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Authors: Anna Axén, Christine Kumlien, Christel Borg, Line Christiansen, Elin TaubeAbstract:Introduction Loneliness among older adults is a public health concern, and a lack of social connections is associated with loneliness. Community engagement is associated with a decrease in loneliness, which underscores the importance of social activities. However, exploring how older adults experience such activities is needed. Group‐based activities may help address loneliness by increasing social interaction, but research on the outcomes of initiatives targeting loneliness from older adults’ perspectives remains limited. This study explored older adults’ experiences of a community‐based activity program aimed at addressing loneliness. Methodology Data generation consisted…

Researchers at the Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH) Research and Education Clinic and the Health & Technology Research Lab have completed a pilot study showing that inhaled menthol can reduce the sensation of breathlessness in people living with COPD. Twenty patients with COPD took part in the study, which was carried out at the clinic in Karlskrona. Each participant cycled on a stationary bike for as long as they could manage while inhaling either menthol or a placebo. Those who inhaled menthol reported a lower perceived intensity of breathlessness, and they were also able to keep cycling somewhat longer. Breathlessness…

Authors: Max Olsson, Rafsan Ahmed, Joakim Ekstrand, Anders Blomberg, Tomas Jernberg, Mats Börjesson, Rachael A. Evans, Andrei Malinovschi, Jacob Sandberg, Magnus Sköld, Per Wollmer, Carl Johan Östgren, Gunnar Engström, Anders J. Björkelund, Magnus EkströmAbstract:Abstract Breathlessness is a common symptom in clinical practice, yet evidence for cost-effective strategies to diagnose the underlying health conditions causing breathlessness remains limited. Using Swedish population data with individuals with moderate to severe breathlessness, we developed an artificial intelligence (AI) reinforcement learning model to identify optimal, low-cost diagnostic pathways for breathlessness tailored to subgroups based on sex and smoking exposure. Sixteen clinically relevant conditions were defined,…

Authors: Holly Yu, Amanda R. Mercadante, Kate Halsby, Alexandra Loew-Baselli, Ye Tan, Frederick J. Angulo, Elizabeth Begier, Mendwas Dzingina, Johan S. Berglund, Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska, Viliam Cibik, Dagmar Zakova, Franc Strle, James H. Stark, Abstract:Up to 10% of patients with Lyme borreliosis (LB) will experience symptoms that fulfill the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) criteria of post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). This study assesses PTLDS in the Burden of Lyme Disease (BOLD) study through clinical assessment (“PTLDS Assessed by Clinicians”) and by post hoc evaluation of patient-reported outcomes, including the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, Fatigue Severity Scale, and Cognitive…

Authors: Holly Yu, Amanda R. Mercadante, Kate Halsby, Alexandra Loew-Baselli, Ye Tan, Juanita Edwards, Frederick J. Angulo, Elizabeth Begier, Mendwas Dzingina, Johan S. Berglund, Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska, Franc Strle, James H. Stark, Abstract:Lyme borreliosis (LB) can manifest as a localized infection or, if left untreated, disseminated disease. This analysis used Patient-Reported Outcome tools to assess general health, fatigue, pain, and cognitive function in patients with localized or disseminated LB, compared with age- and site-matched controls without LB. All participants were enrolled in the Burden of Lyme Disease (BOLD) study; LB cases were assessed at 3 time points: the enrollment visit, and…

On Thursday, 4 June 2026, Anna Axén successfully defended her doctoral thesis entitled Loneliness in Later Life: From the Perspective of Older Adults at Malmö University, Faculty of Health and Society. The public defence took place at Allmänna sjukhuset (the General Hospital), HS Aula, Malmö, and marked the completion of her doctoral degree in Care Science. The thesis examines the relationship between loneliness, social connections, and health among older adults, and explores the experiences of older adults participating in community-based activity programmes aimed at reducing loneliness. Drawing on both quantitative and qualitative methods, including cross-sectional registry data, semi-structured interviews, ethnographic…

Congratulations to Dr. Elina Mikaelsson Midlöv on her doctoral thesis:“Standing next to but not being part of: Support for relatives in general palliative care at home.”The thesis explores how relatives are supported by healthcare professionals before and after a patient’s death when general palliative care is provided at home. Based on four studies involving both relatives and registered nurses, the findings show that relatives often receive some support, but that it is frequently experienced as insufficient, unstructured, and not fully adapted to their needs.The thesis highlights the importance of structured, person-centred support, continuous communication, shared responsibility, and emotional support both…

The feature highlights her work on identifying Alzheimer’s disease at an earlier stage using methods that have the potential to support broader screening. Her research focuses on combining retinal image analysis, automated cognitive testing, and blood biomarker analysis to detect early biological changes linked to the disease. The article also emphasizes the importance of earlier and more accurate detection, particularly as new treatments appear to be most effective in the very early phases of disease progression. Ana describes how this line of research may contribute to future screening approaches in primary care and improve access to earlier support, monitoring, and…