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Alzheimer’s disease Follow-Up Study (ALSOVA)´s Profile image

Alzheimer’s disease Follow-Up Study (ALSOVA)

Project
01.01.2002 - 31.05.2030
Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences
Information People Publications

Introducing image of the groupAlzheimer’s disease Follow-Up Study (ALSOVA)

From monitoring care, use of health and social services and costs to the prediction of resources needed in care and the importance of Alzheimer’s disease from the point of view of health economy.

The members of the ALSOVA research group, led by Professor Anne Koivisto, and the collaborators have strong expertise in their research areas from clinical Alzheimer’s disease, care and pharmacology to health economics.

Our major research interests are:

  • To monitor and determine measures for the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), quality of life, changes of care and medical therapy, the probability of institutionalization, and long-term costs of care within the standard health care system.
  • To determine the impacts of AD progression and the characteristics of caregivers on the use and costs of social and health care services.

Our aim in ALSOVA HE study is:

  • To develop a new, improved multifactorial AD cost-effectiveness model to predict the need for social and health services in relation to progression of AD.

Analyses will be carried out using the unique University of Eastern Finland (UEF) Neurology Department’s 5-year ALSOVA follow-up clinical and register data, consisting of 236 home-dwelling persons with AD and their caregivers. AD-targeted medication was recommended to be used. One third of the dyads participated in psychosocial rehabilitation (16 days in two years). Annual follow-ups were carried out by the study personnel. In all other respects, the study participants were treated in the standard health care. Health Economic analyses will be carried out combining the longitudinal (5-year) register and clinical data.

UEF (Neurology, Nursing Science, Psychology, Health and Social Management, Pharmacoeconomics and Outcome Research Units) and experts from Kuopio University Hospital (Neurology), as well as national and international collaborators, will work in close collaboration to improve care for patients with AD and well-being for their caregivers.

This longitudinal 5-year study will help to develop the system for monitoring services and care to be more suitable and cost-effective for persons with a memory disorder, their family members, and society. The study will produce a new, more realistic multifactorial model to predict the disease course as well as the needed resources.

Our study aims and the expected results support the objectives of the National Memory Disorder Program (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, STM 2012) and are in line with Academy and Horizon 2020 research objectives to improve wellbeing of aged citizens.

Cooperation

    • Jaana Suhonen, MD, PhD, Neurologist, Health Care Leadership MBA, Senior Lecturer

     

    Brain Research Unit, Neurology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, UEF and NeuroCenter, Neurology, KUH, Finland

    • Tuula Pirttilä, MD, PhD, Professor, PI (2002-10)
    • Juhani Sivenius, MD, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Steering Committee Member (2002-15)
    • Markku Kalinen, RN, Research Assistant
    • Helena Mäkelä, RN, Research Assistant
    • Lotta Salo, MHS, Nutritional Therapist, Project Researcher

     

    Department of Health and Social Management, UEF, Kuopio Campus, Finland

    • Hannu Valtonen, MSc, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Steering Committee Member (2002-15)

     

    Department of Nursing Science, UEF, Kuopio , Finland

    • Anna-Maija Pietilä, RN, PhD, Professor, Steering commitee member

     

    Memory Polyclinic, Jyväskylä Central Hospital, Jyväskylä, Finland

    • Pertti Karppi, MD, Geriatrician, Collaborator (2002-15)

     

    Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health (CEVR), Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine Boston, USA (2013-14)

    • Peter J Neumann, ScD, Professor, Director
    • Joshua T. Cohen, PhD, Research Associate Professor, Deputy Director
    • Pei-Jung Lin, MS, PhD, Project Director, Assistant Professor

     

    Department of Neurology, North Karelia Central Hospital, Joensuu, Finland

    • Asta Hiltunen, MD, Neurologist

Theses

    • Leino M. Komorbiditeetti Alzheimerin tautia sairastavilla – kolmen vuoden seurantatutkimus. Lääketieteen laitos, Itä-Suomen yliopisto, 2015.
    • Ryhänen J. Antipsykoottien käyttö Alzheimerin tautia sairastavilla potilailla ja yhteys taudin vaikeusasteeseen ja käytösoireisiin – ALSOVA-tutkimuksen 3 vuoden seuranta. Farmasian laitos, Itä-Suomen yliopisto. 2014.
    • Ruokostenpohja N. Merkityksellisyyden kokeminen Alzheimerin tautia sairastavien henkilöiden omaishoitajien elämässä. Hoitotieteet, Itä-Suomen yliopisto, 2014.
    • Klemettilä M. Alzheimerin tautia sairastavien miesten puoliso-omaishoitajina toimivien naisten kokemuksellinen elämänlaatu: ALSOVA päiväkirjat. Hoitotieteen laitos, Itä-Suomen yliopisto 2014.
    • Reimari N. Alzheimerin tautia sairastavan potilaan puoliso-omaishoitajan elämänlaatu kolmen vuoden seurannassa: Alsova tutkimus. Hoitotieteen laitos, Itä-Suomen yliopisto, 2013.
    • Mononen M: Neuropsykiatriset oireet lievässä Alzheimerin taudissa. Lääketieteen laitos, Itä-Suomen  yliopisto 2011.
    • Pulliainen M: Vaikuttavatko terveyspalveluiden tarve ja omaisen antama tuki lievää Alzheimerin tautia sairastavien terveyspalveluiden käyttöön? Kuopion yliopisto, yhteiskuntatieteellinen tiedekunta, terveyshallinnon ja – talouden laitos. Kuopion Yliopisto 2009.
    • Isotalo A: Terveydenhuollon palveluiden käyttö ja omaishoidon tarve lievää Alzheimerin tautia sairastavilla potilailla – spesifisen lääkehoidon vaikutus resurssien käyttöön ja kokonaiskustannuksiin. Farmaseuttinen tiedekunta, Kuopion yliopisto.

Professors

Senior Researchers

Doctoral Researchers

Other group members

  • Ilona Hallikainen, UEF
  • Viivi Tolvanen, UEF
  • Tuomo Hänninen, KUH
  • Virve Kärkkäinen, KUH

Publications

23 items