About
Johan Fastbom, Professor of Geriatric Pharmacology at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, is a leading researcher in optimizing medication use for older adults. Since his 2011 appointment, he has focused on improving pharmaceutical care for the elderly, particularly those with dementia, through population-based studies at the Aging Research Center (ARC). His work bridges clinical practice and policy via a 40% project employee role at the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare since 2000.
- MD (1984) and PhD in Pharmacology (1988) from Karolinska Institutet
- Specialist in Clinical Pharmacology (1994), Karolinska University Hospital
- Docent (1998) in Geriatric Pharmacology
Research centers on polypharmacy, inappropriate drug use, and care coordination challenges for elderly populations. He developed the National Board of Health and Welfare's Indikatorer för god läkemedelsterapi hos äldre (Indicators for Good Drug Therapy in the Elderly), which informs regional healthcare standards. His group created computational methods for analyzing medication patterns using Sweden's national health registers.
Recent studies examine cardiometabolic-dementia linkages, regional prescribing disparities, and end-of-life medication practices. He emphasizes medication reconciliation between care settings and integration of quality indicators into healthcare education.
Scientific Contributions:
- Co-developer of national quality indicators for elderly pharmacotherapy
- Expert in register linkage of drug use and health outcomes
- Advocate for improved EHR coordination in elderly care
