University of Oulu receives €200,000 donation from the Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation

The “Ageing, Mind, and Brain” project, conducted at the University of Oulu’s Faculty of Medicine, focuses on studying the health of the ageing brain and mind. The project leverages the university’s unique Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, which has gathered health data on its participants since their prenatal stages.

The study aims to explore psychological and psychosocial factors that influence brain function and health, as well as protect against memory disorders and other issues related to brain ageing. The research will be enriched by the launch of a follow-up study of the cohort members, who will turn 60 during 2025–2026.

The project seeks to generate significant new insights into the mechanisms connecting mental and physical health. The findings will support efforts to promote brain health and prevent ageing-related health challenges.

“This donation provides an important boost for expanding our research in a globally unique way. It allows us to deepen our understanding of how mental and physical well-being influence each other throughout life,” says Minna Ruddock, Research Director for the cohort study.

A new direction towards holistic well-being

The strategy of the University of Oulu’s Faculty of Medicine highlights holistic well-being alongside physical health. The Gyllenberg Foundation’s donation supports this objective, marking a shift from disease-centred research towards a broader focus on overall well-being.

The donation also reflects current societal challenges related to ageing populations and maintaining brain health. “The foundation’s jubilee initiative provides a valuable starting point for longitudinal research aimed at improving quality of life and promoting healthier ageing,” notes Osmo Tervonen, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine.