Ingrid Ekström

I am assistant professor in developmental psychology at the Aging Research Center (ARC), Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet. My research focuses on the decline of cognitive and olfactory function in older age, with particular emphasis on (1) understanding the determinants and consequences of olfactory loss in aging and (2) mapping trajectories of olfactory and cognitive decline in normative aging and dementia, along with their biological underpinnings.

Since January 2023, I have served as the Principal Investigator of the project "Harmful Consequences of Smell Loss in Old Age: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study, " funded by Riksbankens Jubileumsfond (SEK 2, 850, 000

Before joining ARC in 2018 as a postdoctoral researcher, I worked at the Gösta Ekman Laboratory (GEL) in the Psychology Department of Stockholm University. My doctoral research, completed in 2018, examined the relationship between olfactory function, memory decline, dementia, and mortality, drawing on data from the longitudinal and population-based Betula project. My work at GEL also included innovative studies on using smell-based games for brain training. My thesis, Human Olfaction: Associations with Longitudinal Assessment of Episodic Memory, Dementia, and Mortality Risk, received the award for best doctoral thesis in the Psychology Department in 2018.

In addition to my research, I teach courses on cognition, aging, and dementia. I welcome applications for research internships and student theses year-round. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested.