Results

NEAR research findings. Below you can find selected scientific contributions based on NEAR data.

Tackling systematically missing data in multi-center studies
NEAR’s ongoing efforts to tackle missing data in multi-center studies have resulted in cross-site imputation and a new STATA command.

The innovative Health Assessment Tool (HAT) optimally predicts mortality and hospitalizations
A NEAR-based study has externally validated the HAT for older adults in four populations from different geographical areas in Sweden.

Medications can influence cognitive and physical functioning
A NEAR-based study has spotlighted how medications might influence aging processes.

How to deal with missing data
A NEAR-based study explored various statistical models for dealing with missing data. 

Low and high body mass index (BMI) are related to higher physiological age
Based on NEAR data, researchers examined whether BMI and metabolic syndrome are associated with physiological aging.

Genetics influence dementia and mortality relationship
A NEAR-based study examined how genetics and environmental factors influence the dementia and mortality relationship.

Daytime nappers display poorer cognitive abilities
A NEAR-based study examined cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between several self-reported sleep disturbances and cognitive domains.

Education and sex influence working beyond retirement age
A NEAR-based study investigated predictors of still working at ages 66 and 72.

Obesity due to environmental influences is more harmful to cardiovascular health than genetic obesity
A NEAR-based study examined obesity’s impact on cardiovascular diseases and whether it varies between individuals with a genetic predisposition to high body mass index (BMI).

Frailty in older age is mainly due to environmental factors
A NEAR-based study explored individual differences in frailty progression over time, focusing on genes and the environment. 

Dementia risk is lower for older individuals with higher systolic blood pressure
A NEAR-based study examined systolic blood pressure’s impact on dementia risk.

Late-life adiposity is associated with lower dementia risk
A project of three NEAR studies explored the role of inflammation and lipid metabolism in the obesity and dementia risk association in mid- versus late life.

Joint pain contributes to changes in body mass index (BMI)
A study including three longitudinal NEAR studies examined the bi-directional association between bodily pain and BMI in middle-aged and older adults.

Functional impairment is associated with greater loneliness
A NEAR-based study examined loneliness’s bi-directional associations with objective and subjective health.

Metabolic health strongly influences body mass index (BMI) impact on mortality
A project of three NEAR studies explored how mid and late life BMI and metabolic syndrome affect mortality.

Genetics account for 71% of Alzheimer’s disease risk, but known genes play only a small role
A project of three NEAR studies explored the heritability and genetics of Alzheimer’s disease risk in the same twin sample.

Centenarians develop chronic diseases later than non-centenarians
A study including two NEAR studies compared 100-year-olds’ health trajectories with their younger peers.

For those dying under 70 years of age, frailty trajectories have increased for 40 years before their death
A project including NEAR studies assessed whether frailty trajectories differ by age at death and overall mortality.

Life weariness and suicidal thoughts increase the risk of mortality
A NEAR-based study investigated whether life weariness and suicidal thoughts impact mortality.

Women have a higher dementia risk after the age of 80
A multi-center study examined sex differences in dementia using evidence from population-based studies and a lifestyle intervention.

Becoming a family caregiver affects your physical health positively
A project including NEAR studies explored whether family caregiving impact physical, mental, and functional health.

Weight loss in dementia is not driven by cognitive decline
NEAR-based study examined whether cognitive capacities drive weight loss in the early stages of dementia.

Newly created screening tool to detect older adults at risk of falling for the first time
NEAR-based study has created a first-time injurious fall (FIF) screening tool to identify older adults at risk of falling.

Prognostic model for assessing inpatient care in person aged 80 years and above
NEAR-based report has evaluated and validated a forecast model to assess the need for inpatient care.

Declining trend in new cases of dementia over 25 years in Stockholm
NEAR-based study explores trends in new cases of dementia over 25 years among persons who are 75 years or over. 

No major changes in informal and formal care between year 2001 and 2015 in Sweden
NEAR-based report has investigated whether the extent of informal and formal care has changed between 2001 and 2015 in older adults who live in ordinary housing.

Being married and living with someone can buffer the negative effects of low mood on risk of dementia
NEAR-based study explored whether low mood is associated with an increased dementia risk, and whether marital status and living situation can modify this association.

Arrhythmias rapidly increase with advancing age in the general population
NEAR-based study examined the occurrence and new cases of arrythmias in older adults over 6 years.

Late-life sleep disturbances and midlife nightmares associated with worse cognitive status
Project including NEAR studies investigated the relationship between sleep disturbances in mid-life and late-life with cognitive status later in life.

Trouble falling asleep in midlife and waking up too early or long sleep duration in late-life are associated with a higher dementia risk
Project including NEAR studies explored the relationship between sleep disturbances in midlife and late-life with the risk of developing dementia.

Epigenetic changes in the APOE gene is associated with dementia but not cardiovascular diseases.
NEAR-based study investigated whether epigenetic changes of the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene affects the risks of dementia, Alzheimers disease (AD) or cardiovascular disease (CVD).

More than 50% of dementia cases are missed in national registers
NEAR-based study compared the agreement of dementia diagnosis from the National Patient Register (NPR) and the Cause of Death Register (CDR) with dementia diagnoses from six Swedish population-based studies.