Abhishek Kumar

As a Senior Research Specialist at the Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, and Head of Research at the Academic Center for Geriatric Dentistry (ACT) in Stockholm, Sweden, I lead initiatives to advance research in orofacial neuroscience and geriatric dental health. Alongside my research roles, I am the course manager for scientific methods in Karolinska Institutet’s supplementary dental program (KUT) and teach undergraduates in areas such as biostatistics, implant failures, and the physiology of chewing. My academic background includes a degree in dentistry from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India, and a doctoral degree (PhD) from Aarhus University, Denmark. Previously, I served as a postdoctoral researcher at Karolinska Institutet, where I focused on groundbreaking research in dental medicine.

My research in orofacial neuroscience focuses on developing strategies to improve oral functions, promote healthy aging, and enhance the overall quality of life for older adults. I combine clinical and behavioral studies with an emphasis on behavior learning, skill acquisition, and the effects of training on oral motor skills. I am particularly interested in how behavior and neuroplasticity contribute to improving oral functions through targeted interventions.

In my clinical investigations, I explore how the loss of teeth and impaired chewing function contribute to malnutrition, cognitive decline, and reduced quality of life, particularly in older populations. My current research involves identifying the phenotype profile of older individuals with chewing and swallowing difficulties and developing training paradigms aimed at enhancing oral motor functions in these individuals.

During my Ph.D., I studied the effects of craniofacial pain and altered orofacial somatosensory inputs on oral fine motor control, which sparked my interest in sensory-motor integration within the trigeminal system. My work utilizes advanced techniques, including quantitative electromyography, jaw kinematics, force control, and transcranial magnetic stimulation. Additionally, I explore the mechanisms of cortical plasticity in corticomotor pathways related to orofacial muscles to inform more effective rehabilitation strategies.