Geir Selbæk

• Thomassen, Jesper Qvist; Leonard, Hampton; Ulms, Brittany; Grenier-Boley, Benjamin; Heikkinen, Sami & Garcia-González, Pablo [Show all 133 contributors for this article] (2026). APOE-stratified genome-wide association analyses provide insights into the genetic etiology of Alzheimers’s disease. Nature Genetics. ISSN 1061-4036. 58(10), p. 2484–2484. doi: 10.1038/s41588-026-02713-9. Show summary

  Among the more than 90 identified genetic risk loci for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias, the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene ɛ2/ɛ3/ɛ4 polymorphisms remain the longstanding benchmark for genetic disease risk with a consistently large effect across studies1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. Despite this massive signal, the exact mechanisms by which ɛ4 increases and ɛ2 decreases dementia risk remain poorly understood. Notably, recent trials of anti-amyloid therapies suggest less efficacy and higher risks of severe side effects in ε4 carriers11,12,13, hampering the treatment of those with the highest unmet need. To improve our understanding of the genetic architecture of AD in the context of its main genetic driver, we performed genome-wide association studies (GWASs) stratified by ε4 and ε2 carrier status. HP1BP3, SLC50A1, PTPRC, NPAS3, DDHD1, CHST9, SMYD2, PRAMEF1 and GFRA1 emerged as new genomic signals for AD risk, appearing only when stratified by APOE carrier status. DDHD1 appeared especially promising, showing protective effects in ε4 carriers, being identified as an expression quantitative trait locus and being involved in rare neuronal diseases. Such APOE-stratified insights may help understand and overcome side effects, inform clinical trial enrollment strategies, and create the scientific basis for targeted, mechanism-driven therapies in neurodegenerative diseases.

• Moorey, Hannah; Botfield, Hannah F; Krogseth, Maria; Selbæk, Geir; Wilson, Daisy & Wyller, Torgeir Bruun [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2026). CCL2 and CXCL2 are markers of delirium vulnerability in community dwelling older people. Age and Ageing. ISSN 0002-0729. 55(9). doi: 10.1093/ageing/afag290. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract Background Delirium is common and age, frailty and dementia are risk-factors. The pathophysiology is complex and poorly understood, but age-related immune system changes may be key. This study aimed to measure markers of immune cell migration, accelerated immune ageing and blood–brain barrier permeability in community-dwelling, older people comparing those who developed ≥1 episode of delirium over 2 years with those that did not. Methods Baseline samples were collected from CASCADE participants who were followed up for 2 years. Delirium screening was performed weekly; positive screens or hospital admission triggered a delirium assessment. Serum was isolated, stored and analysed using a multiplex panel comparing levels between participants with and without delirium episodes. Results About 98 participants were included. Median age was 88 (IQR: 81.8–92.0), with 90.8% classified as frail. Forty-three participants (43.9%) experienced ≥1 delirium episodes. CCL2 (MCP-1) and CXCL2 (MIP-2α), measured in a stable state at baseline, were significantly higher in the delirium group compared to the no delirium group (13.38 (11.21–17.93) vs. 10.83 (9.03–14.64) P = .004) and (17.23 (11.80–24.22) vs. 13.49 (10.19–17.98) P = .031), respectively. When stratified by dementia status, the associations of CCL2 with delirium were maintained in both groups, but CXCL2 was only significantly higher in delirium in the subgroup without dementia. Discussion CCL2 and CXCL2 are chemokines involved in immune cell recruitment and markers of accelerated immune ageing. Future work should elucidate the role of immune cell recruitment and brain infiltration in delirium, to identify treatment targets. Furthermore, work should explore whether targeting immune ageing can reduce delirium risk.

• Kyrdalen, Ingebjørg L.; Selbæk, Geir; Hoogendijk, Emiel O.; Langballe, Ellen Melbye; Ormstad, Heidi & Skjellegrind, Håvard Kjesbu [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2026). Midlife mental health and frailty up to 35 years later: Insights from the HUNT study. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics. ISSN 0167-4943. 152, p. 106434–106434. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2026.106434. Full text in Research Archive
• Frich, Wilhelm; Verlo, Kristine Ringnes; Borda, Miguel Germán; Jackson, Thomas Andrew; Livingston, Gill & Myrstad, Christian [Show all 15 contributors for this article] (2026). Population-based incidence rate of in-hospital delirium in older adults in Norway—a HUNT study. Age and Ageing. ISSN 0002-0729. 55(10). doi: 10.1093/ageing/afag297. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract Background Most studies of delirium occurrence are based on selected hospitalised populations or administrative data. We aimed to estimate the incidence rate of in-hospital delirium in older adults and to assess use of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) delirium code (F05) in electronic health records. Methods This population-based cohort study included 9956 participants aged ≥70 years from HUNT4 70+. Participants were followed from the date of study participation (2017–19) until 31 December 2023. In-hospital delirium was identified by retrospective chart review of all admissions during follow-up, using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition criteria. Incidence rates were estimated using the first delirium episode per participant, weighted for non-participation. Results During follow-up, 1507 participants (15.1%) experienced ≥1 in-hospital delirium episode. The weighted incidence rate was 33.1 (95% CI 31.5–34.9) per 1000 person-years and increased with age from 11.4 (age 70–74) to 109.0 (age ≥90) per 1000 person-years. Men had higher incidence rates than women across age groups. Among admissions with delirium, 11.9% had an ICD-10 discharge delirium diagnosis code (F05). Conclusion In-hospital delirium was common, increased markedly with age and was rarely captured by diagnostic coding. Low coding rates suggest that routine health-care data substantially underestimate delirium burden. Under-recognition of delirium may limit opportunities for follow-up in a group at high risk of adverse outcomes. With an ageing population, the burden of delirium is likely to increase for individuals and health-care systems. Our findings support systematic approaches to improve identification and management.

• Sverdrup, Karen; Mork, Paul Jarle; Bruin, Eling D. de; Ernstsen, Linda; Livingston, Gill & Patel, Kushang V. [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2026). Distribution of device-measured 24-hour movement behaviours across the cognitive spectrum in older adults: the HUNT study. European Review of Aging and Physical Activity. ISSN 1813-7253. p. 1–29. doi: 10.1186/s11556-026-00433-x. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract Background Key daily physical activities (e.g., standing and walking), postures (sitting and lying), and sleep constitute the 24-h day and have distinct health effects and functional implications. Traditionally studied separately, the distribution of these movement behaviours and sleep across the cognitive spectrum remains insufficiently characterised. We aimed to describe and compare the distribution of 24-h movement behaviours and sleep across the cognitive spectrum. Methods We analysed cross-sectional, population-based data from 4,699 community-dwelling older adults (≥ 70 years) participating in the HUNT4 70 + study. Cognitive status was classified as mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n  = 1,690) or dementia ( n  = 360) according to DSM-5 criteria. Participants not classified with MCI or dementia were categorised as cognitively unimpaired. Accelerometers worn on the thigh and lower back (≤ 7 days) were used to assess standing, walking, sitting, lying awake, and sleep using validated machine-learning models. Inverse probability weighting and multiple imputation by chained equations were used to address selection bias. Group differences were examined using survey-weighted regression models adjusted for potential confounders including age, sex, education, marital status, self-rated health, obesity, depression, alcohol consumption, and smoking. Results In fully adjusted models, older adults with MCI spent less time sitting (ß -12.4 [95% CI -20.0, -4.4] min/ 24 h) and more time lying awake (ß 10.3 [95% CI 2.7, 17.9]) and sleeping (ß 3.9 [95% CI 0.8, 7.0] min/24 h) than their cognitively unimpaired peers (all p  < 0.05), while time spent standing and walking was similar between the two groups. In fully adjusted models, older adults with dementia spent less time standing (ß -29.0 [95% CI -41.3, -16.5] and ß -30.3 [95% CI -42.5, -18.2] min/24 h) and walking (ß -16.1 [95% CI -19.9, -12.4] and ß -17.2 [95% CI -20.9, -13.4] min/24 h), and more time lying awake (ß 36.3 [95% CI 17.1, 55.4] and ß 46.5 [95% CI 28.7, 64.5] min/24 h), than those with MCI and cognitively unimpaired peers (all p ≤ 0.001), and more time sleeping (ß 7.5 [95% CI 0.9, 14.9] min/24 h) than their cognitively unimpaired peers ( p  = 0.04). Conclusion Across the cognitive spectrum, older adults exhibit distinct distributions of 24-h movement behaviours and sleep. The clinical importance of the observed differences remains unknown, and future research on the independent and compositional effects of these behaviours is warranted.

• Dejgaard, Magnhild S.; Eide, Per Kristian; Tangen, Gro Gujord; Skovlund, Eva; Selbæk, Geir & Wyller, Torgeir Bruun (2026). Cognitive profiles in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus and Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. ISSN 1387-2877. p. 1–9. doi: 10.1177/13872877261478264. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are neurodegenerative disorders with partly overlapping clinical features. Since the treatment is different, we need better knowledge about how the cognitive profile differs between these conditions. Objective We aimed to compare the cognitive profile of iNPH patients with that of a large cohort of confirmed AD patients. Methods Patients diagnosed with iNPH and accepted for shunt surgery were compared with patients with biomarker verified Alzheimer's disease in The Norwegian Register of Persons Assessed for Cognitive symptoms (NorCog). All patients underwent a standardized cognitive assessment with age and education adjusted z-scores. We used the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR) to adjust for disease severity. Since the cognitive score distributions were highly skewed, we used nonparametric analyses stratified by CDR stage combined with multinomial logistic regression. Results In total, 276 iNPH patients were compared to 1113 AD patients. iNPH patients performed significantly poorer on phonemic fluency [median z-score difference (AD—iNPH) 0.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.20 to 0.50], but significantly better on other cognitive tests, in particular immediate (median difference −0.35, 95% CI −0.49 to −0.20) and delayed recall (median difference −0.46, 95% CI −0.59 to −0.34). The differences persisted after adjustment for CDR and were most pronounced in early stages of the disease. Conclusions iNPH seems to affect phonemic fluency more and memory less than AD. As the disease progresses, the cognitive profiles become more similar, and the conditions cannot be distinguished by cognitive tests.

• Lerfald, Maren; Øvretveit, Karsten; Nilsen, Tom Ivar Lund; Eldholm, Rannveig Sakshaug; Grøtting, Nora & Wolford, Brooke N. [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2026). Blood pressure polygenic score, cardiorespiratory fitness and odds of dementia: the HUNT Study. Age and Ageing. ISSN 0002-0729. 55(7), p. 1–9. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afag214.
• Waggestad, Therese Händel; Kirsebom, Bjørn-Eivind; Strobel, Carsten; Gjøra, Linda; Selbæk, Geir & Bekkhus-Wetterberg, Peter [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2026). New regression-based norms for letter and semantic fluency tests on Norwegian older adults. The Clinical Neuropsychologist. ISSN 1385-4046. p. 1–26. doi: 10.1080/13854046.2026.2701151. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objective: This study presents updated regression-based norms for verbal fluency tests: "FAS," "Animals," and "Supermarket" in older Norwegian adults. By examining the potential modulating effects and putative interaction effects of age, education, and sex, we aim to investigate cognitive aging and the effects of education. Method: The study includes 449 healthy participants, aged 70-92 years, from the NorFAST (n = 254) and HUNT (n = 195) studies. Regression-based norms for all three verbal fluency tasks were produced. Models were assessed for pertinent linear, curvilinear, or interaction effects of age, education, and sex. We compared our norms to previously published norms. Results: The task "FAS" was predicted by education (b = 0.773, partial R2 = 0.117, p < .001) and sex (b = 1.110, partial R2 = 0.037, p < .001), and the task "Animals" was predicted by education (b = 0.313, partial R2 = 0.021, p < .01) and age (b = -0.123, partial R2 = 0.045, p < .001). Higher education and being female were associated with better performance, whereas older age was associated with poorer performance. Finally, for the task "Supermarket," we found an interaction effect between age and education (b = -0.063, partial R2 = 0.034, p < .01), but the major predictor was sex (b = 1.446, partial R2 = 0.068, p < .001). Conclusions: The norms were adjusted for the demographic variables that predicted the individual tasks. The illustrative norm comparison estimated similar mean performance but larger differences between the "exceptionally low" scores. The results also indicate that only processing speed declines with age, and that higher education has minimal effect on test-performance.

• Zotcheva, Ekaterina; Strand, Bjørn Heine; Sunde, Anita Lenora; Deckers, Kay; Aarsland, Dag & Ashton, Nicholas J. [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2026). Associations of Anthropometry Measures Across 35 Years With Late-Life Plasma P-tau217 and Dementia. Neurology. ISSN 0028-3878. 106(12). doi: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000218093. Full text in Research Archive
• Larsen, Frode Kibsgaard; Medbøen, Ingrid Tøndel; Strydom, Andre; Selbæk, Geir; Strand, Bjørn Heine & Langballe, Ellen Melbye (2026). Psychometric properties of the Norwegian CAMDEX-DS-II and CAMCOG-DS-II for dementia assessment in adults with Down syndrome: A national multi-site clinical study. Research in Developmental Disabilities. ISSN 0891-4222. 175, p. 105320–105320. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2026.105320. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract Background Adults with Down syndrome (DS) have a high dementia risk, highlighting the need for robust, DS-specific assessment tools. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of the CAMDEX-DS-II by examining reliability and validity of the informant interview and the CAMCOG-DS-II cognitive assessment. Method In this nationwide study, 108 adults with DS were assessed across 19 hospital units during 2021–2023. Participants underwent a standardised dementia assessment including the CAMDEX-DS-II battery. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, weighted kappa, and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), while validity was evaluated using factor analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses, and external cognitive and functional measures. Results The CAMDEX-DS-II informant interview demonstrated good to excellent psychometric properties, with high internal consistency (α ≥ 0.83) in core cognitive–functional sections and strong inter-rater reliability, with most items showing excellent weighted kappa (κ ≥ 0.80). Scores aligned closely with clinician-determined diagnostic classifications. The CAMCOG-DS-II showed very good internal consistency (α = 0.84) and excellent inter-rater reliability (ICCs ≥ 0.90). CAMCOG-DS-II total and domain scores differed significantly across diagnostic groups, with moderate-to-large effect sizes. ROC analyses indicated good overall diagnostic accuracy, with areas under the curve (AUCs) > 0.80, and particularly strong discrimination in individuals with mild ID. Conclusions The Norwegian CAMDEX-DS-II provides reliable indicators of dementia-related change in adults with DS. The combined informant interview and cognitive assessment provided evidence based on relations to diagnostic classification and external measures, supporting their clinical utility in the specialist services and contributing to the international evidence base.

• Grøtting, Nora; Wolford, Brooke N.; Kvaløy, Kirsti; Omland, Torbjørn; Selbæk, Geir & Ernstsen, Linda (2026). APOE genotype, cardiovascular risk, and incident dementia in the Norwegian HUNT study. European Journal of Epidemiology (EJE). ISSN 0393-2990. doi: 10.1007/s10654-026-01412-3. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype and cardiovascular risk are both associated with dementia, but their separate and joint contributions remain uncertain. We examined the independent and combined associations of APOE genotype and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk with incident dementia in a Norwegian populationbased cohort. In this prospective cohort study, baseline data were obtained from the second Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT2, 1995–97), with follow-up through linkage to specialist health-care records and the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry through Dec 31, 2023. We included 22,108 participants aged 50 years or older who were free of CVD, diabetes, and dementia at baseline. APOE genetic risk and cardiovascular risk based on SCORE2 were each classified into three categories. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for incident dementia were estimated using Cox models. During a median follow-up of 22.0 years, 3,714 incident dementia events occurred. Compared with low APOE genetic risk, adjusted HRs were 1.25(95% CI1.10–1.41) for intermediate risk and 3.09(2.73–3.49) for high risk. Compared with low-to-moderate CVD risk, adjusted HRs were 1.19(1.07–1.32) for high risk and 1.36(1.19–1.55) for very high risk. In joint analyses, the highest risk was observed in participants with high APOE genetic risk and very high cardiovascular risk (HR 3.78, 2.85–5.01). Higher cardiovascular risk was more clearly associated with dementia in participants without high APOE genetic risk, whereas dementia risk was consistently elevated across cardiovascular risk categories among those with high APOE genetic risk. There was no clear evidence of multiplicative interaction (p=0.059). APOE genotype and cardiovascular risk were independently associated with incident dementia, with highest risk among individuals with both high genetic and cardiovascular risk.

• Olsen, Kjerstin Solstad; Hallan, Stein Ivar; Selbæk, Geir; Næss, Marit; Krokstad, Steinar & Holmen, Jostein [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2026). Validity of self-reported use of antihypertensives and lipid modifying agents: Results from the population-based HUNT Study. Annals of Epidemiology. ISSN 1047-2797. 120, p. 110122–110122. doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2026.110122. Full text in Research Archive
• Xue, Lingfeng; Bocharova, Mariia; Borza, Tom; Selbæk, Geir; Young, Allan H. & Aarsland, Dag (2026). Cognitive improvement, neuropsychiatric profile, and neuroinflammatory biomarkers in older adults with major depressive disorder: findings from the PRODE study. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. ISSN 0889-1591. 137, p. 1–8. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2026.106808. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Late-life depression (LLD) is frequently accompanied by cognitive impairment, but short-term treatment-related cognitive change and its predictors remain uncertain. We investigated whether age at first depressive episode, neuropsychiatric symptom phenotype, and baseline peripheral neuroinflammatory biomarkers are associated with cognitive improvement during inpatient treatment for LLD. Methods: We analysed older inpatients with DSM-IV major depressive disorder from the multi-centre PRODE cohort (n = 136; age ≥ 60). Clinical care was standard, multidisciplinary, and individualised for about eight weeks. Cognition was assessed at admission and discharge using a comprehensive battery. Baseline neuropsychiatric symptoms were measured using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), and 12 serum inflammatory markers were collected at admission. Results: Mixed-effects models did not detect overall cognitive improvement across cognitive measures. Late-onset depression (LOD, age 50 years or older) predicted greater improvements in immediate (β = 0.48 95 % CI [0.03, 0.92]) and delayed (β = 0.48 95 % CI [0.01, 0.94]) recall, which were not significant after correcting for multiple comparisons (ps > 0.08). Latent class analysis (LCA) supported three neuropsychiatric classes. Compared with the Reference class, the Mild class showed larger gains in verbal fluency and delayed recall and greater reduction in Montgomery Aasberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores, whereas the Severe class did not differ. Lower baseline interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) - α predicted better recognition memory (β = -0.15, 95 % CI [-0.25, - 0.05]). Conclusions: In real-world inpatient care, cognitive improvement in LLD was limited after adjustment. A mild neuropsychiatric profile, and pro-inflammatory biomarkers might be linked to cognitive benefits.

• Pan, Junping; Wang, Ping-Jie; Zhang, Jianying; Knapskog, Anne-Brita; Watne, Leiv Otto & Wang, He-Ling [Show all 40 contributors for this article] (2026). Reduced ULK1 links impaired autophagy and mitophagy to Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Nature Aging. 6(5), p. 1079–1102. doi: 10.1038/s43587-026-01108-z. Full text in Research Archive
• Gundrosen, Kim Frederik; Taraldsen, Kristin; Sverdrup, Karen; Knapskog, Anne-Brita; Selbæk, Geir & Tangen, Gro Gujord (2026). Changes in device-measured daily physical activity over one year in memory clinic patients. European Review of Aging and Physical Activity. ISSN 1813-7253. doi: 10.1186/s11556-026-00414-0. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract Background This longitudinal study explored the one-year change in device-measured daily physical activity in patients attending a memory clinic. Methods Physical activity was recorded in 27 memory clinic patients over four days using accelerometers (activPAL3 micro) at baseline and one-year follow-up. Daily physical activity outcomes included upright time, standing time, walking time, number of steps, number of transitions, mean upright event length, and maximum upright event length. Changes between baseline and follow-up were analysed using paired sample t-tests. Results Patients’ mean (SD) age was 69.4 (8.1) years, and 14 (51.9%) were women. The only significant change was a decrease in maximum upright event length from a mean (SD) of 84.3 (31.6) minutes at baseline to 59.2 (22.5) minutes at one-year follow-up ( p  < 0.001). Conclusion Daily physical activity volume remained stable over one year, but the reduction in maximum upright event length indicates a shift in activity distribution.

• Myrenget, Martin Elstad; Sandvik, Reidun Karin Norheim Myhre; Borchgrevink, Petter Christian; Selbæk, Geir; Småstuen, Milada & Rangul, Vegar [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2026). The effect of a music-based care intervention on neuropsychiatric symptoms: secondary analysis of a cluster-randomised controlled study in nursing home residents with dementia and pain. BMC Geriatrics. 26, p. 1–11. doi: 10.1186/s12877-026-07301-4. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are highly prevalent in nursing home residents. The main aims of this study were to examine whether music-based care (MBC) had sustained effects on NPS in nursing home residents with dementia and chronic pain and to describe the distribution of NPS. Methods: A secondary analysis of a cluster-randomised controlled trial with intervention and control groups was performed. The 8-week MBC intervention included daily individualised prerecorded music integration. A large sample of nursing home residents with dementia and chronic pain in 12 nursing homes in Norway were screened for pain and dementia by experts and included in the study. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory Nursing Home Edition (NPI-NH) was completed for the residents at pre-test and after the 8-week MBC intervention. Descriptive statistics were used to characterise the sample, and multilevel mixed model analysis assessed the difference in change in NPI-NH scores before and after the intervention between the groups. Results: The sample (n = 232) had a mean age of 86 years (SD 8.8), with 71% being female. Overall, 41%, 38% and 21% had severe, moderate or mild dementia, respectively, while 77% had moderate pain and 23% severe pain. Over two-thirds (68%) of the sample had at least one clinically important (≥ 4) NPI-NH symptom at pre-test, with mean NPI-NH total score of 19 (range 0–89). The most commonly identified NPI-NH subcategories were agitation (44%), affective symptoms (34%) and psychosis (25%) at pre-test. There was no significant difference in changes either comparing the NPI-NH total score (p = 0.396) (confidence interval: CI [–2.6 to 6.6]) between the intervention group (n = 108) and the control group (n = 124) or comparing any of the three NPI subcategories: psychosis (p = 0.203) (CI [–0.5 to 2.3]), agitation (p = 0.830) (CI [–2.3 to 1.8]) or affective symptoms (p = 0.447) (CI [–0.9 to 2.1]). Conclusions: No statistically significant sustained effect of the MBC intervention on NPI symptoms was found among residents with dementia and chronic pain. Future studies should include measurement points closer to the intervention to evaluate short-term effects of MBC.

• Stinson, Sara E.; Shadrin, Alexey; Rahman, Mohammad Zillur; Rødevand, Linn; Broce, Iris J. & Selbæk, Geir [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2026). Distinct metabolic signatures of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease revealed through genetic overlap. EBioMedicine. 127. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2026.106254. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Metabolic dysfunction is a major risk factor for neurodegeneration, yet the genetic architecture linking systemic metabolism to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) remains unclear. Methods: We integrated genome-wide association data for 249 circulating metabolites and proglucagon with summary statistics for AD, PD, and cardiometabolic traits. Genetic correlations, polygenic overlap, causal relationships, and shared genetic loci were quantified using linkage disequilibrium score regression, high-definition likelihood, bivariate mixture modelling, Mendelian randomisation, and conjunctional false discovery rate analyses, followed by functional and tissue-specific enrichment analyses. Findings: AD displayed a metabolic-genetic profile aligned with body mass index, type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, and stroke, whereas PD exhibited largely opposing patterns (Spearman's rs = −0.26). Mendelian randomization analyses supported causal effects of lipoprotein subclasses, glutamine, and proglucagon on AD risk, with opposite or null effects in PD. Shared loci between metabolites and AD were enriched for lipid metabolism and cholesterol transport, whereas PD-associated loci were enriched for mitochondrial function, vesicle trafficking, and stress-response signalling. Interpretation: AD and PD are shaped by fundamentally distinct metabolic-genetic architectures. Metabolically targeted interventions, particularly those modulating lipid, amino acid, and proglucagon pathways, may require disease-specific and genetically informed strategies for prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

• Kleven, Silje; Ernstsen, Linda; Kvello-Alme, Marte; Lydersen, Stian; Selbæk, Geir & Eldholm, Rannveig Sakshaug (2026). NORRISK 2 score is associated with dementia and MCI—the HUNT study. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. 18. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2026.1750636. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are associated with the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Composite CVD risk scores integrate multiple risk factors and may capture the cumulative burden of CVD risk relevant to cognitive outcomes. However, the long-term association between established CVD risk scores and subsequent dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and potential differences in these associations between males and females, remains insufficiently studied. This study examined the association between NORRISK 2, a CVD risk model estimating 10-year risk of fatal- and non-fatal CVD, and the presence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in males and females, after 22 years of follow-up. Methods Participants from The Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT), a longitudinal, population-based health study, were included. NORRISK 2 scores were based on data from HUNT2 (1995-1997). Cognitive status was assessed in the sub-study HUNT4 70+ (2017–2019) and categorized as cognitively unimpaired (CU), MCI, or dementia. We used multinomial logistic regression with NORRISK 2 as the predictor and cognitive status 22 years later as the main covariate. Results The study sample consisted of 6,971 participants (57.6% females, mean age at HUNT2 56.1 years). At HUNT4 70+, 14.0% of the participants had developed dementia, and 34.6% had developed MCI. Per one percent increase in NORRISK 2 score, the relative risk of developing dementia increased by 14% for males (relative risk ratio (RRR) = 1.14; 95% CI 1.12–1.17) and 28% for females (RRR = 1.28; 95% CI 1.25–1.31). The relative risk of developing MCI increased by 4% for men (RRR = 1.04; 95% CI 1.02–1.05) and 10% for women (RRR = 1.10; 95% CI 1.08–1.12). Conclusion A higher NORRISK 2 score was associated with an increased risk of dementia and MCI in both males and females, with the strongest associations observed in females.

• Akdeniz, Bayram Cevdet; Bahrami, Shahram; Hagen, Espen; Fuhrer, Julian; Fominykh, Vera & Shadrin, Alexey [Show all 108 contributors for this article] (2026). Polygenic Hazard Score for Predicting Age-associated Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease in European Populations: Development and Validation. medRxiv. doi: 10.1101/2025.07.28.25332293. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract Objectives Polygenic hazard score (PHS) models can be used to predict the age-associated risk for complex diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this study, we present an improved PHS model for AD that incorporates a large number of genetic variants and demonstrates enhanced predictive accuracy for age of onset in European populations compared to alternative models. Methods We used the genotyped European Alzheimer & Dementia Biobank (EADB) sample (n=42,120) to develop and evaluate the performance of the PHS model. We developed a PHS model building on 720 genetic variants, including Apolipoprotein E ( APOE ) ε2 and ε4 alleles. We used Elastic Net-regularized Cox regression approach to develop the PHS model. Results The new PHS model (EADB720) improved prediction accuracy compared to alternative models in European populations, with the Odds Ratio OR80/20 from the highest quintile of risk (80th risk percentile and above) to the lowest quintile of risk (20th risk percentile and below) varying between 5.10 and 13.15 within the range of age of onset from 65 – 85 years. Our model also improved risk stratification across ε3/3 individuals of European ancestry (OR80/20 ranges from 1.95 to 3.52). It was also successfully validated in independent datasets (HUSK, DemGene and ADNI) by achieving OR80/20 up to 10.00 in each independent dataset. Conclusion Our EADB720 model significantly improves the accuracy of age-associated risk of AD across European populations (pval<0.03). Accurately predicting the age of onset of AD is of large clinical importance to implementing new AD medication and early intervention in clinical settings.

• Stubs, Josephine; Selbæk, Geir; Strand, Bjørn Heine; Livingston, Gill; Anstey, Kaarin J. & Deckers, Kay [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2026). Predicting cognitive decline: Comparative analysis of ANU-ADRI, CAIDE, CogDrisk, LIBRA, LIBRA2, UKBDRS and Lancet based dementia risk scores in the HUNT study. Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease (JPAD). ISSN 2274-5807. 13(4), p. 100524–100524. doi: 10.1016/j.tjpad.2026.100524. Full text in Research Archive
• Skjellegrind, Håvard K; Thingstad, Anne Pernille Mæhle; Gjøra, Linda; Kolberg, Marit; Kjelvik, Grete & Ernstsen, Linda [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2026). Cohort Profile Update: HUNT4 70+. International Journal of Epidemiology. ISSN 0300-5771. 55(2). doi: 10.1093/ije/dyag011. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  HUNT4 70+ is a sub-cohort of persons aged ≥70 years in the fourth survey of the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT), established to provide data for aging research. This population-based sample consists of 9956 individuals from the original HUNT catchment area, included between August 2017 and February 2019. In addition, an urban sample of 1743 persons was included in Trondheim city during October 2018–June 2019. HUNT4 70+ covers comprehensive aspects of aging health, including clinical examinations, performance-based tests of physical and cognitive function, questionnaires, and biological samples. High participation rates among the old and frail were obtained by examination in private homes and nursing homes when needed (15% of the participants). The data can be linked to all national registers in Norway, such as cause of death, prescription, health-care utilization, and diagnosis registries. Data access requires approval from a Norwegian Research Ethics Committee before application to the HUNT Research Centre. Contact HUNT Research Centre for collaboration and more info (ntnu.edu/hunt).

• Sverdrup, Karen; Ustad, Astrid; Tangen, Gro Gujord; Kongsvold, Atle; Vereijken, Beatrix & Strand, Bjørn Heine [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2026). Distribution of device-measured 24-h movement behaviors in older adults: cross-sectional findings from the HUNT4 study. Scientific Reports. 16, p. 1–9. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-36355-y. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract Comprehensive mapping of key physical activity (PA) types, postures, and sleep among older adults is important for informing public health policies and interventions. This study aimed to describe the 24-h time distribution of key PA types, postures, and sleep in a population-based sample of community-dwelling older adults and explore whether age, sex, and educational level influenced this distribution. Participants 65 years and older from the fourth survey of the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT4, 2017–19) with ≥ 1 day of complete accelerometer recording were included (n = 8,114). PA types (walking, running, cycling), postures (standing, sitting, lying (awake)), and sleep were derived from the accelerometer data using validated machine learning models. Survey-weighted regression models were applied to describe the 24-h time distribution of PA types, postures, and sleep by age, sex, and education. Participants spent 4.1 h standing ( SD 85.3 min), 82.8 min ( SD 40.3 min) walking, 0.2 min ( SD 1.7 min) running, 4.6 min ( SD 7.2 min) cycling, 9.2 h ( SD 115.5 min) sitting, 2.1 h ( SD 86.6 min) lying (awake), and 7.1 h ( SD 50.4 min) sleeping per day. Time spent standing and walking decreased, while time spent sitting, lying (awake), and sleeping increased with higher age. Women spent more time standing and sleeping, and less time walking, sitting, and lying (awake) than men. Higher education was associated with more time standing and walking and less time sitting. This study provides novel insights into the distribution of 24-h movement behaviors among older adults and can serve as a benchmark for future research on key PA types, postures, sleep, and their interactions.

• Kamsvaag, Ben; Bergh, Sverre; Benth, Jurate Saltyte; Voshaar, Richard C. Oude; Tevik, Kjerstin Elisabeth & Selbaek, Geir [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2026). Alcohol use disorders are associated with higher healthcare expenditure among older adults with suspected cognitive impairment: A registry-based cross-sectional study. PLOS ONE. 21(1), p. 0340484–0340484. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0340484. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background High levels of alcohol consumption and cognitive impairment both drain our healthcare budget, but it is unknown whether alcohol use disorders (AUDs) influence healthcare costs among people with suspected cognitive impairment specifically. Methods This study aims to examine the association between alcohol-related ICD-10 diagnoses and healthcare costs among 2,736 Norwegians aged ≥60 years being assessed for cognitive impairment in Norwegian specialist healthcare and included in the Norwegian Registry of Persons Assessed for Cognitive Symptoms (NorCog). Linear regression analysis was applied to assess the relationship between ICD-10 alcohol-related diagnoses and the primary outcome variable: healthcare costs. Healthcare costs one year before and one year after clinical assessment were used to account for the expected shift in healthcare use after assessment. Results Median costs of healthcare use were €2,226 (Q1-Q3 1,076−4,107) one year before assessment and €2,217 (Q1-Q3 1,160−4,006) after. One year prior to NorCog assessment, participants with AUDs had approximately 50% higher costs compared to participants without an AUD (median of €3,286 and €2,190, respectively). One year after NorCog assessment, this difference was negligible. An interaction between AUD status and time was significant, implying that post-diagnostic care for cognitive impairment may simultaneously mitigate the healthcare burden associated with AUDs or its related sequelae. Conclusion Our findings indicate that alcohol consumption is a potentially important and amenable determinant of healthcare use, knowledge which could be valuable in planning treatment and care. Such knowledge could also possibly curtail the higher healthcare costs among older adults with AUDs. Thus, we urge healthcare providers to routinely ask patients about their alcohol consumption.

• Kersten, Hege; Barca, Maria Lage; Eldholm, Rannveig Sakshaug; Persson, Karin Ester Torun; Hvidsten, Lara H. Thomasgaard & Jaioun, Keson [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2026). Potentially inappropriate medications related to two-year progression of mild cognitive impairment and dementia. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. ISSN 0031-6970. 82. doi: 10.1007/s00228-025-03977-6. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Purpose To document use and impact of potentially inappropriate medications on two-year progression of dementia in individuals with cognitive declines. Methods A retrospective study of 397 patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or dementia diagnosed and followed-up in outpatient memory clinics in Norway during 2009 − 18. Beers (2019)- and STOPP-2 criteria were used to identify Potentially Inappropriate Medications (PIMcogs) in individuals with cognitive impairments at baseline and two-year-follow-up. PIMcog use in terms of dementia severity, cognitive function, and neuropsychiatric and depressive symptoms were analyzed in regression models. Results The prevalence of PIMcogs increased from 16% at baseline to 23% at follow-up. PIMcog users were more likely to be women (63.5%), and they used more drugs, with a median of 5 drugs at baseline and 4 drugs at follow-up, compared to non-users who had a median of 3 used drugs at both time points. PIMcog users had higher median Neuropsychiatric Inventory severity sum scores (6 [3.0–11.0] versus 4.0 [2.0–7.0]) and median Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia scores (6.5 [3.0–11.0] versus 4.0 [1.0–7.0]) compared to non-users at follow-up (p ≤ 0.002). PIMcog users exhibited more severe dementia, with a Clinical Dementia Rate-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) score of 7.0 (4.0–13.0) compared to 6.0 (3.5–10.0) in non-users. The median annual increase in CDR-SB was one unit, and PIMcog use at follow-up was significantly associated with more rapid progression of dementia severity. Conclusion Faster dementia progression was documented among PIMcog users although, the prevalence of PIMcogs was generally low in Norwegian memory clinic patients with cognitive impairments.

• Kim, Milin; Leonardsen, Esten H.; Rutherford, Saige; Selbæk, Geir; Persson, Karin & Steen, Nils Eiel [Show all 16 contributors for this article] (2025). Mapping Cerebellar Morphology in 15q11.2 CNV Carriers Using Normative Modeling. medRxiv. doi: 10.1101/2025.05.28.25328353. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract Copy number variations (CNVs) at the 15q11.2 locus of the human genome have been associated with altered brain structure and increased risk for neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. The cerebellum is increasingly seen as a crucial brain region for neurodevelopmental conditions, yet the effects of 15q11.2 CNVs on cerebellar morphology remain largely unclear. Importantly, 15q11.2 CNVs shows reduced or incomplete penetrance (meaning that not all CNV carriers are affected) and variable expressivity (meaning that symptoms may differ between individuals with the same genetic alteration). Thus, there is a need to not only assess group differences, but also to quantify anatomical variability at the individual level. Here, we address these issues using normative models of brain anatomy trained on large datasets (n > 52k, age range: 3-85) to assess both group and individual-level deviations in cerebellar anatomy in carriers of 15q11.2 deletions (n = 120, mean [SD] age= 64.95 [7.58]) and duplications (n = 149, mean [SD] age=64.31 [7.21]), compared to non-carriers (n = 19,028, mean [SD] age=64.31 [7.58]). Group-level case-control analyses revealed significantly smaller total and regional cerebellar volumes in both deletion and duplication carriers, though with small effect sizes. Individual-level deviation analyses, capturing pronounced alterations in specific individuals, revealed a heterogeneous pattern among carriers. Overall, our findings suggest that CNVs at the 15q11.2 locus exert modest and highly individualized effects on cerebellar morphology.

• Ellingjord-Dale, Merete; Strand, Bjørn Heine; Skirbekk, Vegard Fykse; Bratsberg, Bernt Magne; Yitayew, Teferi Mekonnen & Zotcheva, Ekaterina [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2025). Potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia in Norway (HUNT4 70+): a retrospective cohort study. The Lancet Healthy Longevity. 6(12), p. 100802–100802. doi: 10.1016/j.lanhl.2025.100802. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background The 2024 Lancet Commission report on dementia identified 14 modifiable dementia risk factors. The Norwegian HUNT study uniquely includes data collection of all 14 risk factors in the same individuals throughout adulthood, as well as a study-specific dementia diagnosis. We aimed to evaluate the potential for dementia prevention associated with these 14 risk factors, along with three additional sociodemographic risk factors in this retrospective cohort. Methods This retrospective cohort study included data on participants with study-specific diagnosis from the HUNT4 70+ study (2017–19) and was linked with national administrative registries (1960–2018) and earlier HUNT surveys (1984–2008) with data on dementia risk factors at ages 35–92 years. Inverse probability weighting was applied to account for non-response. Logistic regression estimated dementia risk associated with exposure to less education in early adult life (age <45 years), hearing loss, high LDL cholesterol, depression, traumatic brain injury, physical inactivity, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, obesity, excessive alcohol use in midlife (age 45–65 years), and social isolation, air pollution, and vision loss in late life (age >65 years). Midlife occupational physical activity and marital and employment status were added to the Lancet model. The potential for dementia prevention was assessed using population attributable fraction (PAF). Findings Between Sept 1, 2017, and Feb 28, 2019, 19 403 individuals were invited to participate and 9745 participants (1525 with dementia, 8220 without dementia) were included. 4445 (45·6%) of 9745 participants were male and 5300 (54·4%) were female. The total PAF for the 14 Lancet risk factors was 50·9% (95% CI 37·7–61·4). Including family-related and work-related risk factors increased the PAF to 54·9% (42·3–64·7; p<0·0001). When these factors were added for women, the total PAF increased from 48·0% (95% CI 29·4–61·7) to 52·2% (34·2–65·3; p=0·0090), whereas no significant change was observed in men (56·2% [95% CI 35·5–70·2] to 56·7 [95% CI 36·1–70·6]; p=0·71).

• Yitayew, Teferi Mekonnen; Kristjansson, Dana; Bratsberg, Bernt Magne; Kohler, Hans-Peter; Selbæk, Geir & Larsen, Frode Kibsgaard [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2025). Changes in survival probabilities and mortality risks among population living with Down syndrome born 1967–2018: a Norwegian registry-based study. BMC Public Health. 25. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-25326-z. Full text in Research Archive
• Myrstad, Christian; Larssen, Marie; Engdahl, Bo Lars & Selbæk, Geir (2025). Smoking is associated with increased risk for dementia: the HUNT study, Norway. BMC Public Health. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-25813-3. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Smoking is considered a risk factor for dementia. Nevertheless, uncertainty regarding the associations with dementia subtypes and the effects of quitting remains. In this large longitudinal population-based cohort study, we investigated smoking as an independent risk factor for all-cause dementia. Second, we investigated the associations with dementia subtypes. Methods: We included participants from the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) and collected their smoking status at baseline (HUNT2, 1995-97). We assessed cognitive status at follow-up two decades later (HUNT4 70+, 2017-19, N = 8,532) and collected pack-years. We handled missing data with multiple imputations and estimated relative risks (RRs) with Poisson regression after adjustment for covariates and stratification by age and sex. Results: Current smokers had a 31% increased dementia risk (RR 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12-1.52), women <85 at follow-up had a 54% increased risk (RR 1.54, 95% CI 1.20-1.98), and men <85 had a 36% increased risk (RR 1.36, 95% CI 1.01-1.82). We found no associations in persons 85+. Current smokers had an increased risk for vascular dementia but not for Alzheimer's dementia. Pack-years were not associated with increased dementia risk, and former smoking was only associated with vascular dementia in men. Conclusions: Current smoking was associated with an increased risk of dementia. Among those 85+ at follow-up, being a smoker 20+ years earlier was not associated with an increased risk of dementia, probably because death was a competing risk. In former smokers, there were no significant associations with dementia. Our results add to the literature an optimism about the effects of changing smoking habits and may encourage smoking cessation.

• Aarsland, Dag; Sunde, Anita Lenora; Tovar-Rios, Diego Alejandro; Leuzy, Antoine; Fladby, Tormod & Zetterberg, Henrik [Show all 18 contributors for this article] (2025). Prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease pathology in the community. Nature. ISSN 0028-0836. doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09841-y. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease neuropathological changes (ADNCs), the leading cause of cognitive impairment, remains uncertain. Recent blood-based biomarkers enable scalable assessment of ADNCs 1 . Here we measured phosphorylated tau at threonine 217 in 11,486 plasma samples from a Norwegian population-based cohort of individuals over 57 years of age as a surrogate marker for ADNCs. The estimated prevalence of ADNCs increased with age, from less than 8% in people 58–69.9 years of age to 65.2% in those over 90 years of age. Among participants aged 70 years or older, 10% had preclinical Alzheimer’s disease, 10.4% had prodromal Alzheimer’s disease and 9.8% had Alzheimer’s disease dementia. Furthermore, among those 70 years of age or older, ADNCs were present in 60% of people with dementia, in 32.6% of those with mild cognitive impairment and in 23.5% of the cognitively unimpaired group. Our findings suggest a higher prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease dementia in older individuals and a lower prevalence of preclinical Alzheimer’s disease in younger groups than previously estimated.

• Bøhn, Benedicte Huseby; Krogseth, Maria; Jøranson, Nina; Wyller, Torgeir Bruun; Selbæk, Geir & Tangen, Gro Gujord (2025). Malnutrition as an independent risk factor for incident delirium in cohort of older adults receiving domiciliary care services. GeroScience. ISSN 2509-2715. 48(5), p. 7115–7124. doi: 10.1007/s11357-025-02040-7. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract Background Malnutrition and frailty frequently affect older adults receiving domiciliary care services, increasing their vulnerability to adverse events such as delirium. Despite this, the role of malnutrition as a risk factor for delirium in this population remains under-researched. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between nutritional status and the development of delirium over a 2-year period among older adults who received domiciliary care services. Method In this 2-year prospective cohort study, we included 210 participants aged 65 years or older who received domiciliary care services at least once per week. Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment at the time of inclusion, while delirium was assessed weekly, upon admission to hospital, and upon clinical indication according to DSM-5 criteria. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between malnutrition and delirium. Results Of the sample, 116 (55.2%) were malnourished/at risk of malnutrition at the time of inclusion. Over a 2-year period, 42.4% developed delirium. The odds ratio for developing delirium was 2.00 (95% CI 1.08–3.72, P  = 0.028), for the group with malnutrition/risk of malnutrition, adjusted for covariates. Conclusion Malnutrition is an independent risk factor for delirium in older adults receiving domiciliary care services. These findings highlight the importance of regular nutritional assessments and interventions to potentially reduce the risk of delirium in this vulnerable population.

• Tevik, Kjerstin Elisabeth; Skråstad, Ragnhild Bergene; Benth, Jurate Saltyte; Selbæk, Geir; Bergh, Sverre & Spigset, Olav [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2025). Trends in alcohol consumption in middle-aged and older adults, assessed with self-report and the alcohol marker phosphatidylethanol – A longitudinal HUNT study. PLOS ONE. 20(10). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0334556. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Alcohol is a leading risk factor for disease burden. We examined longitudinal trends in sex and age-specific alcohol consumption among middle-aged and older subjects who had participated in the population-based Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) in Norway since the 1990s. Methods This study included 23,151 individuals aged ≥43 years when they participated in the HUNT2 Survey (1995–1997) and who also had participated in the HUNT3 Survey (2006–2008), and/or the HUNT4 Survey (2017–2019). We used self-reported data to examine trends and identify sex- and age-specific differences in abstinence from alcohol, current drinking, risky drinking (≥8 units of alcohol/week), and heavy episodic drinking (≥5 or ≥6 units of alcohol in one sitting at least monthly). Concentrations of the objective alcohol marker phosphatidylethanol (PEth) were available in subsamples from HUNT3 to HUNT4. Results The proportion of subjects with self-reported alcohol abstinence and with PEth concentrations <0.03 µmol/l increased from HUNT2 and/or HUNT3 to HUNT4, while heavy episodic drinking and PEth concentrations ≥0.03 µmol/l decreased from HUNT3 to HUNT4 in both sexes in most age groups, and more in men than in women. There was an increase in risky drinking from HUNT2 to HUNT4 in women and men aged 43–64 years in HUNT2. Men were more likely to consume alcohol than women measured with both self-report and with PEth in most age groups. Among those aged ≥65 years in HUNT2 a convergence between the sexes regarding abstinence and heavy episodic drinking was observed which was mostly caused by changes in men. Conclusion Drinking patterns among middle-aged and older Norwegians have changed since the 1990s with a trend toward more abstinence and less heavy episodic drinking and PEth concentrations ≥0.03 µmol/l in both women and men with increasing age. There is a trend of more risky drinking with age among both sexes.

• Kelsey, Pieta Tasnim; Selbæk, Geir; Lövheim, Hugo; Åsvold, Bjørn Olav; Hveem, Kristian & Wolford, Brooke N [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2025). Helicobacter pylori and Alzheimer's disease risk: The HUNT study. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. ISSN 1387-2877. 108(3). doi: 10.1177/13872877251386015. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Infections may contribute to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Prior studies on the relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and AD or dementia have shown differing results. Objective We investigated whether H. pylori serology is associated with the risk of AD and dementia in the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT). Methods The HUNT cohort study measured serum H. pylori antibody titers using the Pyloriset EIA-IgG test. 22 years after baseline serum sampling, cognitive assessments were conducted using standardized tests and proxy interviews. We performed logistic regression (n = 1364) adjusted for sex and age to estimate odds ratios for cognitive outcomes. Subgroup analyses were stratified by sex, age, Apolipoprotein E4 (APOE ε4) carrier status and high sensitivity serum C-reactive protein levels and sensitivity analyses further adjusted for lifestyle and co-morbidity risk factors. Cox regression models (n = 4689) were used to estimate hazard ratios for all-cause mortality. Results H. pylori titers were not associated with AD (OR 0.99 per 1 SD higher titer, 95% CI 0.82–1.20) or dementia (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.84–1.15). There were no associations between H. pylori seropositivity (≥ 300 titers) and AD (OR 1.10, CI 0.75–1.63) or dementia (OR 0.96, CI 0.68–1.32). Stratifications by sex, age, CRP, or APOE ε4 genotype and adjusting for additional covariates showed no associations. All-cause mortality was higher with H. pylori positivity (HR 1.07, CI 1.03–1.11). Conclusions H. pylori was not associated with later AD or dementia in this study. The relationship between specific versus multi-pathogenic infection burden and neurodegenerative diseases warrants further clarification.

• Amland, Rachel; Selbæk, Geir; Brækhus, Anne; Rhodius-Meester, Hanneke Frederica Maria & Strand, Bjørn Heine (2025). Sex differences in life expectancy in dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and subjective cognitive decline (SCD). Alzheimer's and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring. 17(3). doi: 10.1002/dad2.70177. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract INTRODUCTION It is unclear how dementia affects loss in life expectancy (LE). In this registry‐based study, we aimed to study sex differences in LE and loss in LE in dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and subjective cognitive decline (SCD). METHODS A total of 16,358 patients diagnosed with dementia, MCI, or SCD from the Norwegian Registry of Persons Assessed for Cognitive Symptoms (NorCog) during 2009–2022 were included and followed up for mortality. Sex differences in LE and loss in LE were predicted using flexible parametric survival models and sex‐specific mortality in the general population as reference. RESULTS Among dementia patients, women with dementia had the largest loss in LE: 17 years loss at 60 years; correspondingly, men lost 13.5 years. Similar patterns were observed for MCI and dementia subtypes. DISCUSSION Women with dementia or MCI had a larger loss in LE compared to men with these diagnoses. Highlights Women with dementia had the largest loss in life expectancy compared to the general population. The excess female loss in life expectancy was also evident for all the dementia subtypes and for mild cognitive impairment. The loss in life expectancy was more pronounced in younger patients with dementia, with a loss of 17 years in women at 60 years of age. Men, in comparison, lost 13.5 years at the same age. Subjective cognitive decline was associated with a minor loss in life expectancy in both sexes.

• Persson, Karin Ester Torun; Rhodius-Meester, Hanneke Frederica Maria; Edwin, Trine Holt; Knapskog, Anne-Brita; Wetterberg, Peter & Selbæk, Geir [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2025). Automatic MRI Volumetry Assisted Visual Assessment of the Medial Temporal Lobe in Clinical Dementia Work‐Up. Brain and Behavior. 15(10), p. 1–9. doi: 10.1002/brb3.70948. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  ABSTRACT Introduction: Efficient and cost‐effective diagnostic tools for supporting dementia assessment are increasingly important. We aimed to evaluate whether providing neuroradiologists with volumetric data from an automatic MRI software, NeuroQuant, enhanced the diagnostic accuracy of their visual MRI assessment. Methods: Two neuroradiologists assessed brain MRIs from 366 patients (mean age 67.5 years, SD 9.2, and 52% females) with subjective cognitive decline (SCD, n 79), mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n 86), or dementia ( n 201). The MCI and dementia patients were further diagnosed according to an etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD, n 217) versus non‐AD ( n 70). In random order the neuroradiologists visually evaluated medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA, scale 0–4) with and without having access to the NeuroQuant report of age and sex adjusted volumetric percentiles of the hippocampus. Receiver operating characteristics (ROCs) analyses were conducted to calculate the area under the curves (AUCs) for the visual MTA, the automated NeuroQuant percentile, and the combined NeuroQuant‐assisted MTA in discriminating dementia from SCD and AD from non‐AD. Results: The AUC of the visual MTA for dementia versus SCD discrimination increased slightly but not significantly when the neuroradiologists were provided with NeuroQuant results (AUC 0.76–0.79, p 0.28). Yet, the isolated NeuroQuant evaluation reached the highest accuracy (AUC 0.85, p  < 0.001), significantly better than the MTA assessment ( p 0.002) and the NeuroQuant‐assisted MTA ( p 0.04). Only the isolated NeuroQuant assessment discriminated AD from non‐AD (AUC 0.60, p 0.006). Conclusion: On the basis of our findings, we suggest an increased use of clinically approved automatic volumetry methods in radiological departments.

• Bratsberg, Bernt Magne; Harris, Jennifer Ruth; Skirbekk, Vegard Fykse; Stern, Yaakov; Håberg, Asta & Selbæk, Geir [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2025). Occupational social interaction is associated with reduced dementia risk: The Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT). Psychology and Aging. ISSN 0882-7974. 41(1), p. 12–24. doi: 10.1037/pag0000940. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Lifetime social engagement could build cognitive reserve and lower the risk of dementia through compensatory effects on brain health. We aimed to investigate whether social interaction at work is protective of later-life cognitive impairment. Data from 9,248 participants of the population-based Norwegian HUNT4 70+ Study (2017-2019), with cognitive assessments at or after age 70, were linked retrospectively to longitudinal registry-based employment information spanning ages 30-65 years. An occupational social interaction score was computed using occupational characteristics from the O*NET database. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate the associations between occupational social interaction and dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), while linear regression was used to model the association with cognition using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The models were subsequently adjusted for confounding variables age, sex, education, and apolipoprotein E-ε4 genotype, as well as for midlife family, health, and lifestyle-related variables collected from national registries and earlier Trøndelag Health Study waves. Higher occupational social interaction was associated with reduced risks of dementia and MCI, and better MoCA performance. Adjusted for confounding from age, sex, education, and apolipoprotein E-ε4, each standard deviation higher occupational social interaction score was associated with a relative risk ratio of 0.89 for dementia (p = .003), 0.88 for MCI (p < .001), and a 0.31-point higher MoCA score (p < .001). Our findings highlight the importance of occupational social interaction in preserving and promoting cognitive health in later life

• Ibsen, Tanja Louise; Zotcheva, Ekaterina; Bergh, Sverre; Gerritsen, Debby; Livingston, Gill & Lurås, Hilde [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2025). Cognitive function, physical function, and mental health in older adults amid reduced primary and specialist healthcare service use during COVID-19: the HUNT study. GeroScience. ISSN 2509-2715. 48(2026)(3), p. 4313–4325. doi: 10.1007/s11357-025-01909-x. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract COVID-19 containment measures reduced older adults’ healthcare access, with uncertain long-term effects on cognitive, physical, and mental health. To investigate whether reductions in primary and specialist healthcare service use during the pandemic were associated with changes in cognitive, physical, and mental health in community-dwelling older adults, with attention to sex differences. Data from the Norwegian Trøndelag Health Study collected before (HUNT4 70 + , 2017–2019) and after the pandemic (HUNT AiT, 2021–2023) included 5387 participants (53% women) aged 70 + . Propensity score matching, accounting for baseline confounders, was used to examine associations between reduced healthcare service use and cognitive, physical, and mental health changes from pre- to post-pandemic. Reduced contact with general practitioners was associated with greater cognitive decline among women (MoCa-change − 0.32 [95% CI − 0.62, − 0.32]). No differences were observed in physical or mental health. Reductions in other primary care services (e.g., in-home nursing, practical assistance) were associated with greater decline in cognitive function (MoCa-change − 0.94 [− 1.53, − 0.36]), particularly among men (MoCa-change − 2.12 [− 3.13, − 1.11]). Men also had a decline in physical function (SPPB-change − 1.06 [− 1.79, − 0.33]). No differences in mental health were observed. Reductions in specialist healthcare services were unrelated to health changes in the overall sample but linked to improved physical function in women (SPPB-change 0.32 [0.11, 0.53]). Although associations between reduced healthcare service use during the pandemic and cognitive, physical, and mental health were limited, findings highlight the importance of sustaining access to primary care for older adults during public health crises. Trial registration The study is pre-registered at ClinicalTrials.gov 02.02.2021, with the identification number NCT 04792086.

• Dejgaard, Magnhild Skråmestø; Eide, Per Kristian; Tangen, Gro Gujord; Skovlund, Eva; Selbæk, Geir & Wyller, Torgeir Bruun (2025). Cognitive profile and frailty in patients with idiopathic normal pressure. Frontiers in Neurology. 16. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2025.1644507. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Cognition and frailty are sparsely studied in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). We aimed to describe the preoperative cognitive function compared with normative data and frailty profile in iNPH patients accepted for shunt surgery. Methods All patients were diagnosed according to international guidelines and underwent a standardized cognitive and physical examination and a geriatric assessment prior to surgery. Z -scores for the cognitive tests were calculated based on age and education adjusted population norms. Results The study cohort included 276 iNPH patients accepted for shunt surgery. Mean ± SD age was 73.1 ± 5.7 years, education 12.5 ± 3.8 years, and 61% were male. The median (IQR) score on the Mini-Mental State Evaluation was 27 (24–29), and the median (IQR) Clock Drawing test score was 4 (3–5). Mean (SD) z -score for immediate verbal recall was −1.74 (0.98), for delayed recall −1.66 (1.01), for figure copying −0.85 (1.35) for Trail Making Test A -1.50 (1.09), for Trail Making Test B −1.88 (1.03), for phonemic fluency −1.46 (1.10), and for semantic fluency −1.59 (1.20). Cluster analysis identified three groups, mainly differing regarding visuospatial function. The mean (SD) Frailty Index score was 0.23 (0.13), indicating mild frailty. The frailty domain most affected was physical function. Conclusion iNPH patients showed reduced cognitive function across all domains. The patient group is rather heterogeneous regarding cognitive symptoms, and no specific cognitive profile was identified. Cognitive assessment offers limited utility for diagnosing a typical pattern specific for iNPH but is important due to the complex needs for this patient group. Whether cognitive and frailty profile can be used to identify shunt responders, must be assessed in longitudinal studies.

• Molvik, Inger; Strand, Bjørn Heine; Rokstad, Anne Marie Mork; Aakhus, Eivind; Aam, Stina & Bergh, Sverre [Show all 16 contributors for this article] (2025). Incidence of dementia among individuals 70 years and older in Norway: A HUNT study. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. ISSN 1387-2877. 107(4), p. 1469–1480. doi: 10.1177/13872877251371242. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background With increasing population longevity, Alzheimer's disease and dementia have become a health priority, and high-quality incidence estimates are needed. Objective To provide reliable and precise incidence estimates of dementia applying a population-based sample of individuals aged 70+. Methods A longitudinal cohort design was used, with baseline assessment in the Norwegian HUNT4 70+ study (2017–19) and at follow-up four years later (2021–23). Age-specific dementia incidence rates, standardized for the Norwegian population, were calculated as the number of new dementia cases per 1000 person-years assuming onset midway between study waves with inverse probability weights based on baseline factors associated with non-participation or death. Results Among 5229 dementia-free individuals at baseline, 749 developed dementia over a 4.2-year period, resulting in a cumulative incidence proportion of 14.3%. At follow-up, 33.8% of new dementia cases showed no baseline cognitive impairment, while the rest had mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Of those with baseline MCI, 25.5% reverted to normal cognition, 48.2% remained MCI, and 26.2% developed dementia. The dementia incidence per 1000 person-years, was 43.9 (95% confidence interval (CI) 40.8, 47.1) (weighted for non-response and standardized to the dementia-free Norwegian population). Conclusions Our study found higher dementia incidence rates in the 70+ population than hospital records indicate. Most individuals had preceding MCI, with similar numbers reverting to normal cognition as developing dementia. The projected incident dementia cases suggest a near doubling between 2023 and 2050, significantly impacting families and healthcare planning, including early detection and interventions.

• Zhang, Jianying; Wang, Heling; Lautrup, Sofie Hindkjær; Nilsen, Hilde; Treebak, Jonas T. & Watne, Leiv Otto [Show all 28 contributors for this article] (2025). Emerging strategies, applications and challenges of targeting NAD+ in the clinic. Nature Aging. 5(9), p. 1704–1731. doi: 10.1038/s43587-025-00947-6. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Beyond their classical functions as redox cofactors, recent fundamental and clinical research has expanded our understanding of the diverse roles of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) in signaling pathways, epigenetic regulation and energy homeostasis. Moreover, NAD and NADP influence numerous diseases as well as the processes of aging, and are emerging as targets for clinical intervention. Here, we summarize safety, bioavailability and efficacy data from NAD+-related clinical trials, focusing on aging and neurodegenerative diseases. We discuss the established NAD+ precursors nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, newer compounds such as nicotinamide riboside and nicotinamide mononucleotide, and emerging precursors. We also discuss technological advances including in industrial-scale production and real-time detection, which are facilitating NAD+ research and clinical translation. Finally, we emphasize the need for further large-scale studies to determine optimal dose, administration routes and frequency, as well as long-term safety and interindividual variability in response.

• Waggestad, Therese Händel; Kirsebom, Bjørn-Eivind Seljelid; Strobel, Carsten; Gjøra, Linda; Selbæk, Geir & Wetterberg, Peter [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2025). New regression-based norms for the Trail Making Test on Norwegian older adults: Understanding the effect of education. The Clinical Neuropsychologist. ISSN 1385-4046. doi: 10.1080/13854046.2025.2469940. Full text in Research Archive
• Aunsmo, Ragnhild Holmberg; Strand, Bjørn Heine; Bergh, Sverre; Hansen, Thomas; Kivimäki, Mika & Köhler, Sebastian [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2025). Loneliness trajectories and dementia risk: Insights from the HUNT cohort study. Alzheimer's & Dementia. ISSN 1552-5260. 17(3). doi: 10.1002/dad2.70154. Full text in Research Archive
• Barca, Maria Lage; Aakhus, Eivind; Langballe, Ellen Melbye; Hansen, Thomas; Aunsmo, Ragnhild Holmberg & Selbæk, Geir [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2025). Depression among older adults in Norway 1995-2019: Time trends, correlates, and future projections in a population study: The HUNT study. PLOS ONE. 20(7). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0328413. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objectives: To investigate patterns and correlates of depression among Norwegian older adults (age 70+), 1995-2019, and estimate the number of older adults with depression by 2050. Design: Population-based cross-sectional study. Setting and participants: Three surveys of the Trøndelag Health Study (Norway): HUNT2 (1995-96), HUNT3 (2007-08), and HUNT4 (2017-19). 22,822 home dwellers aged 70 + who participated in at least one of the three surveys. Methods: Depression was defined as scores ≥8 on the depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Covariates included sex, age, education, marital status, and reported loneliness. Depression prevalence (%) was standardized to the Norwegian population by age, sex, and education for years close to the initial HUNT survey year (1995, 2006, and 2016). Projection of the total number of individuals with depression in the coming decades were estimated. Predictors of depression were analyzed with logistic regression and the potential reduction in depression prevalence by reducing the prevalence of loneliness was estimated. Results: Standardized depression prevalence decreased from 16.7% (HUNT2) to 14.9% (HUNT3), and 11.5% (HUNT4), and was highest among men, the oldest (85+), the lower-educated, and in earlier surveys (all p < 0.001). Living alone was also associated with higher depression prevalence, but only if loneliness was present. While depression rates are falling, we expect the number of depressed individuals to double by 2050 as the population ages. Conclusion and implications: Depression rates among adults aged 70 + decreased by 50% from 1995 to 2019, but less so among the oldest old. The rates were highest among single older men. Despite decreasing prevalence, the number of depressed older adults will increase significantly in the future. Given the major individual and societal costs of depression, this trend is alarming for societies preparing for the challenges posed by population aging. This can, however, be addressed by addressing predictors of depression.

• Zotcheva, Ekaterina; Strand, Bjørn Heine; Skirbekk, Vegard Fykse; Deckers, Kay; Krokstad, Steinar & Livingston, Gill [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2025). Sex differences in body mass index and waist circumference trajectories and dementia risk: the HUNT4 70+ study. GeroScience. ISSN 2509-2715. doi: 10.1007/s11357-025-01660-3. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  We examined associations between body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and dementia risk, and differences in BMI and WC trajectories before dementia diagnosis. We included 9,739 participants (54% women) aged 70+ from the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT4 70+). BMI was measured four times (1984–2019) and WC three times (1995–2019). Dementia diagnoses were clinically assessed at HUNT4 70+ . Women and men with dementia had higher midlife BMI and WC than those without dementia. These differences diminished closer to diagnosis, especially in women. Midlife obesity in both sexes and midlife overweight, high WC, and overweight/obesity with high WC in men were linked to higher dementia risk. Lower dementia risk was observed with late-life overweight for both sexes, late-life high WC in women, late-life overweight/obesity with normal WC in men or high WC in women. Adiposity measures and their changes influence dementia risk differently in women and men.

• Berge, Line Iden; Angeles, Renira Corinne S; Gedde, Marie Hidle; Fæø, Stein Erik; Mannseth, Janne & Vislapuu, Maarja [Show all 16 contributors for this article] (2025). Burden and care time for dementia caregivers in the LIVE@Home.Path trial. Alzheimer's & Dementia. ISSN 1552-5260. 21(3), p. 1–12. doi: 10.1002/alz.14622. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  INTRODUCTION We investigated the effectiveness of the multicomponent learning, innovation, volunteer support, empowerment (LIVE) intervention on caregiver burden and care time in dyads of home-dwelling people with dementia and caregivers. METHOD A 24 month, multicenter, stepped-wedge trial, randomized dyads to receive the 6-month LIVE intervention by municipal coordinators (May 2019 to December 2021). Primary outcomes were caregiver burden assessed by Relative Stress Scale (RSS) and informal care time spent on personal activities assessed by Resource Utilization in Dementia Personal Activities of Daily Living (RUD-PADL). Analyses used an intention-to-treat. RESULTS Two hundred eighty dyads were enrolled. Caregivers during the intervention period reported lower levels of RSS of 0.7 points (standard deviation [SD]: 0.8) compared to the caregivers in the control period. Caregivers during the intervention period reported more time spent on PADL of 11.7 hours/month (SD: 8.7) compared to caregivers during the control period; both were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). DISCUSSION The LIVE intervention did not reduce caregiver burden or care time.

• Yitayew, Teferi Mekonnen; Skirbekk, Vegard Fykse; Håberg, Asta; Engdahl, Bo Lars; Zotcheva, Ekaterina & Jugessur, Astanand [Show all 18 contributors for this article] (2025). Mediators of educational differences in dementia risk later in life: evidence from the HUNT study. BMC Public Health. 25, p. 1–12. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-22592-9. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Despite a well-known inverse association between education and dementia risk, the mediating mechanisms are not well understood. We explored how lifestyle and health risk factors across the life-course mediate the relationship between education and dementia among adults aged 70 + years. We included 7,655 participants with dementia diagnoses and education information, using a historical cohort design linking prospective exposure data across the life course from the HUNT4 70 + Study with registry data from Statistics Norway and earlier HUNT surveys. We conducted causal mediation analysis to assess the mediating roles of occupational characteristics, lifestyle factors (smoking, physical inactivity), and health risk factors (obesity, hypertension, diabetes, hearing impairment, cardiovascular diseases, LDL cholesterol, depression, anxiety) assessed during early, middle, and late adulthood in the relationship between education and dementia in later life. Participants with lower education were more likely to have dementia with odds ratios of 1.99, 1.88, 1.83 for the model’s accounting exposure to mediators during early, middle, and late adulthood, respectively. These associations were partially mediated by the joint effect of health and lifestyle risk factors from early through late adulthood (mediated 11.55–19.50%). Health risk factors from early to late adulthood jointly mediated 6.85–13.06% of the effect of low education on dementia risk later in life. Additionally, lifestyle factors during middle and late adulthood jointly mediated 4.11–4.96% of the total effect of low education on dementia risk later in life. Educational differences in dementia risk can partly mediated by lifestyle and health factors across the life course. These findings suggest potential targets to address varying dementia risks linked to education levels.

• Kouhsar, Morteza; Weymouth, Luke; Smith, Adam R.; Imm, Jennifer; Bredemeyer, Claudia & Wedatilake, Yehani [Show all 16 contributors for this article] (2025). A brain DNA co-methylation network analysis of psychosis in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring. 21(2). doi: 10.1002/alz.14501. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Introduction: The presence of psychosis in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is suggested to be associated with distinct molecular and neuropathological profiles in the brain. Methods: We assessed brain DNA methylation in AD donors with psychosis (AD+P) and without psychosis (AD-P) using the EPIC array. Weighted gene correlation network analysis identified modules of co-methylated genes in a discovery cohort (PITT-ADRC: N = 113 AD+P, N = 40 AD-P), with validation in an independent cohort (BDR: N = 79 AD+P, N = 117 AD-P), with Gene Ontology and cell-type enrichment analysis. Genetic data were integrated to identify methylation quantitative trait loci (mQTLs), which were co-localized with GWAS for related traits. Results: We replicated one AD+P associated module, which was enriched for synaptic pathways and in excitatory and inhibitory neurons. mQTLs in this module co-localized with variants associated with schizophrenia and educational attainment. Discussion: This represents the largest epigenetic study of AD+P to date, identifying pleiotropic relationships between AD+P and related traits. Highlights: DNA methylation was assessed in the prefrontal cortex in subjects with AD+P and AD-P. WGCNA identified six modules of co-methylated loci associated with AD+P in a discovery cohort. One of the modules was replicated in an independent cohort. This module was enriched for synaptic genes and in excitatory and inhibitory neurons. mQTLs mapping to genes in the module co-localized with GWAS loci for schizophrenia and educational attainment.

• Kinge, Jonas Minet; Øien, Henning; Dieleman, Joseph L.; Reme, Bjørn-Atle; Knudsen, Ann Kristin Skrindo & Godager, Geir [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2025). Forecasting total and cause-specific health expenditures for 116 health conditions in Norway, 2022–2050. BMC Medicine. 23(1). doi: 10.1186/s12916-025-03917-2. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background This study forecasts total and cause-specific health expenditures in Norway to 2050 and quantifies the contribution of four key drivers—total population growth, population aging, changes in disease prevalence, and cost per case—on future health care spending. Methods We forecast spending for 116 health conditions in Norway from 2022 to 2050, using historical and forecasted data of population growth, disease prevalence, gross domestic product (GDP), health spending, and residual factors. Our analysis included a reference scenario that forecasted disease-specific health spending; two alternative scenarios examining the effects of alternative unit cost developments; and a scenario examining the consequences of improved behavioral and metabolic risk factors. Results Health spending increased from 10.6% (95% uncertainty interval, 10.2–11.1) of GDP in 2022 to 14.3% (13.0–15.7) in 2050 in the reference scenario. Among the top aggregate causes of Norwegian health spending in 2022, the spending for neurological disorders rose the most, from 1.7% (1.6–1.8) to 2.7% (2.3–3.1) of GDP, surpassing mental and substance use disorders which rose from 2.2% (2.1–2.3) to 2.4% (2.2–2.6) of GDP. Of the 116 single conditions analyzed, dementias accounted for the highest spending in 2022. This expenditure was forecasted to increase considerably from 1.1% (1.09–1.2) to 1.9% (1.6–2.2) of GDP by 2050, largely due to population aging. Spending on other old-age-related conditions like falls, stroke, and diabetes, was also forecasted to increase. Increased population, aging, and spending per case contributed to increased future spending. Reduced behavioral and metabolic risks were forecasted to increase the number of elderly persons and reduce age-specific disease prevalence but had little impact on forecasted health spending. Conclusions Health spending growth was forecasted regardless of the scenario, and Norway needs to plan for this. However, policymakers can curb total spending growth, while maintaining health care quality and output, by ensuring more efficient allocation and effective use of resources. While the overall impact of behavioral and metabolic risk reductions on total healthcare spending was modest, reducing risk factors is needed if countries aim to achieve a healthier, longer-living population.

• Handels, Ron; Hataiyusuk, Somboon; Wimo, Anders; Skoldunger, Anders; Bakker, Christian & Bieber, Anja [Show all 29 contributors for this article] (2025). Informal care for people with dementia in Europe. Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease (JPAD). ISSN 2274-5807. 12(1). doi: 10.1016/j.tjpad.2024.100015. Full text in Research Archive
• Bocharova, Mariia; Borza, Tom; Watne, Leiv; Engedal, Knut; O'Brien, John T & Selbæk, Geir [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2025). The role of plasma inflammatory markers in late-life depression and conversion to dementia: a 3-year follow-up study. Molecular Psychiatry. ISSN 1359-4184. 30(7), p. 3029–3038. doi: 10.1038/s41380-025-02908-2. Full text in Research Archive
• Tangen, Gro Gujord; Engedal, Knut; Persson, Karin Ester Torun; Selbæk, Geir; Dakhil, Shams & McArdle, Riona [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2025). Validation of Spatial Orientation Screening questionnaire for use in memory clinic patients. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. ISSN 1387-2877. 103(4), p. 1013–1022. doi: 10.1177/13872877241308877. Full text in Research Archive
• Myrstad, Christian; Engdahl, Bo Lars; Costafreda, Sergi Gonzalez; Krokstad, Steinar; Livingston, Gill & Selbæk, Geir (2025). Hearing and cognitive scores measured with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale in The HUNT Study, Norway. Alzheimer's & Dementia. ISSN 1552-5260. 21(2), p. 1–12. doi: 10.1002/alz.14514. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  INTRODUCTION: Hearing impairment is associated with dementia. We aimed to clarify the association between hearing impairment and future cognitive test performance measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA), adjusted for confounders, avoiding reverse causation through long follow-up. METHODS: We used the Norwegian population-based longitudinal cohort study, The Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT). At baseline, we invited all residents 20+ for an audiometric hearing assessment, and at 20+ years follow-up, we cognitively assessed all persons 70+ including MoCA adjusted for hearing impairment. We analyzed the association using linear regression. RESULTS: We included 6879 persons (mean 56.1 years, standard deviation 6.2). At follow-up, the MoCA score was −0.25 (95% confidence interval [CI] −0.35, −0.14), per 10 dB increase in hearing threshold and for persons < 85 years, −0.31 (95% CI −0.42, −0.20). DISCUSSION: This study finds a long-term association between hearing impairment and dose related reduced cognitive performance, particularly in those aged < 85. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ID NCT04284384, hearing impairment as a risk factor for dementia in older adults. Highlights: * Hearing loss predicts long-term cognitive decline measured by MoCA over 20+ years. * Long follow-up is crucial to avoid reverse causation in the hearing-cognition relationship. * A 10 dB hearing threshold increase is linked to a 0.25-point reduction in MoCA score. * Strongest cognitive decline associations are seen in people aged below 85 years. * The association remained after excluding hearing-dependent tasks in the MoCA.

• Ai, Ruixue; Xiao, Xianglu; Deng, Shenglong; Yang, Nan; Xing, Xiaodan & Watne, Leiv [Show all 16 contributors for this article] (2025). Artificial intelligence in drug development for delirium and Alzheimer's disease. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B (APSB). ISSN 2211-3835. 15(9), p. 4386–4410. doi: 10.1016/j.apsb.2025.04.026. Full text in Research Archive
• Lautrup, Sofie Hindkjær; Zhang, Shi-qi; Funayama, Shinichiro; Lirussi, Lisa; Visnovska, Martina & Cheung, Hoi-Hung [Show all 19 contributors for this article] (2025). Decreased mitochondrial NAD+ in WRN deficient cells links to dysfunctional proliferation. Aging. 17(4), p. 937–959. doi: 10.18632/aging.206236. Full text in Research Archive
• Molvik, Inger; Kjelvik, Grete; Selbæk, Geir & Rokstad, Anne Marie Mork (2025). The significance of a dementia diagnosis from the perspective of the family caregivers : a qualitative study. BMC Health Services Research. 25(1). doi: 10.1186/s12913-025-12657-1. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: With the anticipated increase in dementia prevalence over the coming decade, understanding the experience of receiving a dementia diagnosis for people living with cognitive impairment remains limited. This study aims to explore the implications of a family member with cognitive impairment receiving a dementia diagnosis or not from the perspective of their next of kin. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was applied using individual interviews for data collection. Participants were recruited based on the cognitive function level of their family members, which was compatible with dementia as assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA). The sample consisted of eight participants, comprising family members of five individuals with confirmed dementia diagnoses and three undiagnosed. The analysis was performed using four steps of systematic text condensation to discern codes, categories, and the overarching theme. Results: Three main categories were created: (1) Impact of observed cognitive decline, (2) Impact of diagnosis on service engagement, and (3) Support and follow-up for family caregivers. The findings show that next of kin who have received a dementia diagnosis for their family members are more proactive in seeking help and services, are better informed about available resources, and are more concerned about future challenges. On the other hand, next of kin to family members without a diagnosis are more inclined to handle the situation on their own, have less access to information and services, and generally express less concern about future problems. Conclusion: The study reveals the benefits of receiving a timely dementia diagnosis in shaping more effective support systems and policies. This ensures that the next of kin and the person with cognitive impairment can navigate the complexities of dementia with greater confidence and preparedness, thereby enhancing their quality of life.

• Ibsen, Tanja Louise; Zotcheva, Ekaterina; Bergh, Sverre; Gerritsen, Debby L.; Livingston, Gill & Lurås, Hilde [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2025). The role of social media in mitigating the long‐term impact of social isolation on mental and cognitive health in older adults during the COVID‐19 pandemic: the HUNT study. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. ISSN 0885-6230. 40(5), p. 1–9. doi: 10.1002/gps.70097. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: The COVID-19 pandemic increased social isolation in older adults, promoting mental and cognitive decline. The impact of social media on these effects remains unclear. Aim: To investigate the long-term association of social isolation with mental and cognitive health in older adults and whether social media use mitigated this association. Method: Data from the Norwegian Trøndelag Health Study before (2017–2019), during (January 2021), and after the pandemic (2021–2023) were analysed (N = 4844, 53% women, mean age 80 years). Multi-adjusted mixed-effects linear regression estimated differences in changes in mental (CONOR-MHI) and cognitive (MoCA) health related to self-reported social isolation and social media use. Beta (β) represents differences in change in z-score of CONOR-MHI or MoCA. Results: Social isolation was associated with a steeper decline in mental health than no social isolation (β = 0.07, 95% CI 0.01, 0.13) but was not associated with change in cognitive health. Daily social media use was not related to change in mental health, whereas it was associated with a less steep cognitive decline than no social media use (< 1 h: β = 0.13, 95% CI 0.05, 0.20; ≥ 1 h: β = 0.10, 95% CI 0.01, 0.15). Stratified by social isolation, daily social media use < 1 h was related to a less steep cognitive decline than no social media use in both isolated (β = 0.15, 95% CI 0.02, 0.28) and non-isolated individuals (β = 0.13, 95% CI 0.03, 0.22). Conclusion: Individuals experiencing social isolation during the pandemic had a steeper decline in mental, but not cognitive health, compared to those not isolated. Social media use did not buffer the decline in mental health but was associated with less steep cognitive decline. The pandemic showed limits of relying solely on digital solutions for social contact.

• Kim, Milin; Sharma, Nitin; Leonardsen, Esten Høyland; Rutherford, Saige; Selbæk, Geir & Persson, Karin Ester Torun [Show all 19 contributors for this article] (2025). Predicting Mental and Neurological Illnesses Based on Cerebellar Normative Features. Biological Psychiatry: Global Open Science. 5(5), p. 1–11. doi: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2025.100541. Full text in Research Archive
• Stuebs, Josephine; Langballe, Ellen Melbye; Livingston, Gill; Anstey, Kaarin J.; Deckers, Kay & Mathews, Fiona [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2025). Dementia risk prediction : a comparative analysis of the ANU-ADRI, CAIDE, CogDrisk, LIBRA, and LIBRA2 indices in the HUNT study. Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease (JPAD). ISSN 2274-5807. 12(9). doi: 10.1016/j.tjpad.2025.100326. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background/Objective Dementia is a major global health concern, necessitating effective risk assessment tools and early intervention. This study compared the performance of five modifiable dementia risk indices – ANU-ADRI, CAIDE, CogDrisk, LIBRA, and LIBRA2 and a “demographics-only” (age, education) model. Methods We analyzed data from 5247 Norwegian participants in the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT4 70+, 2017–2019) and dementia risk indices from baseline data in HUNT3 (2006–2008). Logistic regression models assessed associations between standardized index scores and all-cause dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) across age group (<65 vs. ≥65 years), sex, and APOE4 status. Results During the mean follow-up of 10.6 (9.3–12.3) years (SD=0.74), all indices significantly predicted dementia and AD, though none outperformed the demographics-only model. CogDrisk showed significantly better discriminative ability than all other indices (0.76, 95 % CI:0.74–0.78; DeLong p < 0.05), followed by LIBRA (0.75, 95 % CI:0.72–0.77) and ANU-ADRI (0.74, 95 % CI:0.72–0.76). LIBRA2 (0.69, 95 % CI:0.66–0.71) and CAIDE (0.59, 95 % CI:0.56–0.61) had significantly lower accuracy (DeLong p < 0.001). Removing demographics maintained rank order but reduced accuracy across all indices. Stratified analyses showed stronger performance in those ≥65 years and females at HUNT3, while APOE4 status did not affect performance. Conclusion All indices were associated with dementia risk, with CogDrisk performing best across all conditions, and LIBRA2 and CAIDE performing weakest. No index outperformed a model including age and education only. Future research should refine risk indices for age- and sex-specific applications and assess whether simpler demographic models may suffice in some contexts.

• Nicolas, Aude; Sherva, Richard; Grenier-Boley, Benjamin; Kim, Yoontae; Kikuchi, Masataka & Timsina, Jigyasha [Show all 52 contributors for this article] (2025). Transferability of European-derived Alzheimer's disease polygenic risk scores across multiancestry populations. Nature Genetics. ISSN 1061-4036. 57(7), p. 1598–1610. doi: 10.1038/s41588-025-02227-w. Full text in Research Archive
• Ibsen, Tanja Louise; Zotcheva, Ekaterina; Bergh, Sverre; Gerritsen, Debby L.; Livingston, Gill & Lurås, Hilde [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2025). A longitudinal cohort study on dispensed analgesic and psychotropic medications in older adults before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic : the HUNT study. BMC Geriatrics. 25(1). doi: 10.1186/s12877-025-05745-8. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: There is a growing concern and debate over the inappropriate use of analgesics and psychotropic medications by older adults, especially those with dementia. The long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures on these prescriptions remain uncertain. Aim: The primary aim was to examine changes in the prescription of analgesics (opioids and other analgesics) and psychotropics (anxiolytics/sedatives, antidepressants, and antipsychotics) in Norwegian home-dwelling older adults before, during, and up to 2 years after the COVID-19 lockdown, with a particular focus on dementia status. Secondarily, we explored individual characteristics associated with changes in medication prescriptions. Methods: A prospective cohort study using baseline data from 10,464 participants (54% females, mean age 76 years [SD 5.8]) from the Norwegian Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT4 70+) linked with the Norwegian Prescription Database. Age- and education-adjusted Poisson regression was applied to examine changes in prescription fills, and multilevel mixed-effects linear regression was used to estimate the mean sum of defined daily dose (DDD) per person per period during the lockdown (March–September 2020) compared to that during the corresponding months (March–September) in 2019, 2021, and 2022. Results: Overall, prescriptions of opioids, other analgesics, and anxiolytics/sedatives were higher in 2022 than during the lockdown. People without dementia had increased prescriptions of opioids, other analgesics, and antidepressants after lockdown, whereas no changes were observed among those with dementia. Increases in prescriptions of opioids, other analgesics, anxiolytics/sedatives, and antidepressants between the lockdown and 2022 occurred mainly among those aged < 80 years, without comorbidities or mental distress, with good physical function, low fear of COVID-19, and no social isolation during COVID-19. Conclusion: An increase in analgesics and psychotropics after the lockdown was predominantly observed among younger-old and healthier participants. This indicates that in high-income countries, such as Norway, home-dwelling vulnerable individuals seem to have received adequate care. However, the pandemic may have increased the number of vulnerable individuals. These findings should be considered when identifying future nationwide stressors that may impair social interactions and threaten mental health. They also highlight the need to evaluate medication prescriptions for older adults after the pandemic.

• Mekonnen, Teferi; Skirbekk, Vegard; Zotcheva, Ekaterina; Engdahl, Bo; Bratsberg, Bernt & Jugessur, Astanand [Show all 19 contributors for this article] (2025). Number of children and dementia risk: a causal mediation analysis using data from the HUNT study linked with national registries in Norway. BMC Neurology. 25(1). doi: 10.1186/s12883-025-04044-4. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Childlessness, as well as having a high number of children, has been reported to be associated with an elevated risk of dementia compared to having 2–3 children. The mechanisms underlying these relationships are not well understood and may be mediated by different midlife risk factors. We examined the mediating role of various factors on the relationship between the number of children and dementia risk. These factors include socioeconomic factors (e.g., occupational complexity), psychosocial (e.g.., social activities, loneliness, life satisfaction), lifestyle (e.g., smoking, physical inactivity, alcohol intake), and chronic diseases (e.g., obesity, diabetes, depression, hearing impairment and hypertension). Methods: Using a historic cohort design, we included 9,745 participants born between 1931–48, with a mean age of 78.2 (SD = 6.4) years at the time of cognitive testing in the HUNT4 70 + sub-study (2017–2019). Further measures were obtained through data linkage between information from Statistics Norway and the HUNT1(1984–86), and HUNT2 (1995–97) Surveys. Causal mediation analyses using an inverse odd weighting approach were conducted to decompose the total effect of the number of children (0, 1, or 4 + children vs. 2–3) on the risk of dementia at age 70 + years into direct and indirect effects with mediators assessed at a mean age of 50.7 (SD = 6.4) years. The analyses were adjusted for age, sex, marital status at age 25 years, educational status, and religion assessed during HUNT3 (2006–2008). Results: Overall, 15.7% were diagnosed with dementia. The proportions with dementia by the number of children were 22.3% among those with no children, 21.4% for those with one child, 13% for those with 2–3 children (specifically, 12.6% for those with 2 children and 13.4% for those with 3 children), and 19.9% for those with 4 + children. Compared to the reference group of individuals with 2–3 children, the dementia risk was higher among the groups with no children (relative risk (RR): 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.12, 1.51)), those with one child (RR: 1.30, 95% CI (1.14, 1.47)) and those with 4 + children (RR: 1.12, 95% CI (1.01, 1.24)). The elevated risks of dementia were not mediated by the socioeconomic, psychosocial, lifestyle, or chronic diseases related factors that we tested. Sex-stratified analysis showed higher dementia risk for men without children and women with one or 4 + children compared to those with 2–3 children, with similar patterns across sexes. None of the mediators contributed to mediation in either group. None of the mediators appeared to contribute through mediation in either group. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the number of children—specifically being childless, having one child, or having four or more children—may influence the risk of dementia. These relationships were not mediated by psychosocial, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors, or markers of chronic diseases in adulthood considered in this study.

• Edwin, Trine Holt; Håberg, Asta; Zotcheva, Ekaterina; Bratsberg, Bernt Magne; Jugessur, Astanand & Engdahl, Bo Lars [Show all 16 contributors for this article] (2024). Trajectories of Occupational Cognitive Demands and Risk of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Later Life The HUNT4 70+ Study. Neurology. ISSN 0028-3878. 102(9). doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000209353. Full text in Research Archive
• Sandvik, Reidun Karin Norheim Myhre; Husebø, Bettina Elisabeth Franziska; Selbæk, Geir; Strand, Gunhild Vesterhus; Patrascu, Monica & Mustafa, Manal [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2024). Oral symptoms in dying nursing home patients. Results from the prospective REDIC study. BMC Oral Health. 24(1). doi: 10.1186/s12903-024-03901-x. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background The mouth is a central organ for communication and fluid intake, also for dying nursing home patients. This study describes the prevalence and severity of oral symptoms from nursing home admission until the day of perceived dying and the day of death. Methods A prospective, longitudinal cohort study including 696 patients who were admitted to 47 Norwegian nursing homes in 35 municipalities. During the first year of their stay, 189 died (27%), of whom 82 participants were assessed on the day they were perceived as dying and 134 on the day of death. Mouth care, nutrition, and bedsores were assessed with the Residents’ Assessment Instrument for nursing homes (RAI-NH) and palliative care (RAI-PC). Pain intensity was assessed with the Mobilization-Observation-Behaviour-Intensity-Dementia-2 Pain Scale (MOBID-2). Results The proportion of patients with ≥ 6 oral symptoms increased from 16% when perceived as dying to 20% on the day of death (P = 0.001). On the day of death, xerostomia (66%), dysphagia (59%), and mastication problems (50%) were the most frequently observed oral symptoms. Only 16% received mouth care every hour and 12% were in pain during this procedure. Compared to people without dementia, those with a diagnosis of dementia at admission (N = 112, 86%) had xerostomia and mastication problems more frequently (50% vs. 73%; 32% vs. 56% (P = 0.038), respectively) on the day of death. Conclusions The high extent of oral symptoms such as xerostomia, dysphagia, and mastication problems underline the need for systematic assessment and improved oral palliative care for dying nursing home patients with dementia.

• Lerfald, Maren; Allore, Heather; Nilsen, Tom Ivar Lund; Eldholm, Rannveig Sakshaug; Marinez-Velilla, Nicolas & Selbæk, Geir [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2024). Longitudinal Patterns of Systolic Blood Pressure, Diastolic Blood Pressure, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Their Association With Dementia Risk: The HUNT Study. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences. ISSN 1079-5006. 79(8). doi: 10.1093/gerona/glae161. Full text in Research Archive
• Asante, Ernest Obeng; Eldholm, Rannveig Sakshaug; Kolberg, Marit; Skjellegrind, Håvard Kjesbu; Selbæk, Geir & Mai, Xiao-Mei [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2024). The Association Between Cognitive Function and Oral Health in Home Dwellers and Nursing Home Residents: The HUNT Study. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology. ISSN 0301-5661. 0, p. 1–8. doi: 10.1111/cdoe.13013. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objectives: To evaluate the relationships of cognitive function and care dependency with oral health in a Norwegian older adult population. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 2623 participants aged 70 and older from the fourth wave of the Trøndelag health study (HUNT4 70+) and the city of Trondheim (Trondheim 70+). Neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) were diagnosed by clinical experts according to the DSM-5 framework. Care dependency referred to nursing home residency. Oral health was assessed by using the Revised Oral Assessment Guide—Jönköping (ROAG-J). Individuals were considered as ‘having oral problem’ if the score was two or three in at least one of the nine ROAG-J items. Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The prevalence of having oral problems was 19% higher in participants with NCDs than those with normal cognitive function after adjusting for potential confounders (PR 1.19, 95% CI: 1.09–1.29). Further analysis showed a higher prevalence of having oral problems for home dwellers with NCDs (PR 1.23, 95% CI: 1.13–1.33) and nursing home residents (PR 1.32, 95% CI: 1.20–1.45) compared to home dwellers with normal cognitive function. Conclusions: NCDs were associated with an increased prevalence of oral problems in this Norwegian older adult population. The study suggests the need for increasing oral care for home dwellers with NCDs and nursing home residents.

• Livingston, Gill; Huntley, Jonathan; Liu, Kathy; Costafreda, Sergi Gonzales; Selbæk, Geir & Alladi, Suvarna [Show all 27 contributors for this article] (2024). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 404(10452), p. 572–628. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01296-0. Full text in Research Archive
• Amland, Rachel; Selbæk, Geir; Brækhus, Anne; Edwin, Trine Holt; Engedal, Knut & Knapskog, Anne-Brita [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2024). Clinically feasible automated MRI volumetry of the brain as a prognostic marker in subjective and mild cognitive impairment. Frontiers in Neurology. 15. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1425502. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background/aims: The number of patients suffering from cognitive decline and dementia increases, and new possible treatments are being developed. Thus, the need for time efficient and cost-effective methods to facilitate an early diagnosis and prediction of future cognitive decline in patients with early cognitive symptoms is becoming increasingly important. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether an MRI based software, NeuroQuant® (NQ), producing volumetry of the hippocampus and whole brain volume (WBV) could predict: (1) conversion from subjective cognitive decline (SCD) at baseline to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia at follow-up, and from MCI at baseline to dementia at follow-up and (2) progression of cognitive and functional decline defined as an annual increase in the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) score. Methods: MRI was performed in 156 patients with SCD or MCI from the memory clinic at Oslo University Hospital (OUH) that had been assessed with NQ and had a clinical follow-up examination. Logistic and linear regression analyses were performed with hippocampus volume and WBV as independent variables, and conversion or progression as dependent variables, adjusting for demographic and other relevant covariates including Mini-Mental State Examination-Norwegian Revised Version score (MMSE-NR) and Apolipoprotein E ɛ4 (APOE ɛ4) carrier status. Results: Hippocampus volume, but not WBV, was associated with conversion to MCI or dementia, but neither were associated with conversion when adjusting for MMSE-NR. Both hippocampus volume and WBV were associated with progression as measured by the annual change in CDR-SB score in both unadjusted and adjusted analyses. Conclusion: The results indicate that automated regional MRI volumetry of the hippocampus and WBV can be useful in predicting further cognitive decline in patients with early cognitive symptoms.

• Goncalves-Pereira, Manuel; Marques, Maria J.; Alves, Regina F.; Jelley, Hannah; Wolfs, Claire & Meyer, Gabriele [Show all 18 contributors for this article] (2024). Sense of coherence, subjective burden, and anxiety and depression symptoms in caregivers of people with dementia: Causal dynamics unveiled by a longitudinal cohort study in Europe. Journal of Affective Disorders. ISSN 0165-0327. 373, p. 1–11. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.12.078. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Sense of coherence (SOC) is a disposition to perceive things as comprehensible, manageable and meaningful. Lower SOC is associated with subjective burden and psychological morbidity in family caregivers, including in dementia. However, the evidence-base mainly comprises small-scale or cross-sectional studies. More should be known about SOC stability, causal relationships, and international contexts. We aimed to study longitudinal links between dementia caregivers' SOC, subjective burden, and anxiety and depression symptoms in a multinational sample. Methods: We analyzed the EU-Actifcare cohort (451 dyads of community-dwelling people with mild-moderate dementia and their caregivers). Caregivers' assessments included: SOC scale, Relatives' Stress Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. A cross-lagged panel model was used to investigate associations between these measures at baseline, 6 and 12-month follow-ups, controlling for covariates. Results: Caregivers' subjective burden, anxiety and depression symptoms increased over time, SOC remaining overall stable. Considering the first six-month follow-up, we found bidirectional relationships between SOC and subjective burden, and SOC and anxiety symptoms, while lower SOC predicted depression symptoms but not vice versa. For the remaining follow-up period, both anxiety and depression symptoms predicted lower SOC but not vice versa. Limitations: Convenience sampling precludes full generalizability. Conclusions: This large longitudinal study shed more light on interplays between SOC, subjective burden and mental health outcomes in dementia caregivers. Findings were consistent with SOC potential protective role against burden and psychological morbidity. However, they also supported reverse causality regarding part of the associations. Caregivers' SOC levels may be directly influenced by subjective burden and psychological morbidity.

• Antonsdottir, Inga Margaret; Creese, Byron; Klei, Lambertus; DeMichele-Sweet, Mary Ann A.; Weamer, Elise A. & Garcia-Gonzalez, Pablo [Show all 32 contributors for this article] (2024). Genetic associations with psychosis and affective disturbance in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's & Dementia. ISSN 1552-5260. 10(2). doi: 10.1002/trc2.12472. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Introduction: Individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) commonly experience neuropsychiatric symptoms of psychosis (AD+P) and/or affective disturbance (depression, anxiety, and/or irritability, AD+A). This study's goal was to identify the genetic architecture of AD+P and AD+A, as well as their genetically correlated phenotypes. Methods: Genome-wide association meta-analysis of 9988 AD participants from six source studies with participants characterized for AD+P AD+A, and a joint phenotype (AD+A+P). Results: AD+P and AD+A were genetically correlated. However, AD+P and AD+A diverged in their genetic correlations with psychiatric phenotypes in individuals without AD. AD+P was negatively genetically correlated with bipolar disorder and positively with depressive symptoms. AD+A was positively correlated with anxiety disorder and more strongly correlated than AD+P with depressive symptoms. AD+P and AD+A+P had significant estimated heritability, whereas AD+A did not. Examination of the loci most strongly associate

• Kyrdalen, Ingebjørg Lavrantsdatter; Strand, Bjørn Heine; Selbæk, Geir; Thingstad, Pernille; Ormstad, Heidi & Hoogendijk, Emiel O. [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2024). Prevalence and future estimates of frailty and pre-frailty in a population-based sample of people 70 years and older in Norway: the HUNT study. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research. ISSN 1594-0667. 36(1). doi: 10.1007/s40520-024-02839-y. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Frailty in older people is a rising global health concern; therefore, monitoring prevalence estimates and presenting projections of future frailty are important for healthcare planning. Aim: To present current prevalence estimates of frailty and pre-frailty and future projections according to both dominant frailty models in a large population-based observational study including adults ≥ 70 years in Norway. Methods: In this population-based observational study, we included 9956 participants from the HUNT4 70 + study, conducting assessments at field stations, homes, and nursing homes. Frailty was assessed using Fried criteria and a 35-item frailty index (HUNT4-FI). Inverse probability weighting and calibration using post-stratification weights and aggregated register data for Norway according to age, sex, and education ensured representativeness, and population projection models were used to estimate future prevalence. Results: According to Fried criteria, the current prevalence rates of frailty and pre-frailty in people ≥ 70 years were 10.6% and 41.9%, respectively, and for HUNT4-FI 35.8% and 33.2%, respectively. Compared to previous European estimates we identified higher overall frailty prevalence, but lower prevalence in younger age groups. Projections suggest the number of Norwegian older adults living with frailty will close to double by 2040. Conclusion: Frailty in older people in Norway is more prevalent than previous European estimates, emphasising the imperative for effective interventions aimed to delay and postpone frailty and ensure healthcare system sustainability in an ageing population. Future planning should consider the great heterogeneity in health and functioning within the 70 + population.

• Marques, Maria J.; Woods, Bob; Jelley, Hannah; Kerpershoek, Liselot; Hopper, Louise & Irving, Kate [Show all 20 contributors for this article] (2024). Addressing relationship quality of people with dementia and their family carers: which profiles require most support? Frontiers in Psychiatry. 15. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1394665. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objective: The quality of the relationship between persons with dementia and family carers influences health and quality-of-life outcomes. Little is known regarding those at higher risk of experiencing a decline in relationship quality, who could potentially benefit the most from interventions. We aimed to identify these risk profiles and explore the underlying factors. Methods: We applied a latent profile analysis to relationship quality data from a 1-year follow-up of 350 dyads of persons with dementia and their informal carers from the Actifcare cohort in eight European countries. Assessments included sociodemographic, clinical, functional, psychosocial and quality-of-life measures. Relationship quality was assessed with the Positive Affect Index. A discriminant analysis explored factors influencing the risk profiles. Results: There were two relationship quality profiles among persons with dementia (gradually decreasing, 74.0%; low but improving, 26%) and two among carers (steadily poor, 57.7%; consistently positive, 42.3%). The ‘gradually decreasing’ profile (persons with dementia) was related to their levels of dependence and unmet needs, along with carers’ social distress and negative feelings, lower baseline RQ and sense of coherence. The ‘steadily poor’ profile (carers) was influenced by their social distress and negative feelings, lower sense of coherence and perceived social support. These two predominant profiles showed significant decreases in quality-of-life over one year. Conclusions: Specific profiles of persons with dementia and their carers are at risk of worse relationship quality trajectories. By considering modifiable related factors (e.g., carers’ stress), our findings can help develop tailored, effective interventions.

• Molvik, Inger; Kjelvik, Grete; Selbæk, Geir & Rokstad, Anne Marie Mork (2024). Exploring the lived experience : impact of dementia diagnosis on individuals with cognitive impairment - a qualitative study. BMC Geriatrics. 24(1). doi: 10.1186/s12877-024-04665-3. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objective: Although knowledge about the experience of being diagnosed with dementia is limited, with the expected rise in dementia’s prevalence in the coming decades, such knowledge is pivotal for the people diagnosed, their families, and healthcare planners. Thus, the aim of our study was to explore the experience of living with cognitive impairment and dementia and the impact of being diagnosed with dementia. Method: A qualitative design was applied. Participants were recruited based on age-adjusted values below ​​threshold values on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (i.e. 70–79 years, < 22; 80–89 years, < 21; 90 + years, < 20), and the sample ultimately included 15 participants: six with and nine without a documented dementia diagnosis. Qualitative content analysis was performed on the transcribed interviews in four steps to identify codes, categories, and the overall theme. Results: Three major categories emerged from the interviews: (1) experiences with changes, (2) experiences with being diagnosed with dementia, and (3) existential experience. All participants with and most participants without a dementia diagnosis experienced changes in cognition. Conclusion: Our findings imply that being diagnosed with dementia is a relief because it explains observed cognitive and functional decreases and reduces confusion, shame and stigma. However, it also raises concerns about an unknown future. Most participants not diagnosed with dementia reported having little or no difficulty with everyday living and leading a fulfilling life. Those findings emphasise the significance of timely versus early diagnosis.

• Kim, Milin; Leonardsen, Esten Høyland; Rutherford, Saige; Selbæk, Geir; Persson, Karin Ester Torun & Steen, Nils Eiel [Show all 15 contributors for this article] (2024). Mapping cerebellar anatomical heterogeneity in mental and neurological illnesses. Nature Mental Health. 2(10), p. 1196–1207. doi: 10.1038/s44220-024-00297-z. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The cerebellum is linked to motor coordination, cognitive and affective processing, in addition to a wide range of clinical illnesses. To enable robust quantification of individual cerebellar anatomy relative to population norms, we mapped the normative development and aging of the cerebellum across the lifespan using brain scans of >54,000 participants. We estimated normative models at voxel-wise spatial precision, enabling integration with cerebellar atlases. Applying the normative models in independent samples revealed substantial heterogeneity within five clinical illnesses: autism spectrum disorder, mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer disease, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Notably, individuals with autism spectrum disorder and mild cognitive impairment exhibited increased positive and negative extreme deviations in cerebellar anatomy, while those with schizophrenia and Alzheimer disease showed predominantly negative deviations. Finally, extreme deviations were associated with cognitive scores. Ou

• Fongang, Bernard; Sargurupremraj, Muralidharan; Jian, Xueqiu; Mishra, Aniket; Damotte, Vincent & Rojas, Itziar De [Show all 51 contributors for this article] (2024). A genome-wide association meta-analysis of all-cause and vascular dementia. Alzheimer's & Dementia. ISSN 1552-5260. 20(9), p. 5973–5995. doi: 10.1002/alz.14115. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  INTRODUCTION: Dementia is a multifactorial disease with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) pathologies making the largest contributions. Yet, most genome-wide association studies (GWAS) focus on AD. METHODS: We conducted a GWAS of all-cause dementia (ACD) and examined the genetic overlap with VaD. Our dataset includes 800,597 individuals, with 46,902 and 8702 cases of ACD and VaD, respectively. Known AD loci for ACD and VaD were replicated. Bioinformatic analyses prioritized genes that are likely functionally relevant and shared with closely related traits and risk factors. RESULTS: For ACD, novel loci identified were associated with energy transport (SEMA4D), neuronal excitability (ANO3), amyloid deposition in the brain (RBFOX1), and magnetic resonance imaging markers of small vessel disease (SVD; HBEGF). Novel VaD loci were associated with hypertension, diabetes, and neuron maintenance (SPRY2, FOXA2, AJAP1, and PSMA3). DISCUSSION: Our study identified genetic risks underlying ACD, demonstrating overlap with neurodegenerative processes, vascular risk factors, and cerebral SVD. Highlights: * We conducted the largest genome-wide association study of all-cause dementia (ACD) and vascular dementia (VaD). * Known genetic variants associated with AD were replicated for ACD and VaD. * Functional analyses identified novel loci for ACD and VaD. * Genetic risks of ACD overlapped with neurodegeneration, vascular risk factors, and cerebral small vessel disease.

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• Kersten, Hege; Vaksvik, Tonje Marie Bø; Romskaug, Rita; Wyller, Torgeir Bruun; Jaioun, Keson & Botteri, Edoardo [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2026). One year pre-diagnostic prevalence and associated factors of polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication use in community-dwelling adults with mild cognitive impairment or dementia in Norway (2014–2024): A registered report protocol. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0356275. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background People with cognitive impairment frequently have multiple comorbidities, and polypharmacy is highly prevalent, affecting nearly half of individuals with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. The use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), including those specifically problematic for cognitive impairment (PIMcog), increases with the total number of medications and may exacerbate cognitive symptoms or increase the risk of adverse drug events. However, the prevalence of polypharmacy and PIMcog use among patients diagnosed with MCI or dementia in Norwegian specialist outpatient clinics has not been described. Methods We will conduct a retrospective cohort study linking national health registries to estimate the prevalence of polypharmacy and PIMcog use in the year prior to diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Data from the Norwegian Registry of Persons Assessed for Cognitive Symptoms will be linked to dispensing data from the Norwegian Prescribed Drug Registry and comorbidity data from the Norwegian Patient Registry. The study population will include all patients diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or dementia in Norwegian specialist outpatient clinics from 2014 to 2024. We will estimate the twelve-month prevalence of polypharmacy and PIMcog use preceding diagnosis, compare sociodemographic and clinical characteristics between PIMcog users and non-users, and identify factors associated with PIMcog use. Expected impact By describing the one-year prevalence and patterns of polypharmacy and PIMcog use and associated factors prior to mild cognitive impairment and dementia diagnosis, the findings may inform targeted deprescribing interventions and safer prescribing strategies for individuals with cognitive impairment.

• Lambert, Jean Charles; Ramirez, Alfredo; Ruiz, Agustín; Andreassen, Ole; Sims, Rebecca & Hiltunen, Mikko [Show all 517 contributors for this article] (2026). Consensus meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Nature Genetics. ISSN 1061-4036. 58, p. 1214–1225. doi: 10.1038/s41588-026-02583-1. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  To better characterize the genetic architecture underlying Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias (ADRD), we performed a meta-analysis of European-ancestry genome-wide association studies in 128,681 cases or proxy cases of ADRD and 849,833 (proxy) controls. We identified 91 genetic loci associated with ADRD risk, of which 16 are new and 56 are specifically detected in clinically diagnosed AD cases. We also provide a list of 18 loci (15 new) requiring further external validation. A polygenic score combining the effects of ADRD loci other than APOE was primarily associated with AD rather than non-AD pathology. Individuals in the tenth decile of the score exhibited a twofold increased risk of presenting with Braak neurofibrillary tangles stage of >4 and moderate-to-severe neuritic amyloid plaque pathology at death compared to individuals in the median score group. In conclusion, our study validated a large number of loci associated with the risk of clinically diagnosed AD, while further investigations are required to confirm the impact of the other loci on AD clinical diagnosis and of each locus on AD pathology.

• Eftedal, Randi Krog; Dénos, Marion Nicole Marie; Asante, Ernest Obeng; Eldholm, Rannveig Sakshaug; Selbæk, Geir & Skjellegrind, Håvard Kjesbu [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2026). Eldre med nevrokognitive lidelser trenger tett ivaretakelse av munnhelsen, særlig for å forebygge karies og bevare egne tenner. Den norske tannlegeforenings Tidende. ISSN 0029-2303. doi: 10.56373/69f9cdb3ad009. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Den norske tannlegeforenings Tidende – Eldre med nevrokognitive lidelser trenger tett ivaretakelse av munnhelsen, særlig for å forebygge karies og bevare egne tenner

• Skjellegrind, Håvard Kjesbu; Selbæk, Geir & Ness-Jensen, Eivind (2026). Aldringsforskning i HUNT – resultater fra HUNT4 og muligheter i HUNT5. Full text in Research Archive
• Skjellegrind, Håvard Kjesbu; Wolford, Brooke N.; Gjøra, Linda; Sunde, Anita Lenora; Aarsland, Dag & Næss, Marit [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2026). Biomarkører for Alzheimers sykdom etter COVID-19 - resultater fra HUNT. Full text in Research Archive
• Nåvik, Marit; Øksengård, Anne Rita; Medbøen, Ingrid Tøndel; Selbæk, Geir & Persson, Karin Ester Torun (2026). Demensutredning – registreringsplikt med klinisk nytte. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 146. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.25.0728. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

• Eftedal, Randi Krog; Asante, Ernest Obeng; Eldholm, Rannveig Sakshaug; Kolberg, Marit; Skjellegrind, Håvard Kjesbu & Selbæk, Geir [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2026). Hjemmeboende og sykehjemsbeboere i Trøndelag med kognitiv svikt har dårligere munnhelse enn tilsvarende personer uten kognitiv svikt. Den norske tannlegeforenings Tidende. ISSN 0029-2303. 136. doi: 10.56373/6960bf08e3395. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Studien undersøker sammenhengen mellom kognitiv svikt og munnhelseproblemer blant eldre (≥ 70 år) i Trøndelag med data hentet fra HUNT4 70+ og Trondheim 70+.

• Brækhus, Anne; Persson, Karin Ester Torun; Selbæk, Geir; Bekkhus-Wetterberg, Peter & Wyller, Torgeir Bruun (2026). Demenssykdom er underdiagnostisert. 146, p. 1–8. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.25.0705. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Forekomsten av demenssykdom i den eldre delen av befolkningen er høy, og antallet vil øke betydelig i årene fremover når antallet eldre i befolkningen øker. Det finnes i dag ca. 116 000 personer med demenssykdom, i år 2050 er antallet estimert til ca. 237 000 pasienter (1). I gruppen over 90 år har omtrent 50 % demenssykdom, og svært mange av disse er aleneboende (1). Demenssykdom medfører redusert evne til å gjennomføre aktiviteter i dagliglivet (ADL). I starten av sykdommen rammes kompliserte funksjoner som deltakelse i arbeids- og foreningsliv, bilkjøring og håndtering av egen økonomi. For å gi nødvendig bistand til det personen med demenssykdom ikke mestrer (særlig økonomiske forhold (vergebistand) og hjelp til administrering av medisiner), er det viktig at de kognitive symptomene utredes og demensdiagnosen stilles så tidlig som mulig. Flere studier, blant annet en norsk, viser derimot at bare et mindretall av dem med demens har fått diagnosen stadfestet (1, 2).

• Sunde, Anita Lenora; Aarsland, Dag; Tovar-Rios, Diego Alejandro; Selbæk, Geir; Skjellegrind, Håvard Kjesbu & Ashton, Nicholas (2025). Prevalence of Alzheimer's Disease Pathology in the Community. Full text in Research Archive
• Grahnemo, Louise; Nethander, Maria; Sjögren, Klara; Coward, Eivind; Thingstad, Anne Pernille Mæhle & Skjellegrind, Håvard Kjesbu [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2025). Gut microbiota composition is reproducibly associated with muscle function in older adults. Full text in Research Archive
• Skjellegrind, Håvard Kjesbu; Kelsey, Pieta Tasnim; Wolford, Brooke N.; Lund-Johansen, Fridtjof; Selbæk, Geir & Allore, Heather (2025). Infection antibodies associated with Alzheimer’s dementia - The Norwegian HUNT Study. Full text in Research Archive
• Kleven, Silje; Ernstsen, Linda; Kvello-Alme, Marte; Lydersen, Stian; Selbæk, Geir & Eldholm, Rannveig Sakshaug (2025). NORRISK2 score can predict risk of dementia and cognitive impairment - The HUNT Study. Full text in Research Archive
• Kleven, Silje; Ernstsen, Linda; Kvello-Alme, Marte; Lydersen, Stian; Selbæk, Geir & Eldholm, Rannveig Sakshaug (2025). NORRISK2 score can predict risk of dementia and cognitive impairment - The HUNT Study. Full text in Research Archive
• Dahlén, Sara; Bjørneboe, John Andreas; Sandmo, Stian Bahr; Bache-Mathiesen, Lena Kristin; Filipcik, Peter & Howe, Emilie Isager [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2025). Brain health in female former top-level football players . Full text in Research Archive
• Skjellegrind, Håvard Kjesbu; Sunde, Anita Lenora; Tovar-Rios, Diego Alejandro; Selbæk, Geir; Ashton, Nicholas & Aarsland, Dag (2025). Prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease pathology measured by plasma pTau217 in the population-based HUNT Study. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Dementia prevalence is estimated to double over the coming two decades. New Alzheimer’s disease (AD) therapies emerge but require improved diagnostic accuracy. Most secondary healthcare systems have insufficient capacity for diagnostic services. Family physicians need new diagnostic tools to provide optimal care and diagnosis, at an earlier stage of disease and for more patients. Plasma phosphorylated tau 217 (pTau217) is a promising biomarker, with a concentration of ≥ 0.63 pg/mL indicating cerebral amyloid pathology with high specificity. Clinical decision-making requires knowledge of the prevalence of a positive test at different ages and cognitive statuses. This study has measured pTau217 in 11,486 plasma samples from the Norwegian population-based Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT). Cognitive assessments were available for participants aged 70+. The prevalence of positive pTau217 increased with age, from 10% at 58-70 years, to a prevalence of 65% in those older than 90 years. Among persons above 70 years of age, the biomarker was found positive in 57.7% of those with clinical dementia but also in 31% with mild cognitive impairment and 22.6 % of those without cognitive impairment. The study shows that pTau217 in plasma is highly prevalent among older individuals, both with and without clinical dementia. A positive biomarker alone is not sufficient for a dementia diagnosis. History and clinical assessments are still the cornerstones of dementia diagnostics. Still, by utilizing a blood-based biomarker, family physicians will be able to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease at an earlier stage and with more precision.

• Skirbekk, Vegard Fykse; Halse, Bjørn Atle Sundsback; Seterelv, Siri Schøyen; Selbæk, Geir & Langballe, Ellen Melbye (2025). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation status among long-term care residents in Norway. medRxiv. doi: 10.1101/2025.01.15.25320634. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract Objectives Norwegian health authorities require all long-term care institutions to determine and record whether residents should have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) administered in the case of an emergency. There is a need to better understand variation in CPR-status using population level data to obtain accurate estimates and to understand how it differs by cultural and socioeconomic status. Design Population register based assessments. Setting and Participants This study investigate the proportions of CPR+ and CPR- 2 . by age, gender, marital status, primary contact and care needs in a sample that include all residents in long-term care facilities in Oslo aged 50 years or older ( N = 11,948) during the period 1 st of January 2018 to 31 st of December 2023. Everyone in the dataset had CPR status. Methods Descriptive population-level assessment of health care residents’ registry data and logistic regression analyses. Results The proportion of residents who were CPR+ was slightly below one third (31.4%), with significantly more women (33,2%) than men (27.9%). CPR+ decreased with age (45.9% for those aged 50–66 years, 27.4% for those aged 85-89 years) but rose again for the oldest age group (33.0%, aged 90+). Compared to unmarried individuals and widows or widowers, the proportion of married long-term care residents with CPR+ was lower. Those who had no primary contact or more distant ones (e.g., a lawyer) were more likely to be CPR+. The CPR+ was slightly higher among individuals with comprehensive care needs. However, the differences were only significant for CPR+ among those with comprehensive care needs compared to those with moderate care needs when adjusted for age, gender, and primary contact. Conclusions and Implications Only one third of long-term care residents in Norway are registered as CPR+. Particularly women and those at younger ages and the oldest old were more likely to be CPR+. The low proportions of CPR+ residents across major segments of Norway’s institutionalized population as well as gender and age distribution will hopefully spark debates about CPR practices.

• Livingston, Gill; Costafreda, Sergi G; Kivimaki, Mika; Mukadam, Naaheed; Selbæk, Geir & Shirai, Kokoro [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2025). B vitamins and the 2024 Lancet Commission on dementia. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 405(10479), p. 623–623. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)00252-1. Full text in Research Archive
• Dahlén, Sara; Bjørneboe, John Andreas; Sandmo, Stian Bahr; Bache-Mathiesen, Lena Kristin; Filipcik, Peter & Howe, Emilie Isager [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2025). Brain health in Norwegian female former top-level football players: a protocol for a longitudinal cohort study. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-092456. Full text in Research Archive
• Livingston, Gill; Costafreda, Sergi G; Kivimäki, Mika; Mukadam, Naaheed; Schneider, Lon S & Selbæk, Geir [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2025). Reflections on The Lancet's Commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care – Authors' reply. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 405(10479), p. 625–626. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)00150-3. Full text in Research Archive
• Kouhsar, Morteza; Weymouth, Luke; Smith, Adam; Imm, Jennifer; Bredemeyer, Claudia & Wedatilake, Yehani [Show all 16 contributors for this article] (2025). Co-methylation network analysis of Psychosis in Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's & Dementia. ISSN 1552-5260. 20. doi: 10.1002/alz.088982. Full text in Research Archive
• Stefansson, Hreinn; Walters, G. Bragi; Sveinbjornsson, Gardar; Tragante, Vinicius; Einarsson, Gudmundur & Helgason, Hannes [Show all 67 contributors for this article] (2024). Homozygosity for R47H in TREM2 and the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease. New England Journal of Medicine. ISSN 0028-4793. 390(23), p. 2217–2219. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc2314334. Full text in Research Archive
• Gjøra, Linda; Strand, Bjørn Heine; Engedal, Knut; Ernstsen, Linda; Skjellegrind, Håvard Kjesbu & Thingstad, Anne Pernille Mæhle [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2024). Rettelse: Demens og mild kognitiv svikt hos eldre personer i Trøndelag. Tidsskr nor legeforen. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.24.0298. Full text in Research Archive
• Wang, Heling; Siow, Richard; Schmauck-Medina, Tomás Alejandro; Zhang, Jianying; Sandset, Per Morten & Filshie, Clare [Show all 38 contributors for this article] (2024). Meeting Summary of The NYO3 5th NO-Age/AD Meeting and the 1st Norway-UK Joint Meeting on Aging and Dementia: Recent Progress on the Mechanisms and Interventional Strategies. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences. ISSN 1079-5006. 79(4), p. 1–10. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glae029. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Unhealthy aging poses a global challenge with profound healthcare and socioeconomic implications. Slowing down the aging process offers a promising approach to reduce the burden of a number of age-related diseases, such as dementia, and promoting healthy longevity in the old population. In response to the challenge of the aging population and with a view to the future, Norway and the United Kingdom are fostering collaborations, supported by a “Money Follows Cooperation agreement” between the 2 nations. The inaugural Norway–UK joint meeting on aging and dementia gathered leading experts on aging and dementia from the 2 nations to share their latest discoveries in related fields. Since aging is an international challenge, and to foster collaborations, we also invited leading scholars from 11 additional countries to join this event. This report provides a summary of the conference, highlighting recent progress on molecular aging mechanisms, genetic risk factors, DNA damage and repair, mitophagy, autophagy, as well as progress on a series of clinical trials (eg, using NAD+ precursors). The meeting facilitated dialogue among policymakers, administrative leaders, researchers, and clinical experts, aiming to promote international research collaborations and to translate findings into clinical applications and interventions to advance healthy aging.

• Rongve, Arvid; Aarsland, Dag; Fladby, Tormod; Øksengård, Anne Rita & Selbæk, Geir (2024). Ny tidsalder for behandling og diagnostikk av Alzheimers sykdom. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 145(1). doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.24.0604. Full text in Research Archive
• Myrenget, Martin Elstad; Rustøen, Tone; Myskja, Audun; Småstuen, Milada Cvancarova; Rangul, Vegar & Håpnes, Odd Sigfast [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2024). Reply to Kajiwara et al. Pain. ISSN 0304-3959. 165(8), p. 1890–1891. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003236. Full text in Research Archive
• Dénos, Marion Nicole Marie; Asante, Ernest Obeng; Eldholm, Rannveig Sakshaug; Selbæk, Geir; Skjellegrind, Håvard Kjesbu & Mai, Xiao-Mei [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2024). The association between clinically evaluated cognitive function and oral health in Norwegian older adults: The HUNT Study. Full text in Research Archive
• Kamsvåg, Ben Michael Danby; Helvik, Anne-Sofie; Tevik, Kjerstin Elisabeth & Selbæk, Geir (2024). Alcohol Consumption Among Older Adults Seeking Assessment for Cognitive Impairment and Dementia. Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet. ISSN 9788232681914. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Alkoholbruk blant eldre som søker utredning for kognitiv svikt og demens Kort tittel: Alkoholbruk hos eldre med kognitiv svikt og demens Det overordnede målet med denne avhandlingen var å utforske alkoholbruk blant eldre (≥60 år) henvist til utredning av kognitiv svikt, og utforske om deres drikkevaner kunne påvirke utredningen og behandlingen de mottok. Vi undersøkte dette gjennom tre vitenskapelige studier. Studie 1 fant blant annet at ca. 20% drakk 1-3 ganger per uke, og mer enn 10% drakk 4-7 ganger per uke. Studie 1 fant også at en pårørende ser ut til å være en gyldig alternativ kilde til informasjon angående en persons drikkevaner. Følgende forhold var assosierte med ikke å være enige angående alkoholbruken: hyppigere alkoholbruk, svakere kognitiv funksjon og agitasjon. I tilfeller der de ikke var enige rapporterte deltakerne at de drakk mindre hyppig enn det som pårørende rapporterte. Frekvensen av alkoholbruk var ikke statistisk assosiert verken med tiden mellom debut av demenssymptomer og utredning (Studie 2) eller med helsetjenestekostnader (Studie 3). Dette kan skyldes metodebegrensninger, men det kan også antyde at alkoholbruk kun spiller en begrenset rolle i bruk av helsetjenester blant eldre med kognitiv svikt. Vi oppdaget derimot en rekke andre faktorer som ser ut til å være assosierte med tid til utredning og bruken av helsetjenester. Kunnskap om disse faktorene kan bidra til å sikre en betimelig utredning og forhindre unødige forsinkelser eller overdrevne helseutgifter. Bakgrunnen for avhandlingen bygger på at stadig flere eldre drikker alkohol, og de drikker mer enn før. Samtidig får stadig flere eldre en demensdiagnose. Både økt alkoholbruk og demens medfører belastende symptomer, men vi vet fortsatt lite om alkoholbruk hos mennesker med kognitiv svikt og demens. Vi kom frem til våre resultater ved statistisk analyse av helseregisterdata. Avhandlingen baserte seg i hovedsak på Norsk register for personer som utredes for kognitive symptomer i spesialisthelsetjenesten (NorKog). Data fra ca. 3000 eldre NorKog-deltakere ble sammenkoblet med helsetjenestedata fra database for kontroll og utbetaling av helserefusjoner (KUHR) og Norsk pasientregister (NPR).

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