Today in Jönköping, we went back to the University, this time to the School for Health and Welfare to learn from Deborah Finkel, an American researcher who presented on the Swedish Twin Studies. Deborah who is originally from the U.S. teaches at one of the Indiana branch campuses in the fall and in the spring she spends her time in Sweden. In both the U.S. and Sweden, she spends her time researching and developing theories around twins and aging. The twin registry is now accounts for the largest twin studies in the world, and was established in the 1960’s. Since established, there has been over 100,000 twin pairs involved in studies. In 1994, Deborah joined the Karolinska Institute to work on her research in Sweden. Today she spoke about two of the studies she has conducted since starting at the institute.
Deborah solely focuses on one of the studies regarded aging twins. The bigger study she did is called Swedish Adoption Twin Study of Aging (SATSA). The study was started in the 1980’s and identified twins reared apart and matched with twins reared together. She was looking at the genetic and environmental factors that had an impact on twins since the start of the older age (50). She accounted of motor, verbal, metal, and spatial factors given on various tests. She found that lung function has an effect on motor factors, which has an effect on processing speed, which in the end can change cognitive development and functioning later in life.
After hearing from Deborah, we had a little time to get FIKA, and then went a beautiful church near our hotel, where a German choir was performing. In the afternoon, we visited the Center for Learning and Innovation in Healthcare to learn about the types of innovative skills and training that healthcare professions use in their hospitals, primary care facilities, as well as the main types of care offered to patients. We met with the CEO, who mainly touched upon the differences and similarities between both Sweden and the U.S. and some of the challenges both countries are facing. Tonight we are heading out to dinner at a restaurant right by the water, and tomorrow we head back to Jönköping University to give our in-country presentations. Then on to Stockholm tomorrow evening!
