Projects
The effect of personality on default mode network functional connectivity of in age-related cognitive decline KU Leuven
In the last few decades, more and more research focuses on the aging population. A big part of this research examines changes in the brain that lead to cognitive decline due to neurodegeneration. However, substantially less research delves into cognition and its neural correlates in combination with other factors, that contribute to age-related cognitive decline and could potentially identify individuals that are at higher risk for the ...
The effect of Alzheimer's disease on cognitive decline after an ischemic stroke and the role of neurogenesis. University of Antwerp
Effect of hearing loss and vestibular decline on cognitive function in older subjects: correlation with cortical auditory evoked potentials and mri brain volume changes. University of Antwerp
From hero to zero, and back? Strategies of historical mainstream parties to counter electoral decline: combinations and their effects Ghent University
After years of decline, the once almighty mainstream parties have hit their electoral low point in many West-European countries. This raises questions regarding government formation, manageability and even the stability of the political system. Despite this general downward trend, there are variations between parties, countries and elections regarding the electoral outcome. I want to investigate how these historical mainstream parties managed ...
Dealing with effect decomposition and intermediate confounding in causal mediation analysis Ghent University
Mediation analysis concerns decomposition of a causal effect into direct and mediated effects. The simplicity of current methods does not match the complexity of realistic data: estimation principles for continuous data are being applied to other data types with no justification; moreover, the problem of confounding is largely ignored. This project aims to overcome these limitations.
The effects of Nasonia vitripennis venom: pathways and expression profiles in the host Sarcophaga crassipalpis and the human celline HEK293 Ghent University
The parasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis can infect a broad range of hosts (flies) and has a known venom composition. This research will determine which pathways the venom can affect in both the host Sarcophaga crassipalpis and the human celline HEK293, and which venom compounds are responsible for these processes. This will be investigated using microarrays, FACS, reporter arrays and QPCR.
Differences in DNA methylation patterns, distinct from normal age and breed-specific changes, affect the feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy phenotype. Ghent University
Whole exome sequencing will be used for the first time in cats to identify HCM-causing mutation(s) in British Shorthair cats. Next, DNA methylation patterns will be analyzed to check if specific epigenetic changes are linked to HCM and whether patterns present in blood cells can also be used as biomarker for HCM.
PROACTIVE: A development and feasibility study on suPpoRting infOrmal cAregivers of older people with early CogniTIVe declinE KU Leuven
One challenge of ‘Healthy Ageing’ is the impact of care burden in informal caregivers on their health, especially when caring for people with cognitive decline. Governments worldwide strive for sustainable healthcare, and thus have to tackle this problem. Although numerous studies point to the importance of support for informal caregivers, little attention is given to critical timely support for informal caregivers of people with early stages ...