Manasa Shanta Näsholm

Manasa Shanta Näsholm

Postdoctoral Researcher
Visiting address: Karolinska vägen 37 A, QA3, 17164 Solna
Postal address: H1 Neurobiologi, vårdvetenskap och samhälle, H1 Klinisk geriatrik Kivipelto, 171 77 Stockholm
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About me

  • Manasa Shanta Näsholm (née Yerramalla) is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society. She is a Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellow for the project CLOCKED, which focuses on sleep, circadian rhythms, and dementia prevention. In addition, she is the Principal Researcher for a Forte‑funded project investigating the long‑term effects of Swedish snus use on cognition, cardiovascular markers, and dementia risk.

    RESEARCH INTERESTS

    My research interests center on understanding how behavioural, physiological, and psychosocial factors shape cognitive ageing and dementia risk across the life course. I began by studying 24‑hour movement behaviours, with a focus on sedentary behaviour and physical activity, and how their long‑term patterns influence cardiometabolic health and mortality. This work naturally progressed toward the integration of sleep as a core component of the 24‑hour framework, and I am now expanding into circadian rhythmicity to capture the full spectrum of daily behavioural regulation. In parallel, my research increasingly examines stress, both biological and psychosocial, as an interacting pathway influencing brain health. I am also investigating the public‑health relevance of Swedish snus use, particularly its relationships with cardiovascular markers, cognition, and dementia. Broadly, I aim to uncover modifiable behavioural and biological mechanisms that can inform personalised dementia‑prevention strategies. I also maintain strong interests in sex‑specific risk factors, Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers, and advanced analytic methods for longitudinal cohort data.

    EDUCATION

    PhD in Epidemiology, Université Paris Cité, France (2019–2022)
    European Master’s in Public Health (Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters), EHESP (France) & University of Sheffield (UK) (2015–2017)
    MA in Sustainable Development Practice, TERI School of Advanced Studies, India (2013–2015)
    BA (Hons) Social Work & Rural Development, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, India; semester abroad at Högskolan i Gävle, Sweden (2010–2013)

    HONOURS AND AWARDS

    Doctoral contract awarded through competitive selection, École Doctorale Pierre Louis de Santé 393 (2019–2022)
    Bourse de Couverture Sociale, Charpak Scholarship, French Government (2016) 
    Erasmus+ Grant Holder, European Commission (2016–2017) 
    Silver Medallist, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (2013)
    Linnaeus Palme Scholarship, Swedish International Development Agency (2012)

    RESEARCH GRANTS

    Manasa's research is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship (CLOCKED, grant agreement ID: 101155653), the Rut and Arvid Wolff Memorial Foundation at Karolinska Institutet and the FORTE Starting Grant (Dnr: 2025-01503). 

Teaching

  • Master's level courses: 

    Nov - Dec 2024: Biostatistics I, Master's Programme in Public Health Sciences, KI, Sweden

    Oct - Dec 2021; Oct - Nov 2020: Introduction to R, Master in Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, École des hautes études en santé publique (EHESP), Paris, France

Articles

All other publications

Grants

  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 January 2026 - 31 December 2028
    Research problem and specific questions: Global dementia prevalence is projected to exceed 153 million cases by 2050, driven by population growth and aging. Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. Sweden´s recent tax changes favor snus over cigarettes, aiming to reduce smoking rates. However, the impact of snus on cognition and dementia remains unclear, necessitating further research. This project intends to answer the following questions concerning snus use among older adults: (1) How is snus use associated with subsequent changes in cognition? (2)Â Is there is a link between consuming snus and development of dementia? and (3) How do changes in snus consumption over time relate to dementia risk? The potential mediating role of cardiovascular markers (such as blood pressure measures, body mass index) will also be explored. Data and methods: The project will utilize data from seven longitudinal Swedish aging cohorts, part of the National E-Infrastructure for Aging Research (NEAR) consortium. Linear mixed models with be used to estimate the association of snus use (current use, duration of snus use, amount of snus use, years since snus cessation) with change in cognition. Trajectories of change in snus consumption over follow-up time period will be defined using group based trajectory modelling. Cox proportional hazards regression models will be used to examine the association of snus use with dementia incidence. In the event of small numbers of snus users, an individual participant meta-analysis approach will be operationalized. Societal relevance and utilization: Understanding the relationship between snus use, cognition, and dementia could uncover new modifiable risk factors. This project will generate valuable information that will contribute to the development of new recommendations, guidelines and preventive strategies regarding snus products. These insights will enable the wider community to make informed decisions about the consumption of snus. Plan for project realization: The applicant has extensive experience in conducting epidemiological studies and is well-versed in the statistical methods proposed for this project. The project is supported by researchers with significant expertise in epidemiology of dementia and cognitive aging and have previously published on snus use.
  • European Union
    2 October 2024 - 30 June 2027
    Changes in sleep patterns are common among people with dementia, however why short (≤6hrs) or long sleep (≥9hrs) duration is less favorable for dementia, remains unknown. Given that approximately 46% & 44% of variability in sleep duration is explained by genetics, it is pertinent to consider genetic influences when understanding the mechanisms contributing to sleep-related risk for dementia. In addition to sleep, there is growing interest in the relationship between circadian rhythms, the 24-hour cycles of body & dementia. Links between Alzheimer’s’ dementia and the circadian system are suggested by common observations that an early symptom of Alzheimer’s’ dementia is fragmented sleep/wake patterns with increasing nighttime activity and daytime naps. Even among individuals who are cognitively intact, altered circadian rhythms of motor activity have been linked to amyloid pathology
    the hallmark of Alzheimer’s’ dementia. There is some evidence linking weakening circadian rhythm to dementia, yet it is not clear whether disruption of clock contributes to incidence dementia. In CLOCKED, I will use data from the Swedish Twin Registry with over 20 years of follow-up, the largest twin registry in the world to assess if sleep polygenic risk score influences the risk of incident dementia (overall, Alzheimer’s’, vascular) & examine whether differences in dementia risk are influenced by a genetically predicted sleep or sleep driven mainly by non-genetic factors, i.e., environmental lifestyle factors. Using accelerometry data on around 100,000 participants from the UK Biobank data, I will assess the relation of accelerometer-assessed circadian rhythmicity with incident dementia & quantify dementia risk stratified by sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, shift work, lifestyle factors, & metabolic status
    and determine whether a risk score consisting of circadian factors (i.e., circadian syndrome) is a more accurate predictor for dementia than existing risk scores.

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