
Panagiota Kontari
My research project
Cardiometabolic Abnormalities and Depression as Potential Risk Factors for Dementia
My PhD research focuses on the risk of dementia associated with cardiometabolic abnormalities and depression. I am examining how cardiometabolic risk factors and depression interact to predict the incidence of dementia. The research project also includes investigation of potentially modifiable lifestyle and medical risk factors for dementia, and design of a holistic risk prediction model for dementia, combining the most prognostic factors of the disease.
Biography
I graduated with a Psychology BSc (Hons) from the University of Athens in 2016. As part of my studies, I worked as an Assistant Psychologist at the Behavioural Neurology and Neuropsychology Unit at Attikon University Hospital, where I acquired experience in administration of neuropsychological and psychological tests. Having an interest in neuropsychology, I conducted my BSc thesis on the “Comparison of a non-linguistic screening test, Nonverbal Cogscreen, with the MMSE in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cognitively intact individuals”.
After my undergraduate studies, I completed my Master’s degree in Health Psychology at the University of Surrey (2017), where I consolidated my interest in age-related diseases and the comorbidity of mental and physical disorders. For my MSc dissertation, I investigated the “Risk of dementia in older individuals with comorbid depressive symptoms and cardiometabolic dysregulation”.
Following this, I continue with my PhD in Psychology at the University of Surrey (2018). My PhD project examines the longitudinal relationship of cardiometabolic abnormalities and depression with dementia risk. The aim is to elucidate which modifiable factors may predict who is at the highest risk of developing dementia and to develop a comprehensive dementia risk prediction model.
Supervisors
My qualifications
Affiliations and memberships
Research
Research interests
My research interest is in mental and neurodegenerative disorders and more specifically, in dementia and cognitive decline in older people. I am also interested in the comorbidity of mental and physical disorders and the prospective relationship between cardiometabolic abnormalities, depression and dementia incidence.
My publications
Publications
Kontari P., Smith K.J. (2019). Risk of dementia associated with cardiometabolic dysregulation and depression: A longitudinal cohort study using the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 34(2): 289-298.https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.5019
Conferences
Oral Presentations
Kontari, P., Fife-Schaw, C., Thompson, H., Schmitz, N., Smith, K.J. (March 2018). Prediabetes, diabetes and depression as risk factors for dementia. Diabetes UK Professional Conference 2018, 14-16/3/2018, Excel London, UK. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/dme.5_13570
Poster Presentations
Kontari, P., Fife-Schaw, C., Thompson, H., Schmitz, N., Smith, K.J. (March 2018). Prediabetes, diabetes and depression as risk factors for dementia. Diabetes UK Professional Conference 2018, 14-16/3/2018, Excel London, UK. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/dme.5_13570
Beratis, I.N., Stanitsa, E., Papantoniou, P., Pavlou, D., Papageorgiou, S.G., Kontaxopoulou, D., Fragkiadaki, S., Kontari, P., Economou, A. (January 2018). The value of Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in the prediction of fitness to drive in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Transportation Research Board (TRB) 97th Annual Meeting, 7-11/1/2018, Washington, D.C. https://trid.trb.org/view/1495160
Kontari, P., Economou, A., Beratis, I.N., Kontaxopoulou, D., Fragkiadaki, S., Varlokosta, S., Papageorgiou, S.G. (March, 2016). Comparison of a non-linguistic screening test, Nonverbal Cogscreen, with the MMSE in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cognitively intact individuals. 14th International Athens/Springfield Symposium on Advances in Alzheimer Therapy (AAT), 9-12/3/2016, Athens, Greece.