New study shows that parents of sons may lose their cognitive abilities in older age faster than parents of daughters.

Men who experience behavior changes including apathy or having false beliefs and perceptions in later life are at risk of faster cognitive decline than women, according to our research just published in Journal of Alzheimer´s Disease.

Thanks to the support by the Czech Ministry of Health, our group is hosting the Czech arm of the international project „The COVID-19 HEalth caRe wOrkErS“ (HEROES).

Season of birth has been largely considered to have an influence on the development of mental disorders. Our large European-wide study, however, suggests that this is not true for symptoms of depression and anxiety. 

Our recent publication in Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, which we conducted together with colleagues from Switzerland, has shown that long-term trajectories of physical activity are associated with the level as well as the evolution of cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults.

Our recent paper published in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience indicates that lower cognitive ability and higher trait anxiety may be both consequences of socioeconomic deprivation in early life. The recruitment of the right lateral prefrontal cortex may be the underlying mechanism, through which higher cognitive ability may ameliorate trait anxiety.

The World Health Organization published recommendations on how to reduce our chances that we may lose our cognitive abilities and develop dementia in later life. Our group was involved in adapting these guidelines into the Czech Republic. 

According to our new systematic review published in PLOS ONE, there is a large lack of evidence on risk and protective factors for neurocognitive disorders in the region of Central and Eastern Europe.