Alzheimer Research

Clinical Studies and Molecular Genetics
 

Seppo Helisalmi
PhD, Docent, Senior Researcher


University of Eastern Finland
Institute of Clinical Medicine / Neurology
Clinical Research Centre
Brain Research Unit
P.O. Box 1627 (Yliopistonranta 1B)
FI-70211 Kuopio
Finland

+358-(0)40-355 2259 
seppo.helisalmi( at )uef.fi

Major Research Interests

  • Molecular genetics, a special emphasis on Alzheimer's disease
  • Diagnostic markers

Present Position

  • Senior researcher, Clinical Alzheimer Research: PredictAD project, Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, Clinical Research Centre, Brain Research Unit, University of Eastern Finland

Academic degrees 

  • Docent (Molecular Genetics), Faculty of Medicine, University of Kuopio, 2006
  • PhD (Neuroscience), Faculty of Medicine, University of Kuopio, 1998
  • MSc (Biotechnology), Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences
  • University of Kuopio, 1991
  • Major Positions and Appointments
  • Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Neuroscience and Neurology, Kuopio University,2001-2003
  • Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Molecular Genetics, Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology, University of Antwerp (UIA), Antwerpen, Belgium, 2000-2001
  • Graduate student and researcher in Molecular Genetics and Molecular Biology, Unit of Clinical Genetics and Department of Neurology, Kuopio University and University Hospital, 1993-2000
  • Technician in diagnostics surveys, Unit of Clinical Genetics, Kuopio University Hospital, 1991-1993
  • Researcher and trainee, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kuopio University, 1990-1991
  • Trainee, Geological Survey Of Finland, Regional office for mid-Finland in Kuopio, 1986 and 1988

Selected Publications

Genome-wide association study identifies variants at CLU and CR1 associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Lambert JC, Heath S, Even G, Campion D, Sleegers K, Hiltunen M, Combarros O, Zelenika D, Bullido MJ, Tavernier B, Letenneur L, Bettens K, Berr C, Pasquier F, Fiévet N, Barberger-Gateau P, Engelborghs S, De Deyn P, Mateo I, Franck A, Helisalmi S, Porcellini E, Hanon O; the European Alzheimer's Disease Initiative Investigators, de Pancorbo MM, Lendon C, Dufouil C, Jaillard C, Leveillard T, Alvarez V, Bosco P, Mancuso M, Panza F, Nacmias B, Bossù P, Piccardi P, Annoni G, Seripa D, Galimberti D, Hannequin D, Licastro F, Soininen H, Ritchie K, Blanché H, Dartigues JF, Tzourio C, Gut I, Van Broeckhoven C, Alpérovitch A, Lathrop M, Amouyel P. Nat Genet,  [Epub ahead of print], 2009. 

Tenomodulin variants, APOE and Alzheimer’s disease in a Finnish case-control cohort. Tolppanen AM, Helisalmi S, Hiltunen M, Kolehmainen M, Schwab U, Pirttilä T, Pulkkinen L, Uusitupa M, Soininen H. Neurobiol Aging, [Epub ahead of print], 2009.

An association study between granulin gene polymorphisms and Alzheimer’s disease in a Finnish population. Viswanathan J, Mäkinen P, Helisalmi S, Haapasalo A, Soininen H, Hiltunen M. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 150B (5):747-750, 2009.

Genetic study evaluating LDLR polymorphisms and Alzheimer's disease. Lämsä R, Helisalmi S, Herukka S-K, Tapiola T, Pirttilä T, Vepsäläinen S, Hiltunen M, Soininen H. Neurobiol Aging, 29(6): 848-855, 2008.

CSF Aβ42, tau and phosphorylated tau, APOE ε4 allele and MCI type in progressive MCI. Herukka S-K, Helisalmi S, Hallikainen M, Tervo S, Soininen H, Pirttilä T. Neurobiol Aging, 28(4): 507-514, 2007.

Frequent gene dosage alterations in stromal cells of epithelial ovarian carcinomas. Tuhkanen H, Anttila M, Kosma VH, Heinonen S, Juhola M, Helisalmi S, Kataja V, Mannermaa A. Int J Cancer 119:1345-1353, 2006.

Association of CYP46 intron 2 polymorphism in Finnish Alzheimer's disease samples and a global scale summary. Helisalmi S, Vepsäläinen S, Koivisto A M, Mannermaa A, Iivonen S, Hiltunen M, Kiviniemi V, Soininen H. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 77(3):421-422, 2006.

Effects of estradiol on spatial learning, hippocampal cytochrome P450 19, and estrogen alpha and beta mRNA levels in ovariectomized female mice. Iivonen S, Heikkinen T, Puoliväli J, Helisalmi S, Hiltunen M, Soininen H, Tanila H. Neuroscience 137(4):1143-1152, 2006.

Polymorphisms in the neprilysin gene affect the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in Finnish patients. Helisalmi S, Hiltunen M, Vepsäläinen S, Iivonen S, Mannermaa A, Lehtovirta M, Koivisto A M, Alafuzoff I, Soininen H. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 75:1746-1748, 2004.

Possible association of nicastrin polymorphisms and Alzheimer disease in the Finnish population. Helisalmi S, Dermaut B, Hiltunen M, Mannermaa A, Van den Broeck M, Lehtovirta M, Koivisto A M, Iivonen S, Cruts M, Soininen H, Van Broeckhoven C. Neurology 63: 173-175, 2004.