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Maria Westerståhl

Maria Westerståhl

Senior Lecturer | Docent
Visiting address: Alfred Nobels allé 8, 14152 Huddinge
Postal address: H5 Laboratoriemedicin, H5 Klinisk Fysiologi Gustafsson, 141 52 Huddinge
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About me

  • I am a senior lecturer at the Karolinska institutet (KI) and have a BSc in
    nutrition and a associate professorship in Physiology. I teach physiology at
    several courses and programs at the KI. In my research I focus on the
    change in physical capacity during life.
    Elected member of the KI Pedagogical Academy 2011
    Master in Nutrition
    Associate professor in physiology

Research

  • My research focuses on health effects of lifestyle. I am responsible for a longitudinal study
    examining the life changes in and predictors of physical fitness and physical
    activity from adolescence to middle
    age. ¹ó´Ç°ù²õ°ì²Ô¾±²Ô²µ²õ²õ³Ù³Ü»å¾±±ð-´Ú²â²õ¾±²õ°ì-°ì²¹±è²¹³¦¾±³Ù±ð³Ù-´Ç³¦³ó-³óä±ô²õ²¹
    In our research we use methods for assessing physical capacity (e.g
    submaximal oxygen uptake, maximal strength), physical activity (e.g
    questionnaires and accelerometers), body composition (e.g. skinfold, BIA, MR, ultrasound),  
    lifestyle habits (questionnaires) and function of the cardiovascular system
    (e.g. ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, arterial stiffness, ultrasound). We also examine muscle tissue for structural and functional changes with age, using for example ENeG, motor unit number estmation, immunohistochemistry and enzymatic staining.

    I have 
    supervise PhD-students in their projects concerning cardiovascular risk in
    obese children and in early prevention of obesity.

Teaching

  • I use various pedagogical methods in my teaching and I have developed
    learning activities for both distance- and campus-based education. I teach
    students at the nursing-, occupational therapy-, physiotherapy-,
    nutritionist-, and bio̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ scientist programs at KI. I am a teacher,
    course leader and examiner for various courses in e.g. anatomy and
    physiology, nutrition, nutritional assessment, obesity prevention and
    treatment and teach both at campus- and web based courses. I have designed
    courses in nutrition and physiology by defining the curriculum, creating the
    learning activities and the examinations. I examine and/or supervise students
    at the undergraduate, master and doctoral level.

Articles

  • Article: JOURNAL OF LIPID RESEARCH. 2021;62:100065
    Pedrelli M; Parini P; Kindberg J; Arnemo JM; Bjorkhem I; Aasa U; Westerstahl M; Walentinsson A; Pavanello C; Turri M; Calabresi L; Oorni K; Camejo G; Frobert O; Hurt-Camejo E
  • Article: ACTA PAEDIATRICA. 2020;109(8):1665-1671
    Johansson L; Brissman M; Morinder G; Westerstahl M; Marcus C
  • Journal article: TRANSLATIONAL SPORTS MEDICINE. 2020;3(1):55-62
    Lundell S; Mian L; Aasa U; Westerstahl M
  • Article: SAGE OPEN MEDICINE. 2019;7:2050312119880734
    Sjowall D; Thorell LB; Mandic M; Westerstahl M
  • Article: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 2018;8(1):14767
    Westerstahl M; Jansson E; Barnekow-Bergkvist M; Aasa U
  • Article: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS. 2017;27(4):418-429
    Aasa U; Lundell S; Barnekow-Bergkvist M; Jansson E; Westerstahl M
  • Article: JOURNAL OF PAIN RESEARCH. 2016;9:303-310
    Borg JH; Westerstahl M; Lundell S; Madison G; Aasa U
  • Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NUTRITION. 2016;55(2):781-792
    Svensson V; Sobko T; Ek A; Forssen M; Ekbom K; Johansson E; Nowicka P; Westerstahl M; Riserus U; Marcus C
  • Article: SPINE. 2015;40(24):1926-1933
    Aasa U; Lundell S; Aasa B; Westerstahl M
  • Article: ACTA PAEDIATRICA. 2014;103(4):411-417
    Kallerman PH; Hagman E; Bonamy A-KE; Zemack H; Marcus C; Norman M; Westerstahl M
  • Article: ACTA PAEDIATRICA. 2014;103(2):225-230
    Westerstahl M; Kallerman PH; Hagman E; Ek AE; Rossner SM; Marcus C
  • Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBESITY. 2010;34(3):472-477
    Westerstahl M; Marcus C
  • Article: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS. 2005;15(5):287-297
    Westerståhl M; Barnekow-Bergkvist M; Jansson E
  • Article: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS. 2003;13(2):128-137
    Westerstahl M; Barnekow-Bergkvist M; Hedberg G; Jansson E
  • Article: ACTA PAEDIATRICA. 2003;92(5):602-609
    Westerståhl M; Barnekow-Bergkvist M; Hedberg G; Jansson E

All other publications

  • Conference publication: ATHEROSCLEROSIS. 2020;315:E69-E70
    Pedrelli M; Parini P; Kindberg J; Arnemo JM; Bjorkhem I; Aasa U; Westerstahl M; Walentinsson A; Oorni K; Camejo G; Frobert O; Hurt-Camejo E
  • Letter: ARCHIVES OF DISEASE IN CHILDHOOD. 2018;103(1):113-114
    Westerstahl M; Forss M; Persson L; Bouma K; Gustavsson T; Wuehl E; Krmar RT
  • Conference publication: MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS & EXERCISE. 2016;48(5):16
    Norman B; Westerstahl M; Glenmark B; Jansson E
  • Conference publication: DIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM. 2010;12:58
    Westerstahl M; Hedvall P; Roessner SM; Marcus C
  • Conference publication: DIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM. 2010;12:50
    Hedvall P; Norman M; Marcus C; Westerstahl M
  • Doctoral thesis: 2003
    Westerståhl M

Grants

  • A longitudinal approach to characterize loss of muscle mass and function in aging humans
    Swedish Research Council for Sport Science
    1 January 2024 - 31 December 2023
  • longitudinal approach to characterize loss of muscle mass and function in aging humans – the importance of peripheral nerve integrity- part 2
    Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2024 - 31 December 2023
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2024 - 31 December 2026
    The increasing number of older people being disabled by aging threatens the sustainability of the health systems. Thus, there is an urgent need to counteract aging-induced disabling conditions as muscle wasting. The proposed project is based on longitudinal observations across the lifespan of adults in a cohort born in 1956/58 (SPAF-1958). This cohort has been followed from age 16 to 63 years using objective measures of physical performance, physical activity, and lifestyle variables at four time points, available and skeletal muscle biopsies (at 27 and 63 years) and blood samples (at ages 52 and 63 years). The SPAF-1958 cohort provides a unique opportunity to detect longitudinal changes, i.e., individual trajectories, thus elucidating the preclinical and clinical course of sarcopenia and revealing underlying factors at the individual level. In the proposed study, measurements will be repeated at age 67 years since it is reasonable to shorten the intervals between follow-ups as the effects of aging increase with time. A unique feature of the current study as individuals enter early-aging, is the combination of analyses of neurogenic components. This includes examination of motor and sensory nerve conduction, number of motor units combined with measurements of muscle mass and quality by MRI and muscle tissue morphology and gene expression from biopsies. The current study may also add information about biological aging biomarkers in blood and individual genetic makeup.
  • A longitudinal approach to characterize loss of muscle mass and function in aging humans
    Swedish Research Council for Sport Science
    1 January 2023 - 31 December 2023
  • Varför tappar individer olika mängd muskelmassa under Ã¥ldrandet? En studie som kan leda till ökad självständighet och delaktighet i vardagen
    Stiftelsen Ragnhild och Einar Lundströms minne
    1 January 2022 - 31 December 2022
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2021 - 31 December 2023
  • Varför tappar individer olika mängd muskelmassa under Ã¥ldrandet? En studie som kan leda till ökad självständighet och delaktighet i vardagen
    Stiftelsen Tornspiran
    31 March 2020 - 31 December 2022
  • Resebidrag: 17th European Congress on Obesity | May 6-9 2009, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 April 2009 - 31 May 2009

Employments

  • Senior Lecturer, Department of Laboratory Medicine, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 2011-

Degrees and Education

  • Docent, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 2020
  • Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Laboratory Medicine, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 2003

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