Laura Kananen

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

Funding 2018-2023

In Finland: Tampere Tuberculosis Foundation, Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation, Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation, Juho Vainio Foundation, Emil Aaltonen Foundation