M.D., Adjunct Professor Tiia Ngandu works at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) in Helsinki as a research manager at the Department of Public Health and Welfare, the Unit of Population Health. “I study the epidemiology, risk factors and prevention of dementia. Our group aims to generate information and find solutions that would enable more people to live longer without dementia”, explains Tiia.    

Tiia graduated from Kuopio University medical school and completed her PhD studies in 2006 at Karolinska Institute. The doctoral dissertation was part of the CAIDE study on risk factors for dementia, which is still ongoing as a collaboration between the University of Eastern Finland, THL and Karolinska Institute. Cooperation with the University of Eastern Finland continues also in international networks related to dementia prevention and projects such as Nordic-UK Brain Network and World-Wide Fingers.   

“The Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) has been the first study to show that a multidomain lifestyle intervention is beneficial for cognitive functions”, says Tiia, the coordinator of the FINGER study. Also based on the pioneering work in the FINGER trial, the new MET-FINGER trial is an international, randomized clinical trial aimed at reducing cognitive decline and preventing dementia with a combination of lifestyle intervention and targeted drug treatment. The THL National Memory Service Path Project aims to provide older population and at-risk groups with preventive measures and to strengthen equality of services. ”The project works in close cooperation with a number of actors to implement lifestyle interventions”, describes Tiia this ongoing project. The projects also involve several actors from the Brain & Mind Network of the Neurocenter Finland as partners. 

CAIDE – Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia: https://uefconnect.uef.fi/en/group/caide-cardiovascular-risk-factors-aging-and-dementia/ 
UEF – Nordic-UK Brain Network (UEF-NBN): https://uefconnect.uef.fi/en/group/uef-nordic-uk-brain-network-uef-nbn/ 
World-Wide FINGERS: https://wwfingers.com/ 
FINGER: https://thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/research-and-development/research-and-projects/finger-research-project 
MET-FINGER: https://fbhi.se/area_of_focus/clinical-research/  
The THL National Memory Service Path Project (in Finnish): https://thl.fi/fi/tutkimus-ja-kehittaminen/tutkimukset-ja-hankkeet/kansallinen-muistipalvelupolku-muistisairauksien-varhaisen-toteamisen-kansallisen-mallin-kehittaminen-osaksi-sosiaali-ja-terveyspalveluja