Tailored lifestyle intervention helps to combat major diseases

Metabolic disorders related to metabolic syndrome, obesity and cardiovascular diseases are the subjects of the comprehensive research project or consortium called PrevMetSyn, carried out within the SALVE research programme of the Academy of Finland. The consortium will also examine environmental factors, such as dietary habits, in order to define the specific characteristics of those considered to be in the risk category.

The aim is to shed light on the molecular level mechanisms of the genes that cause obesity and cardiovascular diseases, and of metabolism. The results will provide new means and methods to provide guidance on the integration of permanent lifestyle changes, and to promote general health. The results will be useful, for example, in the search to find more a cost-efficient treatment for type 2 diabetes, which is also vital for the prevention of obesity and diabetes.  

The consortium brings together biomedicine, genetics, nutritional science, information studies, epidemiological research and the rapidly developing field of computational medicine, which incorporates the use of neural networks and self-organising maps. The study will combine a considerable amount of theoretical approaches, methods and information from earlier studies carried out in different fields.  

The study will be carried out using extensive cohort data in which the subjects were tracked throughout their lifetime from foetus to adult. The purpose is to utilise the information in clinical intervention studies, which strive to develop tailored lifestyle intervention that corresponds to the individual characteristics of individual patients.

The consortium research teams have already produced new information regarding lifestyle interventions, lifespan epidemiology, genetics and behaviours related to health data. These sub-areas form the basis for a clinical study which endeavours to provide guidance and health information, in an accessible format, for patients at risk for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

The research consortium will be headed by Professor Markku Savolainen. Research participants from Finland include:
- Professor Markku Savolainen, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu
- Professor Mika Ala-Korpela, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu
- Professor Karl-Heinz Herzig, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Oulu
- Professor Maija-Leena Huotari, Faculty of Humanities/Information Studies, University of Oulu
- Docent Jaana Laitinen, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Oulu
- Docent Ursula Schwab, Clinical Nutrition Unit, University of Kuopio

Additionally, the British Medical Research Council granted funding for Professor Marjo-Riitta Järvelin and her research partners at the Imperial College in London.

For further information, please contact Professor Markku Savolainen, E-mail: markku.savolainen(at)oulu.fi