Alejandra Machado

My previous research work focused on cognition in the context of normal aging and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), with a focus on a multidimensional and integrative approach, combining cognitive assessments, biomarkers, and neuroimaging data. 

Since 2020, I have extended my research into the field of insurance medicine, with a particular emphasis on neurological disorders. As part of this transition, I am now turning my attention toward individuals with mild cognitive impairment and early-onset dementia who are still of working age. This shift reflects a growing concern about how such conditions affect individuals during their final working years, often leading to premature exit from the labour market. My goal is to better understand the pathways through which cognitive decline contributes to reduced work capacity, increased sickness absence, and early retirement, and how these outcomes are shaped by interactions with the social insurance system.

My work has primarily focused on identifying risk factors for, and the consequences of, sickness absence in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Moving forward, I plan to explore this area by studying populations with cognitive impairment, who often have higher levels of work disability and dependence on social insurance. This makes them an important group for understanding the challenges of remaining in the workforce while living with cognitive difficulties.