Projects
AGE-IT
Ageing Well in an Ageing Society
This challenge addresses age-related changes in cognition, emotions, behaviours and physiological functioning as people progress through older ages. Spoke 4 develops and implements innovative interventions targeting specific physical ageing processes and risk factors for diseases and their progression. This Spoke follows a person-centred perspective that focuses on multidimensional approaches to health in the physical, cognitive, behavioural and social domains.
WP5 will develop analyses, models, and tools for the identification of vulnerable and at risk of frailty persons in the various stages of life, as well as studies on the causal pathways that generate unhealthy ageing. The analysis will consider the role of individual (e.g., socioeconomic status, formal and informal support) and contextual (e.g., social environments, social cohesion) factors on healthy and unhealthy ageing. Data science approaches to longitudinal databases will be used, boosted with ad hoc qualitative and quantitative surveys.
SOFIA
Social and Health Frailty as Determinants of Inequality in Aging
The aging of the population is a growing challenge in Europe, and the SOFIA project aims to explore its implications for the health and well-being of the elderly people while simultaneously reducing the long-term costs associated with aging.
The key factor investigated is the frailty, defined as the increased vulnerability of elderly individuals. Our goal is to propose measures of frailty in different domains (e.g. physical frailty, social frailty) by using various types of data, such as administrative and survey data. We also aim to understand how frailty is associated with health and socio-economic factors. By uncovering these connections, we can develop more effective policies to support an increasingly aging population. The project also endeavors to forecast regional population trends based on demographic, socio-economic, and health variables.
Our overarching mission is, therefore, to improve the quality of life of elderly individuals and play a crucial role in promoting a healthier and more sustainable society.
In addressing the challenges posed by population aging, the SOFIA project brings together various Italian universities.
Other projects
♦ DIAMOND ♦
Data Integration Approaches for a Multidimensional hOlistic representation of Neighbourhood Deprivation
The environment in which individuals live plays a significant role in shaping their overall health and well-being. DIAMOND propose to reach a more accurate and holistic measurement of neighbourhoods characteristics. The project will combine in original ways data from different sources considering diverse dimensions of deprivation, including social, environmental, functional, and pollution-related factors, viewed through objective (analysis of official and geographical data), subjective (surveys to collect opinions and perceptions), and graphical lenses (analysis of pictures and images). The innovative methodology leverages cutting-edge data integration techniques, combining official sources (Istat and Arpa), traditional survey data with emerging sources such as social media platforms (Meta and TikTok), geographical information systems (Google Maps and Open Street Maps), and computer vision analysis of street-level imagery (Google Street View). One of the key deliverables of this project is the development of an interactive website, where residents can actively participate in data collection, reporting on neighbourhood conditions. This platform will engage the community in the research process and provide access to information about their local environment.