Population ageing is a global phenomenon. By 2040 more than one in three people in Europe will be over 65. This will pose a range of challenges for societies and the economy alike.
The SWAN project aims to shift the focus from managing chronic illness to promoting chronic health. Its goal is to help people make healthier, sustainable choices that reduce the need for long-term care and boost quality of life in older age.
SWAN is a multidisciplinary initiative combining expertise from fields including medicine, biosciences and social sciences. It employs cutting-edge technologies, such as AI, to analyse large data masses.
“Understanding the complexities of ageing requires a multidisciplinary approach, imagination and creativity,” says Academy Professor Anu Wartiovaara, who leads the project.
As they will be widely utilised, the research findings could influence areas such as health policy and social practices.
Four themes
SWAN is an extensive, long-term project comprising four themes.
Metabolism research
This theme focuses on the impact of metabolism on tissue function, the early stages of disease and ageing. The researchers are exploring why ageing and diseases occur, with the goal of improving treatment effectiveness.
Population-level findings
Research on this theme draws on Finnish health register data to uncover the genes involved in ageing and age-related diseases. The researchers are studying how these genes operate and affect health throughout life.
New treatment methods and interventions
The researchers are developing treatment methods based on results from the above themes. This is done with the help of biobanks containing genetic data on Finns. The goal is to find new ways to prevent age-related diseases and improve treatments.
Social scientific research on promoting healthy ageing
Research within this theme examines how different population groups understand and use personal metabolic data. The objective is to establish how such data can inspire healthier choices.