen pitkittäistutkimus pitkäikäisyydestä. Accepted in scientific journal, Sosiaalilääketieteellinen Aikakauslehti (Finnish language), April 2026.
3. Bednorz A, Trybek P, Lundberg C, Richter-Laskowska M, Kananen L, Religa D. The utility of handwriting analysis and selected neuropsychological tests in the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment in older patients. J Neuropsychol. 2026 Mar;20(1):196-219. doi: 10.1111/jnp.70022. https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jnp.70022
4. Abzhandadze T, Hoang MT, Raaschou P, Norgren J, Mo M, Molnar C, Xu H, Kananen L, Åkerman M, Religa D, Eriksdotter M, Garcia-Ptacek S. Temporal trends in sex differences in dementia care-results from the Swedish registry for cognitive/dementia disorders, SveDem. Sci Rep. 2025 May 29;15(1):18890. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-03055-y. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-03055-y
5. Rajić S, Delerue T, Ronkainen J, Zhang R, Ciantar J, Kostiniuk D, Mishra PP, Lyytikäinen LP, Mononen N, Kananen L, Peters A, Winkelmann J, Kleber ME, Lorkowski S, Kähönen M, Lehtimäki T, Raitakari O, Waldenberger M, Gieger C, März W, Harville EW, Sebert S, Marttila S, Raitoharju E. Regulation of nc886 (vtRNA2-1) RNAs is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors and diseases. Clin Epigenetics. 2025 Apr 29;17(1):68. doi: 10.1186/s13148-025-01871-7. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13148-025-01871-7
6. Tirkkonen A, Mak JKL, Eriksson JG, Halonen P, Jylhävä J, Hägg S, Enroth L, Raitanen J, Hovatta I, Jääskeläinen T, Koskinen S, Haapanen MJ, von Bonsdorff MB, Kananen L. Predicting cardiovascular morbidity and mortality with SCORE2 (OP) and Framingham risk estimates in combination with indicators of biological ageing. Age Ageing. 2025 Mar 28;54(4):afaf075. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afaf075
7. Marttila S, Rajić S, Ciantar J, Mak JKL, Junttila IS, Kummola L, Hägg S, Raitoharju E, Kananen L. Biological aging of different blood cell types. Geroscience. 2024 Jul 26. doi: 10.1007/s11357-024-01287-w. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11357-024-01287-w
https://www.tuni.fi/fi/ajankohtaista/tutkimus-selvitti-epigeneettisen-kellon-toiminnan-taustasyita
8. Haapanen MJ*, Kananen L*, Mikkola TM, Jylhävä J, Wasenius NS, Eriksson JG, von Bonsdorff MB. Frailty in Midlife as a Predictor of Changes in Body Composition from Midlife into Old Age: A Longitudinal Birth Cohort Study. Gerontology. 2024;70(8):831-841. doi: 10.1159/000539204. (*equal contribution)
9. Mak JKL, Skovgaard AC, Nygaard M, Kananen L, Reynolds CA, Wang Y, Kuja-Halkola R, Karlsson IK, Pedersen NL, Hägg S, Soerensen M, Jylhävä J. Epigenome-wide analysis of frailty: Results from two European twin cohorts. Aging Cell. 2024 Feb 27:e14135. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acel.14135
10. Kananen L, Molnár C, Ansker F, Kozlowska DJ, Hägg S, Jylhävä J, Religa D, Raaschou P. Anticoagulant treatment and COVID-19 mortality among older adults living in nursing homes in Sweden. Health Sci Rep. 2023 Nov 14;6(11):e1692. https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.1692
11. Mak JKL, Kananen L, Qin C, Kuja-Halkola R, Tang B, Lin J, Wang Y, Jääskeläinen T, Koskinen S, Lu Y, Magnusson PKE, Hägg S, Jylhävä J. Unraveling the metabolic underpinnings of frailty using multicohort observational and Mendelian randomization analyses. Aging Cell. 2023 May 15:e13868. doi: 10.1111/acel.13868. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37184129/
12. Kananen L, Hong X, Annetorp M, Mak JKL, Jylhävä J, Eriksdotter M, Hägg S, Religa D. Health progression for Covid-19 survivors hospitalized in geriatric clinics in Sweden. PLoS One. 2023 Mar 22;18(3):e0283344. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283344. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36947542/
13. Marttila S, Tamminen H, Rajić S, Mishra PP, Lehtimäki T, Raitakari O, Kähönen M, Kananen L, Jylhävä J, Hägg S, Delerue T, Peters A, Waldenberger M, Kleber ME, März W, Luoto R, Raitanen J, Sillanpää E, Laakkonen EK, Heikkinen A, Ollikainen M, Raitoharju E. Methylation status of VTRNA2-1/nc886 is stable across populations, monozygotic twin pairs and in majority of tissues. Epigenomics. 2022 Sep;14(18):1105-1124. doi: 10.2217/epi-2022-0228. Epub 2022 Oct 5. https://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/10.2217/epi-2022-0228
14. Kananen L, Hurme M, Bürkle A, Moreno-Villanueva M, Bernhardt J, Debacq-Chainiaux F, Grubeck-Loebenstein B, Malavolta M, Basso A, Piacenza F, Collino S, Gonos ES, Sikora E, Gradinaru D, Jansen EHJM, Dollé MET, Salmon M, Stuetz W, Weber D, Grune T, Breusing N, Simm A, Capri M, Franceschi C, Slagboom E, Talbot D, Libert C, Raitanen J, Koskinen S, Härkänen T, Stenholm S, Ala-Korpela M, Lehtimäki T, Raitakari OT, Ukkola O, Kähönen M, Jylhä M, Jylhävä J. Circulating cell-free DNA in health and disease - the relationship to health behaviours, ageing phenotypes and metabolomics. Geroscience. 2022 Jul 21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-022-00590-8
15. Mak JKL, Hägg S, Eriksdotter M, Annetorp M, Kuja-Halkola R, Kananen L, Boström AM, Kivipelto M, Metzner C, Bäck Jerlardtz V, Engström M, Johnson P, Lundberg LG, Åkesson E, Öberg CS, Olsson M, Cederholm T, Jylhävä J, Religa D. Development of an electronic frailty index for hospitalized older adults in Sweden. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2022 Mar 18:glac069. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9678204/
16. Mak JKL, Eriksdotter M, Annetorp M, Kuja-Halkola R, Kananen L, Boström AM, Kivipelto M, Metzner C, Bäck Jerlardtz V, Engström M, Johnson P, Lundberg LG, Åkesson E, Sühl Öberg C, Olsson M, Cederholm T, Hägg S, Religa D, Jylhävä J. Two Years with COVID-19: The Electronic Frailty Index Identifies High-Risk Patients in the Stockholm GeroCovid Study. Gerontology. 2022 Nov 30:1-10. doi: 10.1159/000527206. https://doi.org/10.1159/000527206
17. Ämmälä AJ, Suvisaari J, Kananen L, Lönnqvist J, Ripatti S, Pirkola S, Paunio T, Hovatta I. Childhood adversities are associated with shorter leukocyte telomere length at adult age in a population-based study. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2021 Aug;130:105276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105276
18. Kananen L, Eriksdotter M, Boström AM, Kivipelto M, Annetorp M, Metzner C, Bäck Jerlardtz V, Engström M, Johnson P, Lundberg LG, Åkesson E, Sühl Öberg C, Hägg S, Religa D, Jylhävä J, Cederholm T. Body mass index and Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form as predictors of in-geriatric hospital mortality in older adults with COVID-19. Clin Nutr. 2021 Jul 29:S0261-5614(21)00360-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2021.07.025
19. Kananen, L, Marttila, S. Ageing-associated changes in DNA methylation in X and Y chromosomes. Epigenetics & Chromatin 14, 33 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13072-021-00407-6
20. Kananen L, Enroth L, Raitanen J, Jylhävä J, Bürkle A, Moreno-Villanueva M, Bernhardt J, Toussaint O, Grubeck-Loebenstein B, Malavolta M, Basso A, Piacenza F, Collino S, Gonos ES, Sikora E, Gradinaru D, Jansen EHJM, Dollé MET, Salmon M, Stuetz W, Weber D, Grune T, Breusing N, Simm A, Capri M, Franceschi C, Slagboom PE, Talbot DCS, Libert C, Koskinen S, Bruunsgaard H, Hansen ÅM, Lund R, Hurme M, Jylhä M. Self-rated health in individuals with and without disease is associated with multiple biomarkers representing multiple biological domains. Nature Scientific Reports. 2021 Mar 17;11(1):6139. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85668-7
21. Kananen L, Hurme M, Jylhä M, Härkänen T, Koskinen S, Stenholm S, Kähönen M, Lehtimäki T, Ukkola O& Jylhävä J. Circulating cell-free DNA level predicts all-cause mortality independent of other predictors in the Health 2000 survey. Nature Scientific Reports 10, 13809 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-70526-9
22. Kananen L, Marttila S. What makes us old? Biology of ageing and how it can be manipulated. Review. Duodecim 2019;135(11):1098-106. Language: Finnish. https://www.duodecimlehti.fi/duo14951
23. Marttila S, Nevalainen T, Jylhävä J, Kananen L, Jylhä M, Hervonen A, Hurme M. Human endogenous retrovirus HERV-K(HML-2) env expression is not associated with markers of immunosenescence. Exp Gerontol. 2017 Oct 15;97:60-63.
24. Nevalainen T, Kananen L, Marttila S, Jylhävä J, Mononen N, Kähönen M, Raitakari OT, Hervonen A, Jylhä M, Lehtimäki T, Hurme M. Obesity accelerates epigenetic aging in middle-aged but not in elderly individuals. Clin Epigenetics. 2017 Feb 14;9:20.
25. Nevalainen T, Kananen L, Marttila S, Jylhävä J, Jylhä M, Hervonen A, Hurme M. Increased Paternal Age at Conception Is Associated with Transcriptomic Changes Involved in Mitochondrial Function in Elderly Individuals. PLoS One. 2016 Nov 23;11(11):e0167028.
26. Kananen L, Marttila S, Nevalainen T, Kummola L, Junttila I, Mononen N, Kähönen M, Raitakari OT, Hervonen A, Jylhä M, Lehtimäki T, Hurme M, Jylhävä J. The trajectory of the blood DNA methylome ageing rate is largely set before adulthood: evidence from two longitudinal studies. Age (Dordr). 2016 Jun;38(3):65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-016-9927-9
27. Jylhävä J, Kananen L, Raitanen J, Marttila S, Nevalainen T, Hervonen A, Jylhä M, Hurme M. Methylomic predictors demonstrate the role of NF-κB in old-age mortality and are unrelated to the aging-associated epigenetic drift. Oncotarget. 2016 Apr 12;7(15):19228-41.
28. Kananen L, Marttila S, Nevalainen T, Jylhävä J, Mononen N, Kähönen M, Raitakari OT, Lehtimäki T, Hurme M. Aging-associated DNA methylation changes in middle-aged individuals: the Young Finns study. BMC Genomics. 2016 Feb 9;17:103. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-016-2421-z
29. Kananen L, Nevalainen T, Jylhävä J, Marttila S, Hervonen A, Jylhä M, Hurme M. Cytomegalovirus infection accelerates epigenetic aging. Exp Gerontol. 2015 Dec;72:227-9.
30. Walsh KM, Codd V, Rice T, Nelson CP, Smirnov IV, McCoy LS, Hansen HM, Elhauge E, Ojha J, Francis SS, Madsen NR, Bracci PM, Pico AR, Molinaro AM, Tihan T, Berger MS, Chang SM, Prados MD, Jenkins RB, Wiemels JL; ENGAGE Consortium Telomere Group, Samani NJ, Wiencke JK, Wrensch MR. Longer genotypically-estimated leukocyte telomere length is associated with increased adult glioma risk. Oncotarget. 2015 Dec 15;6(40):42468-77.
31. Marttila S, Kananen L, Jylhävä J, Nevalainen T, Hervonen A, Jylhä M, Hurme M. Length of paternal lifespan is manifested in the DNA methylome of their nonagenarian progeny. Oncotarget. 2015 Oct 13;6(31):30557-67.
32. Nevalainen T, Kananen L, Marttila S, Jylhä M, Hervonen A, Hurme M, Jylhävä J. Transcriptomic and epigenetic analyses reveal a gender difference in aging-associated inflammation: the Vitality 90+ study. Age (Dordr). 2015 Aug;37(4):9814.
33. Marttila S, Kananen L, Häyrynen S, Jylhävä J, Nevalainen T, Hervonen A, Jylhä M, Nykter M, Hurme M. Ageing-associated changes in the human DNA methylome: genomic locations and effects on gene expression. BMC Genomics. 2015 Mar 14;16:179.
34. Marttila S, Nevalainen T, Kananen L, Jylhävä J, Jylhä M, Hervonen A, Ilonen J, Hurme M. Number of sons contributes to ageing-associated inflammation. Sci Rep. 2015 Feb 27;5:8631.
35. Marttila S, Jylhävä J, Kananen L, Hervonen A, Jylhä M, Hurme M. Molecular mechanisms associated with the strength of the anti-CMV response in nonagenarians. Immun Ageing. 2014 Jan 31;11(1):2.
36. Walsh KM, Codd V, Smirnov IV, Rice T, Decker PA, Hansen HM, Kollmeyer T, Kosel ML, Molinaro AM, McCoy LS, Bracci PM, Cabriga BS, Pekmezci M, Zheng S, Wiemels JL, Pico AR, Tihan T, Berger MS, Chang SM, Prados MD, Lachance DH, O'Neill BP, Sicotte H, Eckel-Passow JE; ENGAGE Consortium Telomere Group, van der Harst P, Wiencke JK, Samani NJ, Jenkins RB, Wrensch MR. Variants near TERT and TERC influencing telomere length are associated with high-grade glioma risk. Nat Genet. 2014 Jul;46(7):731-5.
37. Savolainen K, Eriksson JG, Kananen L, Kajantie E, Pesonen AK, Heinonen K, Räikkönen K. Associations between early life stress, self-reported traumatic experiences across the lifespan and leukocyte telomere length in elderly adults. Biol Psychol. 2014 Mar;97:35-42.
38. Codd V, Nelson CP, Albrecht E, Mangino M, Deelen J, Buxton JL, Hottenga JJ, Fischer K, Esko T, Surakka I, Broer L, Nyholt DR, Mateo Leach I, Salo P, Hägg S, Matthews MK, Palmen J, Norata GD, O'Reilly PF, Saleheen D, Amin N, Balmforth AJ, Beekman M, de Boer RA, Böhringer S, Braund PS, Burton PR, de Craen AJ, Denniff M, Dong Y, Douroudis K, Dubinina E, Eriksson JG, Garlaschelli K, Guo D, Hartikainen AL, Henders AK, Houwing-Duistermaat JJ, Kananen L, Karssen LC, Kettunen J, Klopp N, Lagou V, van Leeuwen EM, Madden PA, Mägi R, Magnusson PK, Männistö S, McCarthy MI, Medland SE, Mihailov E, Montgomery GW, Oostra BA, Palotie A, Peters A, Pollard H, Pouta A, Prokopenko I, Ripatti S, Salomaa V, Suchiman HE, Valdes AM, Verweij N, Viñuela A, Wang X, Wichmann HE, Widen E, Willemsen G, Wright MJ, Xia K, Xiao X, van Veldhuisen DJ, Catapano AL, Tobin MD, Hall AS, Blakemore AI, van Gilst WH, Zhu H; CARDIoGRAM consortium, Erdmann J, Reilly MP, Kathiresan S, Schunkert H, Talmud PJ, Pedersen NL, Perola M, Ouwehand W, Kaprio J, Martin NG, van Duijn CM, Hovatta I, Gieger C, Metspalu A, Boomsma DI, Jarvelin MR, Slagboom PE, Thompson JR, Spector TD, van der Harst P, Samani NJ. Identification of seven loci affecting mean telomere length and their association with disease. Nat Genet. 2013 Apr;45(4):422-7, 427e1-2.
39. Donner J, Sipilä T, Ripatti S, Kananen L, Chen X, Kendler KS, Lönnqvist J, Pirkola S, Hettema JM, Hovatta I. Support for involvement of glutamate decarboxylase 1 and neuropeptide Y in anxiety susceptibility. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet. 2012 Apr;159B(3):316-27.
40. Tiainen AM, Männistö S, Blomstedt PA, Moltchanova E, Perälä MM, Kaartinen NE, Kajantie E, Kananen L, Hovatta I, Eriksson JG. Leukocyte telomere length and its relation to food and nutrient intake in an elderly population. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2012 Dec;66(12):1290-4.
41. Hovatta I, de Mello VD, Kananen L, Lindström J, Eriksson JG, Ilanne-Parikka P, Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi S, Peltonen M, Tuomilehto J, Uusitupa M. Leukocyte telomere length in the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study. PLoS One. 2012;7(4):e34948.
42. Savolainen K, Räikkönen K, Kananen L, Kajantie E, Hovatta I, Lahti M, Lahti J, Pesonen AK, Heinonen K, Eriksson JG. History of mental disorders and leukocyte telomere length in late adulthood: the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study (HBCS). J Psychiatr Res. 2012 Oct;46(10):1346-53.
43. Kajantie E, Pietiläinen KH, Wehkalampi K, Kananen L, Räikkönen K, Rissanen A, Hovi P, Kaprio J, Andersson S, Eriksson JG, Hovatta I. No association between body size at birth and leucocyte telomere length in adult life--evidence from three cohort studies. Int J Epidemiol. 2012 Oct;41(5):1400-8.
44. Muiños-Gimeno M, Espinosa-Parrilla Y, Guidi M, Kagerbauer B, Sipilä T, Maron E, Pettai K, Kananen L, Navinés R, Martín-Santos R, Gratacòs M, Metspalu A, Hovatta I, Estivill X. Human microRNAs miR-22, miR-138-2, miR-148a, and miR-488 are associated with panic disorder and regulate several anxiety candidate genes and related pathways. Biol Psychiatry. 2011 Mar 15;69(6):526-33.
45. Eerola J, Kananen L, Manninen K, Hellström O, Tienari PJ, Hovatta I. No evidence for shorter leukocyte telomere length in Parkinson's disease patients. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2010 Nov;65(11):1181-4.
46. Kananen L, Surakka I, Pirkola S, Suvisaari J, Lönnqvist J, Peltonen L, Ripatti S, Hovatta I. Childhood adversities are associated with shorter telomere length at adult age both in individuals with an anxiety disorder and controls. PLoS One. 2010 May 25;5(5):e10826.
47. Sipilä T, Kananen L, Greco D, Donner J, Silander K, Terwilliger JD, Auvinen P, Peltonen L, Lönnqvist J, Pirkola S, Partonen T, Hovatta I. An association analysis of circadian genes in anxiety disorders. Biol Psychiatry. 2010 Jun 15;67(12):1163-70.
48. Donner J, Pirkola S, Silander K, Kananen L, Terwilliger JD, Lönnqvist J, Peltonen L, Hovatta I. An association analysis of murine anxiety genes in humans implicates novel candidate genes for anxiety disorders. Biol Psychiatry. 2008 Oct 15;64(8):672-80.
Non-refereed scientific publications
Kananen Laura. DNA methylation states in supercentenarians. The Lancet Healthy Longevity. 2023. Volume 4, Issue 2, e57. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhl/article/PIIS2666-7568(23)00006-5/fulltext
Kananen Laura & Marttila Saara. 2023. Chapter 15: Theories of biological aging. In textbook, Gerontologia. Duodecim. Editors: Taina Rantanen, Katja Kokko, Sarianna Sipilä, Anne Viljanen. Language: Finnish. ISBN 9789523602465.
Thesis
Kananen L. PhD thesis. 2018. Tampere University. Aging-associated changes in the DNA methylome and characteristics of the epigenetic clock. http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-03-0669-4
Marja Jylhä
- Professor Emerita/Emeritus
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Tampere University
- +358405889100
- marja.jylha@tuni.fi
About me
I am a Professor of Gerontology at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Health Sciences at Tampere Unversity anda team leader in the Centre of Excellence in Research on Ageing and Care, funded by the Academy of Finland. My group is part of Gerontology Research Center (GEREC)
https://www.jyu.fi/hytk/fi/laitokset/yfi/en/research/pro
Field of expertise
longevity, health, functioning and quality of life of older populations, self-rated health, old age services, the ageing sociey
Research unit
Gerontology Research Center (GEREC) and the Centre of Excellence in Research of Ageing and Care
AXA Research Fund´Scientific Board, member 2021-
Human Rights Delegation, member 2020-
21 (perhaps) most important publications
1. Kananen, L, Enroth, L, Raitanen, J, Jylhava, J, Buerkle, A, Moreno-Villanueva, M, Bernhardt, J, Toussaint, O, Grubeck-Loebenstein, B, Malavolta, M, Basso, A, Piacenza, F, Collino, S, Gonos, E, S, Sikora, E, Gradinaru, D, Jansen, E. H. J. M, Dolle, M. E. T, Salmon, M, Stuetz, W, Weber, D, Grune, T, Breusing, N, Simm, A, Capri, M, Franceschi, C, Slagboom, P. E, Talbot, D. C. S, Libert, C, Koskinen, S, Bruunsgaard, H, Hansen, AM, Lund, R, Hurme, M, Jylhä, M. Self-rated health in individuals with and without disease is associated with multiple biomarkers representing multiple biological domains. Scientific Reports 11, 6139, 2021. DOI: /10.1038/s41598-021-85668-7.
2. Enroth L, Raitanen J, Halonen P, Tiainen K, Jylhä M. Trends of Physical Functioning, Morbidity and Disability-free Life Expectancy among the Oldest Old: Six Repeated Cross-sectional Surveys between 2001 and 2018 in the Vitality 90+ Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci: 76(7): 1227-33, 2021 glaa144, 2020. DOI:10.1093/gerona/glaa144.
3. Lisko, I, Törmäkangas, T, Jylhä, M. Structure of self-rated health among the oldest old: Analyses in the total population and those living with dementia. SSM Popul Health. 2020 Mar 18; 11:100567. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2020.100567. PMID: 32258355; PMCID: PMC7110410.
4. Raitanen J, Stenholm S, Tiainen K, Jylhä M, Nevalainen J. Longitudinal change in physical functioning and dropout due to death among the oldest old: a comparison of three methods of analysis. European Journal of Ageing 17 (2): 207-216, 2020. DOI: 10.1007/s10433-019-00533-x.
5. Jylhä M. New ages of life – emergence of the oldest-old. Encyclopedia of Biomedical Gerontology: 479- 488, 2020. Ed. S. Rattan. Elsevier 2020. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.11395-9.
6. Halonen P, Raitanen J, Jämsen E, Enroth L, Jylhä M: Chronic conditions and multimorbidity in population aged 90 years and over: associations with mortality and long-term care. Age & Ageing 48 (4): 564-570, 2019. DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afz019.
7. Aaltonen M, Forma L, Pulkki J, Raitanen J, Rissanen P, Jylhä M. The joint impact of age at death and dementia on long-term care use in the last years of life - changes from 1996 to 2013 in Finland. Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine 5, 2019. DOI: 10.1177/2333721419870629.
8. Hoogendijk, EO, van der Noordt M, Onwuteaka-Philipsen BD, Deeg DJ.H, Huisman M, Enroth L, Jylhä M. Sex differences in healthy life expectancy among nonagenarians: A multistate survival model using data from Vitality 90+ study. Experimental Gerontology 116: 80-85, 2019. DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2018.12.015. Epub 2018 Dec 24. PMID: 30590122.
9. Joshi PK, Pirastu N, Kentistou KA, Fischer K, Hofer E; Jylhä M; Wilson J.F. Genome-wide meta-analysis associates HLA-DQA1/DRB1 and LPA and lifestyle factors with human longevity. Nat Commun. 8(1):910, 2017 Oct. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00934-5. PMID: 29030599 Free PMC Article.
10. Nosraty L, Jylhä M, Raittila T, Lumme-Sandt K. Perceptions by the oldest old of successful aging, Vitality 90+ Study. J Aging Stud. 32:50-8, 2015 Jan. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaging.2015.01.002. (Epub 2015 Jan 23). PubMed PMID: 25661856.
11. Enroth L, Raitanen J, Hervonen A, Nostraty L, Jylha M. Is socioeconomic status a predictor of mortality in nonagenarians? The Vitality 90+ study. Age and Ageing 44(1):123-9, 2014. DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afu092.
12. Galenkamp H, Deeg DJH, Huisman M, Hervonen A, Braam AW, Jylhä M. Is self-rated health still sensitive for changes in disease and functioning among nonagenarians? J Gerontol Psych Sci Soc Sci 68(5):848-858. 2013. DOI: 10.1093/geronh/gbt067.
13. Tiainen K, Luukkaala T, Hervonen A, Jylhä M. Predictors of mortality in men and women aged 90 years and older: nine-year follow-up. Age & Ageing 42:468-475, 2013. DOI: 10.1093/ageing/aft030t.
14. Jylhä M. What is self-rated health and why does it predict mortality? Towards a unified conceptual model. Soc Sci Med 69(3):307-316, 2009 (Epub 10 June 2009).
15. Jylhä M, Volpato S, Guralnik JM: Self-rated health showed a graded association with frequently used biomarkers in a large population sample. J Clin Epidemiol 59 (5): 465-471, 2006.
16. Jylha M. Old age and loneliness: cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses in the Tampere Longitudinal Study on Aging. Can J Aging. 23(2):157-68, 2004.
17. Jylhä M, Guralnik JM, Balfour J, Fried LF: Walking difficulty, walking speed, and age as determinants of self-rated health, the Women´s Health and Aging Study. J Gerontol A_Biol 56A (10):M609-M617, 2001.
18. Jylhä M, Guralnik JM, Ferrucci L; Jokela J, Heikkinen E.: Is self-rated health comparable across genders and cultures? J Gerontol: Soc Sci 53B (3): S144 - S152, 1998.
19. Jylhä M: Self rated health revisited: exploring survey interview episodes with elderly respondents. Soc Sci Med 39(7):983-990, 1994.
20. Jylhä M. Vanheneminen, toiminta ja vuorovaikutus. Kirjassa: Vanheneminen ja elämänkulku, s. 106-134. Toim. P Pohjolainen, M Jylhä. Weilin & Göös, Mänttä, 1990. (Ageing, activity and interaction)
21. Jylhä M, Jokela J: Individual experiences as cultural - a cross cultural study on loneliness among the elderly. Ageing and Society 10:295-315, 1990.
Katariina Tuominen
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Tampere University
- +358504377524
- katariina.tuominen@tuni.fi
About me
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, PhD, Gerontology
I work as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Tampere Institute for Advanced Study (Tampere IAS) and the Gerontology Research Center (GEREC) at the Faculty of Social Sciences.
My research explores ageing as a social and cultural phenomenon. Currently, my work focuses on the lived experience and social construction of longevity. Drawing on life-story interviews with individuals aged 90 and above from the Vitality 90+ Study, I investigate how experiences and constructions of old age and longevity have evolved over time across three different decades.
In my dissertation, completed in 2023, I examined the meaning of various everyday spaces and places for social relationships and interactions in old age. This research was based on qualitative interviews from the Ageing and Social Well-being (SoWell) and Vitality 90+ Study projects at Tampere University
Field of expertise
Qualitative research, interviews, focus group discussions, participant observation
Research topics
Ikääntyminen, pitkäikäisyys, vanhoista vanhimmat, sosiaaliset suhteet, sosiaalinen vuorovaikutus, koti, palvelutalo, tilat ja paikat
Research fields
Social gerontology
Tuominen, K., Lumme-Sandt, K., & Siren, A. (2025). Tervaskannot 90+ -tutkimuksen uudet elämäntarinahaastattelut valottavat hyvin iäkkäiden ihmisten tavallista elämää. Gerontologia, 39(1), 69–74. https://doi.org/10.23989/gerontologia.154888
Tuominen, Katariina (2023). Making Space for Social Relationships: Understanding ageing in social spaces. [Väitöskirja, Tampereen yliopisto]. Trepo Tampereen yliopiston julkaisuarkisto. https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-03-3193-1
Tuominen, K., Pirhonen, J., Lumme-Sandt, K., Ahosola, P. & Pietilä, I. (2023). No place to go? Older people reconsidering the meaning of social spaces in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Aging Studies, 67, Article 101167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2023.101167
Tuominen, K., Pietilä, I., Jylhä, M. & Pirhonen, J. (2022). A home, an institution and a community? – Frames of social relationships and interaction in assisted living. International Journal of Ageing and Later Life, 16(1), 49–73. https://doi.org/10.3384/ijal.1652-8670.3540
Tuominen, K. & Pirhonen J. (2019). “Who would take a 90-year-old?” Community-dwelling nonagenarians’ perceptions of social relationships. International Journal of Ageing and Later Life, 2019 13(1): 111-137.https://doi.org/10.3384/ijal.1652-8670.18387
Ahosola, P., Tuominen, K., Tiainen, K., Jylhä, M., & Jolanki, O. (2021). Mikä muuttui vai muuttuiko mikään? Yli 65-vuotiaiden arki korona-aikana. Gerontologia, 35(4), 342–355. https://doi.org/10.23989/gerontologia.103376
Pirhonen, J., Seppänen, M., Pietilä, I., Tuominen, K., & Jylhä, M. (2021). Vanhuus ja sosiaalinen kuolema : Sosiaalisen kuoleman käsite vanhojen ihmisten haastattelupuheessa. Yhteiskuntapolitiikka, 86(1), 5-15. Retrieved from http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe202102164942
Pirhonen, J., Lolich, L., Tuominen, K., Jolanki, O., & Timonen, V. (2020). “These devices have not been made for older people's needs” – older adults' perceptions of digital technologies in Finland and Ireland. Technology in Society, 62, 101287. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2020.101287
Pirhonen, J., Jolanki, O., Tuominen, K. & Jylhä, M. (2019). Hyvinvointi vanhuudessa – valmistautumista, sopeutumista, luopumista ja hyväksymistä. Gerontologia, 33(3), 105-120. https://doi.org/10.23989/gerontologia.79424
Maija Satamo
- Researcher
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Tampere University
- maija.satamo@tuni.fi