Mats Trulsson

Mats Trulsson is a Professor and Senior Dentist at the Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet. He serves as Director of the Academic Center for Geriatric Dentistry, focusing on behavioral and clinical studies in orofacial neurosciences and oral rehabilitation. His research integrates basic somatosensory and motor mechanisms of the masticatory system with clinical applications to optimize oral care for older adults. Key areas include how tooth loss and impaired chewing contribute to malnutrition, cognitive decline, and reduced quality of life in aging populations.

Research Interests

• Neurological basis of mastication and its clinical implications.
• Impact of oral rehabilitation on cognitive and nutritional health in geriatrics.
• Motor control and sensorimotor adaptation in dental prosthetics.

Grants & Funding

• Mouth Work-out to Prevent Malnutrition and Sarcopenia (Swedish Research Council, 2021–2022).
• Chew and Swallow: A Concept for Improved Health in Older People (VINNOVA, 2018–2019).
• Sensory and Motor Control Mechanisms of the Human Hand (Swedish Research Council, 2013–2017).

Labs & Collaborations

His work is conducted within the Unit of Oral Rehabilitation at Karolinska Institutet, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to bridge neuroscience, geriatrics, and dental medicine. Ongoing projects explore masticatory dysfunction’s role in cognitive decline and nutritional interventions targeting aging populations.