Aging and health – Anna-Karin Welmer's research group

This research group is a collaboration between the Division of Physiotherapy and the Aging Research Center (ARC) at Karolinska Institutet.

Research focus

We study health in older adults, with special focus on physical function, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and injurious falls. Our research combines clinical studies (interventions and implementation research) with large population-based studies.

Our goals are to increase knowledge regarding:

  • Determinants and consequences of disability, physical inactivity, and injurious falls in older adults  
  • The effect of physical exercise interventions on functioning and health in old age
  • Implementation of evidence-based methods in clinical practice

Research projects

  • Early identification of older adults at risk for injurious falls—from observational studies to implementation
  • Social Health And Reserve in the Dementia patient journey (SHARED)
  • Preventing functional decline in acutely hospitalized older patients – effect of a simple exercise program versus individualized multicomponent training (PREV FUNC study)
  • Preventing functional decline in acutely hospitalized older adults – effect and process evaluation of a transitional care intervention

Collaborations

We have ongoing collaboration with researchers at the following universities:

  • University of Padova, Italy
  • Radboudumc, the Netherlands
  • Erasmus MC Rotterdam, the Netherlands
  • University College London, UK
  • Lund University, Sweden
  • Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden

Financial support

Doctoral School in Health Care Sciences (FiV)

FORTE

Konung Gustaf V:s och Drottning Victorias Frimurarestiftelse

Region Stockholm (ALF) Region Stockholm | Region Stockholm (researchweb.org)

Region Stockholm (CIMED) Start - Centrum för innovativ medicin (ki.se)

Strategic Research Area Health Care Science (SFO-V)

The Swedish Research Council

Österman Foundation

Publications

Selected publications

Members and contact

Group leader

All members of the group