November 15, 2024

NEAR Scientific Workshop at European Public Health Conference in Lisbon

We are excited to share the highlights from NEAR’s scientific workshop “A National E-Infrastructure to Improve Public Health” at the European Public Health Conference 2024 in Lisbon. Ingrid Ekström chaired the workshop, beginning with an introduction from Linnea Sjöberg, who provided an overview of the NEAR infrastructure and its role in advancing aging research in Sweden. The session featured three insightful presentations showcasing ongoing projects utilizing NEAR data. Debora Rizzuto presented “Temporal Trends in Dementia Incidence in Sweden: Insights from NEAR Data,” where she gave a detailed analysis of changing patterns of dementia incidence over time. Following her, Jonas Molinder discussed “Personality and Biomarkers of Neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s Disease in Swedish Older Adults,” exploring the relationship between personality traits and biomarkers in the context of neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s disease using two NEAR databases. The workshop concluded with Susanna Gentili, who addressed “Characterizing Risk Profiles and Transitions across Living and Care Settings in Sweden,” where she analyzed risk factors and transitions between different living and care settings among older adults in Sweden.

Photos: Pernilla Siljehag

The workshop generated many questions and provided valuable insights into the latest research and developments in aging research. We extend our gratitude to everyone who attended and contributed to the discussions! 

Photos: Linnea Sjöberg

The conference dinner occurred at Estufa Fria, a beautiful lush botanical garden in Lisbon’s Eduardo VII Park. This stunning venue encompasses three unique greenhouse areas, each showcasing a rich diversity of plant species worldwide. As guests wandered through the vibrant greenery, they encountered cascading waterfalls, charming caves, and meandering pathways. Participants connected, shared visions for the future of public health in Europe, and savored delicious food, followed by traditional Portuguese music and dance that invited everyone to join the celebration.