About AgeCap

Introduction

The AgeCap Center was funded and active between 2014 and 2023. It started in 2014 with funding from Forte. It was based on the capability approach, i.e. the individual’s ability to perform actions in order to reach goals he or she has reason to value. Initially, it included five research groups from two faculties. The study of capability necessitates a multidisciplinary approach at the micro-, meso- and macro levels. 

In 2015, the University of Gothenburg funded, as part of the UGOT Challenge initiative, the inclusion of more faculties and institutions. Then, AgeCap included researchers from five faculties and 17 institutions. Thirty projects included researchers from two or more faculties. The center published more than 1000 scientific papers in peer reviewed journals, and had 41 dissertations. Researchers from AgeCap summarized how the capability approach may be used in aging research in an anthology (Multidisciplinary Approach to Capability in Age and Ageing. Springer Nature Switzerland AG. Cham, Switzerland 2022)

Research

AgeCap included a number of studies. H70 Birth Cohort studies reported on e.g. risk factors for dementia and on how aging has changed during the last 50 years. The HEARTS study examines different aspects on the transition from working life to retirement. AgeCap researchers also examined how aging is described in media, older people’s participation in political life and their the use of digital media, how laws interfere with older peoples capability, the interaction between social and genetic factors for the development of dementia, cognitive function in aging and early dementia, how to strengthen how older users of home care services could exert influence and have choice and control in their everyday living. A randomised controlled trial on frail older persons seeking care at an emergency department was also conducted. 

Several studies were on organisational capability, e.g. how the ability of organizations to manage delayed retirement depends on a combination of the organization's resources and preferences. Organisational capability is also important for elderly care both for employees' extended working lives and for older users' capability in everyday life. The FRESH Research Group conducted qualitative, quantitative, and randomized controlled trials in diverse environments, such as hospitals, primary care, municipal health and social care, and nursing homes, emphasizing the importance of listening to and acknowledging the knowledge of frail older people and including their perspectives in research. Their results emphasize the necessity of multi-professional care for frail older people, and underscore the importance of identifying those who require such care. A screening instrument in care for frail older people, the FRESH screening instrument was developed and was recommended by a national working group. The historical perspective was used in studies on fraility, suicidality, birth cohort differences and elderly care. Capability is the main theoretical framework of AgeCap. ICECAP-O is a test of capability. AgeCap researchers translated the test and analysed test-retest reliability and item relevance.

Outreach to society 

An important aspect of AgeCap has been to transfer knowledge on aging to society, to the public, and to decision makers. One examples is the Årsrika Gothenburg 400, where AgeCap took part in more than 45 public lectures and seminars during the Gothenburg 400 years jubilee. AgeCap has also done more than 40 lectures in collaboration with Utbildningsradion, a Swedish State TV branch (LÄNK). These lectures can be streamed via UR Play. AgeCap has arranged seminars at the Swedish Parliament and yearly at Almedalen, an arrangement organised every year in Visby, Sweden. AgeCap contributed with seven reports to the Delegation for older labour (www.seniorarbetskraft.se). AgeCap researchers were cited in media around 300 times per year. Other activities were participation at the Science Festival, Gothenburg Film Festival, Swedish Dementia Days and the Gothenburg Book Fair.

The overall aim of AgeCap is to perform coordinated studies of capability in ageing. Capability refers to the individual’s ability to perform actions in order to reach goals he or she has reason to value. Factors on different levels of the person’s life form the basis for what that individual is capable of. Examples of factors on a macro level are laws and regulations that affect pensions, social security, labour market, home care, and health care. 

On a mesolevel, factors that influence capability include the context in which the daily life is embedded, e.g. socioeconomic, family life, social networks, caring facilities and obligations, health care and work. Finally, individual factors include genetic predispositions, neurobiology, personality, somatic, mental/cognitive health, life style and human capital (e.g education, acquired work skills, earning capacity).

The centre will conduct multidisciplinary studies and educational activities by bringing together researchers from medicine, psychology, social and health sciences for joint projects focusing on determinants of stability and change of capability. Both quantitative and qualitative methods will be used and projects focusing on secular changes, physical, cognitive and mental health, neurohealth, work and retirement, fraility, and self-determination will be included.

Researchers at the centre and their networks already have access to major population-based longitudinal databases. The plan is to launch new intervention studies and longitudinal studies of new cohorts that allow us to cover the entire age span from 50 to over 100 years. Knowledge gathered through the centre will have broad applications ranging from political decision-making to individual well-being. The centre will also foster young researchers in multidisciplinary aging research. The ultimate goal is to strengthen older people’s capability to make choices that improves overall wellbeing and participation in society.

Organisation

The host institution for AgeCap is the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology.
AgeCap's organisation includes a Steering Committee, a communications team, a group of young researchers (AgeCap Greenhouse), a scientific coordinator, an administrative coordinator, a communicator, and investigation unit. The steering committee is supported by an international advisory board. Further, a stakeholders advisory board facilitates collaboration with society.

Steering committee

The steering committee decisions are taken regarding development of research activities and the planning of resource use. The Steering Committee meet six times per year and the members are:

• Director of AgeCap and leader of EPINEP: Ingmar Skoog (substitute Margda Waern)
• Synneve Dahlin Ivanoff, FRESH (substitute Katarina Wilhelmsson)
• Boo Johansson, LIFE LAB (substitute Valgeir Thorvaldsson),
• Lotta Dellve, LEXLIV (substitute Ewa Wikström/Björn Halleröd)
• Kaj Blennow, NEUROCHEM (substitute Henrik Zetterberg)
• Maria Edström, AGEDEM (substitute Annika Bergström)
• Maja Gunn, HDK-Valand – Academy of Art and Design
• Ulrika Lagerlöf Nilsson, Faculty of Humanities (substitute Dimitrios Kokkinakis)
• Eva Maria Svensson, School of Business, Economics and Law (substitute Kristian Bolin)

AGECAP GREENHOUSE

Theresa Westgård and Jessica Samuelsson

CO-OPT MEMBERS 

• Representative of Västra Götaland: Ann-Marie Wennberg, chief physician
• Representative of host faculty: Agneta Holmäng, Dean
• Scientific coordinator: Pia Gudmundsson
• Administrative coordinator: Tina Jacobsson
• Innovation advisor, Jonas Rimbäck

Reference group

Coordinator

• Pia Gudmundsson

Head

• Sten Landahl

Members

• Lena Gustafsson, SPF Seniors
• Ingela Ekholm, PRO
• Peter Lönnroth, Region Västra Götaland
• Helena Henningson, SKL, Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions
• Sara Nordenhielm, The Gothenburg Region (GR)
• Elisabet Lann, local politician and Chairperson of the Council of the Elderly
• Ann-Christine Ringsby, registered dementia nurse
• Kristine Josephsson, Senior Sport School, Region Västra Götaland
• Susanne Sandgren, Skaraborgs Municipality
• Lena Holmquist Henriksson, Head of Geriatric development center at Sahlgrenska University hospital
• Emma Matsson, Head of development Åldersvänliga Göteborg
• Jonas Rimbäck, Innovation advisor

International Advisory Board

AgeCap has an international advisory board that includes seven international researchers from various disciplines. This Board will meet once a year to review the development of the Center, as well as advise on future directions.
 

Members

• Robert Stewart, Professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology & Clinical Informatics, King’s College, London, UK
• Clare Hocking, Professor of Occupational Science, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
• Denis Gerstorf, Professor of Developmental Psychology, Humboldt University, Berlin,
• David Gordon, Professor of Social Justice, Bristol University, Bristol,
• Nick Fox, Professor of Clinical Neurology, University College, London,
• Gladys Maestre, Professor of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York,
• Adesola Ogunniyi, Professor of Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
• Dr. Ulla Kriebernegg is Associate Professor at the Center for Inter-American Studies (C.IAS) at the University of Graz, Austria                                                                       

AgeCap greenhouse

• Theresa Westgård (FRESH)
• Jessica Samuelsson (EPINEP)

Communications Group

• Pia Gudmundsson (EPINEP)
• Maria Edström (AGEDEM)

Administration

• Tina Jacobsson, administrator
• Pia Gudmundsson, scientific coordinator

Members of AgeCap

SAHLGRENSKA ACADEMY

Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology
Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry
EPINEP

• Anna Dittrich                   
• Anna Zettergren
• Anne Börjesson Hansson
• Cecilia Doshé
• Daniel Jaraj
• Deborah Gustafson
• Elin Karlsson
• Elisabeth Rothenberg
• Erik Joas     
• Felicia Ahlner
• Fredrik Öhman
• Gunnel Sennerheim
• Hanna Falk Erhag
• Hanna Wetterberg
• Helen Lidén
• Ingmar Skoog
• Ingvar Karlsson
• Irma Rymo
• Isabell Warkki
• Isak Fredén-Klenfeldt
• Jenna Najar
• Jessica Samuelsson
• Johan Nilsson
• Johan Skoog
• Jonas Molinder
• Jürgen Kern
• Katarina Fleischer
• Katrin Rabie
• Karolina Thörnqvist
• Kerstin Brandt                                       
• Kerstin Frändin
• Khedidja Hedna
• Lena Johansson
• Lina Rydén
• Louise Lillemägi
• Madeleine Mellqvist Fässberg
• Maya Arvidsson Rådestig
• Mattias Jonson ­                 
• Margda Waern
• Masuma Novak
• Mats Ribbe
• Michael Schöll
• Nazib Seidu
• Paula Jonasson                                       
• Pia Gudmundsson
• Robert Sigström
• Sara Hed
• Silke Kern
• Simona Sacuiu
• Stefan Wiktorsson
• Therese Rydberg Sterner
• Timothy Hadarsson Bodin
• Thorsteinn Gislason
• Tina Jacobsson
• Tore Hällström
• Valter Sundh
• Xinxin Guo
• Yadi Nejad

NEUROCHEM

• Henrik Zetterberg
• Kaj Blennow

Adult Cognitive disorders

• Adrian Gimdal
• Alexandra Horvath
• Anders Wallin
• Anna Molinder
• Carl Eckerström
• Elin Axelsson
• Jacob Stålhammar
• Johan Svensson
• Marie Eckerström
• Marie Johansson
• Michael Jonsson
• Patrick Quinlan
• Petronella Kettunen
• Zinab Alhossani

FRESH

• Angela Bångsbo
• Eva Holmgren
• Greta Häggblom-Kronlöf
• Isabelle Andersson Hammar
• Isak Berge
• Joel Faronbi
• Kajsa Eklund
• Katarina Wilhelmson
• Lena Mårtensson
• Lena Sandin Wrankler
• Qarin Lood
• Sten Landahl
• Synneve Dahlin Ivanoff   
• Theresa Westgård

Institute of Health and Care Science

FRESH

• Emmelie Barenfeld
• Zahra Ebrahimi

LEXLIV

• Linda Åhlström

Institute of Medicine

Department of Public Health and Community Medicine

Occupational and Environmental Medicine

• Kerstin Wentz
• Kjell Torén
• Kristina Gyllensten
• Linus Schiöler
• Mathias Holm
• Mats Hagberg
• Mia Söderberg

Institute of Biomedicine

Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Aging and protein Quality control

• Doryaneh Ahmadpour
• Thomas Nyström

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

Department of Psychology

LIFE LAB

• Amos Pagin
• Anne Ingeborg Berg
• Benjamín Garzón
• Boo Johansson
• Gaia Olivo
• Gustaf Glavå
• Isabelle Hansson
• Johan Skoog
• Linda Hassing
• Linn Elena Zulka
• Magnus Lindwall
• Marie Kivi
• Martin Fischer
• Martin Löwdén
• Pär Bjälkebring
• Sandra Buratti
• Sara Hed
• Sindre Engelbrekt Rolstad
• Valgeir Thorvaldsson

Associate members LIFE LAB

• Georg Henning
• Marcus Praetorius Björk
• Peter Karlsson
• Stefanie König
• Taina Dukic Willstrand
• Taina Lethonen
• Yvonne Brehmer

Department of Sociology and Work Science

LEXLIV

• Björn Halleröd
• Caroline Hasselgren
• Daniel Seldén
• Helena Håkansson
• Jing Wu
• Karin Allard
• Lotta Dellve
• Margit Irene Hedfors
• Mattias Bengtsson
• Monika Andersson Bäck
• Robin Jonsson
• Roland Kadefors
• Gunnar Gillberg

External members LEXLIV

• Marita Flisbäck (University of Borås)
• Maria Wolmesjö (University of Borås)
• Urmi Nanda Biswas (Vadodara, India)
• Anindo Bhattarcharjee (MMS, Mumbai, India)
• Andrea Eriksson (KTH)
• Mikael Stattin (Umeå University)
• Daniel Larsson (anställd vid Umeå University)

Department of Social Work

FRESH

• Anna Dunér
• Hanna Mac Innes
• Tina Olsson

LEXLIV

• Linda Lane

Department of Journalism, Media and Communication (JMG)

AGEDEM

• Annika Bergström
• Gabriella Sandstig
• Maria Edström

Department of Political Science

AGEDEM

• Maria Solevid

FACULTY OF ARTS

Department of Historical Studies

Ageing and Society

• Helene Castenbrandt
• Ulrika Lagerlöf Nilsson

Department of Swedish

Language technology

• Dimitrios Kokkinakis
• Kristina Lundholm Fors

Department of Philosophy, linguistics and theory of science

Practical Philosophy

• Bengt Brülde

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, ECONOMICS AND LAW

Department of Business Administration

LEXLIV

• Ewa Wikström
• Nanna Gillberg
• Rebecka Arman
• Roy Liff 

Department of Economics

Health Economics

• Kristian Bolin

Department of Law

AGEDEM

• Eva-Maria Svensson
• Otto Swedrup
• Pernilla Rendahl
• Sara Stendahl
• Therese Bäckman
• Thomas Erhag
• Torbjörn Odlöw

FACULTY OF FINE, APPLIED AND PERFORMING ARTS

HDK – Academy of Design and Crafts

Design Management

Maja Gunn

IT FACULTY

Institution of Applied Information Technology

Division of Learning, Communication and IT

Digital seniors

Alexandra Weilenmann

Department of Computer Science and Engineering

Interaction Design

Digital seniors

Olof Torgersson