Annakaisa Haapasalo Group (Molecular Neurodegeneration)
Leaders
Our group studies the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs), including genetic and non-genetic (sporadic) frontotemporal dementia (FTD), the most common cause of dementia in under 60-year-olds. We especially focus on the genetic form of FTD caused by the hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene, because it is exceptionally common in Finnish FTD patients. In our collaborative projects, we are also interested in other NDDs, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. We examine altered interactions and molecular pathogenetic and functional changes in neurons and glial cells derived from patients having these diseases. We also aim to identify novel diagnostic and predictive biomarkers and therapeutic options in NDDs.
Our research group comprises experts in different fields. Our researchers’ expertise lies in patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based disease models, different cell and molecular biological methods, fluorescence and confocal microscopy-based imaging, biochemical techniques, gene editing technology, and measuring different biological and electrophysiological responses of different brain cells as well as investigating alterations in gene expression.
We are active participants in the Finnish FTD Research Network, FinFTD, and we closely collaborate with clinical researchers who specialize in NDDs with the goal of translating our findings for the benefit of the patients. We are coordinating the EU JPND and Research Council of Finland -funded SynaDeg project (Pre-diagnostic early synaptic disturbances in neurodegenerative diseases) and are partners in two Horizon EU projects: PREDICTFTD (Accelerating the Validation of Predictive Liquid Biomarkers for Frontotemporal Dementia Diagnosis and Subclassification) ja SYNAPSING (Synapsing Mental Disorders and Neurodegenerative diseases: Towards more effective diagnosis and management of psychiatric symptoms). We also have several ongoing projects funded by different foundations.
News
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We are a partner and coordinator of the JPND SynaDeg projectWe are a partner and coordinator of the JPND SynaDeg project
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We are a partner in EU Horizon Synapsing projectWe are a partner in EU Horizon Synapsing project
Read more: https://synapsing.org/ -
Significant support from Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation to research on memory disordersSignificant support from Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation to research on memory disorders
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UEF’s frontotemporal dementia researchers secure prestigious Academy of Finland and EU fundingUEF’s frontotemporal dementia researchers secure prestigious Academy of Finland and EU funding
Projects
Cooperation
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Professor Anne Portaankorva
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Professor Mikko Hiltunen
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Professor Ville Leinonen
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MD, Associate Professor Eino Solje
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Professor Tarja Malm,
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Professor Jari Koistinaho
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Finnish FTD Research Network (FinFTD) 01.05.2016 - -
AIVI Stem Cell Center -
Bioinformatics Center 01.01.2014 - -
Biomarkers for Neurological Disorders 08.06.2004 - -
Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration and Early Onset Dementia 01.01.2019 - -
GenomMed Finished 01.04.2018 - 31.12.2022 -
Molecular Genetics of Alzheimer's Disease - Hiltunen Lab 01.01.2022 - -
Neuroinflammation research group 01.01.2017 - -
Neurobiology of Memory 12.11.2022 - -
UEF Neurodegeneration - Myohanen Lab 02.08.2021 -
Molecular Neurodegeneration Group 10-year anniversary dinner 2025
Leaders
Professors
Post-doctoral Researchers
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Dorit Hoffmann
Project ResearcherA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences -
Nadine Huber
Postdoctoral ResearcherA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences -
Alberto Sesena Rubfiaro
Postdoctoral ResearcherA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences
Doctoral Researchers
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Tomi Hietanen
Doctoral ResearcherA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences -
Elena Ppali
Early Stage ResearcherA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences -
Viivi Pekkala
Doctoral ResearcherA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences
Project researchers
Publications
28 items-
Frontotemporal dementia patient-derived iPSC neurons show cell pathological hallmarks and evidence for synaptic dysfunction and DNA damage
Huber, Nadine; Hietanen, Tomi; Heikkinen, Sami; Shakirzyanova, Anastasia; Hoffmann, Dorit; Rostalski, Hannah; Dhingra, Ashutosh; Rodriguez-Nieto, Salvador; Kärkkäinen, Sari; Koskuvi, Marja; Korhonen, Eila; Hartikainen, Päivi; Pylkäs, Katri; Krüger, Johanna; Malm, Tarja; Takalo, Mari; Hiltunen, Mikko; Koistinaho, Jari; Portaankorva, Anne M; Solje, Eino; Haapasalo, Annakaisa, 2025, Molecular psychiatry, [Published: 26 September 2025], 1-17. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Incidence and Prevalence of Early Onset Dementia in Finland
Solje, Eino; Aaltonen, Mikko; Aho, Kalle; Heikkinen, Sami; Kivisild, Ave; Lehtonen, Adolfina; Leppänen, Laura; Rinnankoski, Iina; Soppela, Helmi; Tervonen, Laura; Haapasalo, Annakaisa; Remes, Anne; Hartikainen, Päivi; Katisko, Kasper; Krüger, Johanna, 2025, Alzheimer's & dementia. Poster -
Muistisairauksien patogeneesi tarkentuu
Haapasalo, Annakaisa; Solje, Eino; Hiltunen, Mikko, 2025, Lääkärilehti, 80, 9, 697-701. A2 Review article, Literature review, Systematic review -
Sociodemographic traits as early indicators of AD, FTD, and VaD up to 10 years before diagnosis
Kivisild, Ave; Rinnankoski, Iina; Aaltonen, Mikko; Aho, Kalle; Heikkinen, Sami; Lehtonen, Adolfina; Leppänen, Laura; Soppela, Helmi; Tervonen, Laura; Ervasti, Kaijus; Hartikainen, Päivi; Haapasalo, Annakaisa; Katisko, Kasper; Krüger, Johanna; Solje, Eino, 2025, Alzheimer's & dementia, 21, 9, 1-10. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Survival and mortality rates in early onset dementia
Katisko, Kasper; Aaltonen, Mikko; Aho, Kalle; Heikkinen, Sami; Kivisild, Ave; Lehtonen, Adolfina; Leppänen, Laura; Rinnankoski, Iina; Soppela, Helmi; Tervonen, Laura; Suhonen, Noora Maria; Haapasalo, Annakaisa; Hartikainen, Päivi; Krüger, Johanna; Solje, Eino, 2025, Journal of neurology neurosurgery and psychiatry, [Published Online First: 04 November 2025], 1-7. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
The protective PLCγ2-P522R variant mitigates Alzheimer’s disease-associated pathologies by enhancing beneficial microglial functions
Takalo, Mari; Jeskanen, Heli; Rolova, Taisia; Kervinen, Inka; Hellén, Marianna; Heikkinen, Sami; Koivisto, Hennariikka; Jokivarsi, Kimmo; Müller, Stephan A.; Koivumäki, Esa-Mikko; Mäkinen, Petra; Juopperi, Sini-Pauliina; Willman, Roosa-Maria; Sinisalo, Rosa; Hoffmann, Dorit; Jäntti, Henna; Peitz, Michael; Fließbach, Klaus; Kuulasmaa, Teemu; Natunen, Teemu; Kemppainen, Susanna; Poutiainen, Pekka; Leinonen, Ville; Malm, Tarja; Martiskainen, Henna; Ramirez, Alfredo; Haapasalo, Annakaisa; Lichtentha, 2025, Journal of neuroinflammation, 22, 1, 64. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Mechanisms of neurodegeneration in frontotemporal dementia: focus on synaptic dysfunction
Huber, Nadine, 2024, Publications of the University of Eastern Finland. Dissertations in Health Sciences. G5 Doctoral dissertation (article) -
Cortico-spinal tDCS in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial followed by an open-label phase
Benussi, Alberto; Cantoni, Valentina; Grassi, Mario; Libri, Ilenia; Cotelli, Maria Sofia; Tarantino, Barbara; Datta, Abhishek; Thomas, Chris; Huber, Nadine; Kärkkäinen, Sari; Herukka, Sanna-Kaisa; Haapasalo, Annakaisa; Filosto, Massimiliano; Padovani, Alessandro; Borroni, Barbara, 2023, Brain stimulation, 16, 6, 1666-1676. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Psychopharmacological Medication Use in Frontotemporal Dementia at the Time of Diagnosis: Comparison with Alzheimer’s Disease
Katisko, Kasper; Krüger, Johanna; Soppela, Helmi; Hartikainen, Päivi; Haapasalo, Annakaisa; Remes, Anne M.; Solje, Eino, 2023, Journal of Alzheimer's disease, 95, 2, 677-685. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Traumatic Brain Injury Associates with an Earlier Onset in Sporadic Frontotemporal Dementia
Soppela, Helmi; Krüger, Johanna; Hartikainen, Päivi; Koivisto, Anne; Haapasalo, Annakaisa; Borroni, Barbara; Remes, Anne M.; Katisko, Kasper; Solje, Eino, 2023, Journal of Alzheimer's disease, 91, 1, 225-232. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research