The general objective of the research project entitled “Tackling dementia with new anti-diabetic medications” is to explore the association of DPP-4 inhibitors, GLP-1 analogues, and SGLT-2 inhibitors use with the risk of dementia and brain aging in a large, nation-based sample of older adults with diabetes. To accomplish this aim, we utilize data from the Maccabi Healthcare Services. The study is led by Avi Cohen, PhD candidate and funded by the Alzheimer’s Association.

Cannabis use for recreational and medicinal purposes is increasing, particularly among older adults. In this project, we utilize data from the UK Biobank to test whether cannabis use is related to brain injury. Unlike other studies, we focus on older individuals and examine how age when cannabis use was initiated and frequency of use during life can be linked with brain atrophy and its change over time.

The project is led by Shiraz Vered, PhD candidate.

In this project we utilize data from the Clalit Healthcare services to test whether SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with increased risk of cardiometabolic and neuropsychiatric conditions and all-cause mortality among older-adults in Israel.

The project is done in collaboration with Prof. Walid Saliba, Clinical Associate Professor in the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, and Director of the Translational Epidemiology Unit in the Department of Community Medicine and Epidemiology in Carmel Medical Center. The project is led by Nika Sushanski, PhD candidate. 

In this nation-based study, we use data on all stroke cases occurring in the last 5 years in Israel, and information on daily temperature, humidity and air pollution from satellites, to explore whether high temperatures and hit stress are associated with incidence of stroke.  The study is done on the Ministry of Health TIMNA platform, and is funded by the Israel Science Foundation (ISF).

Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation procedure that gains substantial interest as a novel therapeutic strategy for various neuropsychiatric conditions. tDCS delivers a low-intensity electric current (i.e. 1-3 mA) through the scalp via two or more electrodes, thus may affect the brain by inducing depolarization (using an anodal electrode) or hyperpolarization (using a cathodal electrode). tDCS is safe and well-tolerable, and can improve synaptic excitability and plasticity and promote anti-inflammatory processes. In the current project, we aim to explore the possible effect of high-definition tDCS on cognitive function and behavioral parameters in community-dwelling older adults.

This project is done in collaboration with Prof. Hanoch Kaphzan, the Sagol department of neurobiology, University of Haifa.