Alejandra Machado

My previous research work focused on cognitive changes 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 demographic variables, cognitive assessments, biomarkers, and neuroimaging data. 

Since 2020, I have extended my research into the field of insurance medicine, with a particular focus on neurological disorders. My work has primarily focused on identifying risk factors for, and the consequences of, sickness absence in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). My current line of research addresses individuals with mild cognitive impairment and early-onset dementia when still of working age, exploring how these conditions affect individuals during their final working years, often leading to premature exit from the labour market. My goal is to better understand the how  cognitive decline contributes to reduced work capacity, increased sickness absence or disability pension, and early retirement, as well as how these outcomes are shaped by the influence of demographic, socioeconomic, clinical and cognitive factors.