My major research field is epidemiology of neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly and of cardiovascular disease in middle age. My specific research interests are: (1) influence of lifestyle (smoking, vitamin B12 and folate, social network, and leisure activities) and psychosocial factors (personality, work stress, life-course cognitive reserve enhancing factors) and their interactions with genetic factors on risk of dementia, cognitive decline, metabolic health, depression and mortality; and (2) impact of psychosocial factors (social support, work stress, and depressive symptoms) on progression of coronary heart disease.

Selected publications

Wang H-X, MacDonald S.W.S. Dekhtyar S, Fratiglioni L. Association of life-long exposure to cognitive reserve-enhancing factors with dementia risk. PLOS Med. March 14, 2017.

Rizzuto D, Mossello E, Fratiglioni L, Santoni G, Wang H-X. Personality and survival in older age: the role of lifestyle and health status. Am J Geriatri Psychiatry. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2017.06.008

Pan K-Y*, Xu W, Mangialasche M, Fratiglioni L, Wang H-X*. Work-related psychosocial stress and the risk of type 2 diabetes. J Intern Med. 2017 Apr 24. 281(6):601-610.

Gerritsen L, Kalpouzos G, Westman E, Simmons A, Wahlund L-O, Bäckman L, Fratiglioni L, Wang H-X. The influence of negative life events on hippocampal and amygdala volumes in old age: A life-course perspective. Psychol Med. 2015 Apr;45(6):1219-28.

Hahn EA, Wang H-X*, Andel R, Fratiglioni L. A Change in Sleep Pattern May Predict Alzheimer’s disease. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2014 Nov;22(11):1262-71.

Wang H-X, Jin Y, Hendrie HC, Liang C, Yang L, Cheng Y, Unverzagt FW, Ma F, Hall HS, Murrell JR, Li P, Bian J, Pei J-J, Gao S. Late life leisure activities and risk of cognitive decline. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2013;68(2):205-13

Wang H-X, Gustafson D, Kivipelto M, Pedersen N.L., Skoog I, Windblad B, Fratiglioni L. Education halves the risk of dementia due to apolipoprotein ε4 allele. Neurol Aging 2012;33(5):1007.e1-7.

Wang H-X, Wahlberg M, Karp A, Winblad B, Fratiglioni L. Psychosocial stress at work is associated with increased dementia risk in late life. Alzheimer’s & Dementia 2012;8:114-120.

Rydwik E, Welmer A-K, Angleman S, Fratiglioni L, Wang H-X. Is midlife occupational physical activity related to disability in old age? PLoS ONE 2013;8(7):e70471. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070471

Paillard-Borg S, Fratiglioni L, Xu W, Winblad B, Wang H-X. An active lifestyle postpones dementia onset by more than one year in very old adutls. J Alzheimers Dis. 2012;31(4):835-42.

Wang H-X, Karp A, Herlitz A, Crowe M, Kåreholt I, Winblad B, Fratiglioni L. Personality and lifestyle in relation to dementia incidence. Neurology 2009;72:253-259.

Wang H-X, Mittleman MA, Leineweber C, Orth-Gomer K. Depressive symptoms in combination with social isolation hastens progression of coronary artery atherosclerosis in middle-aged women.Psychother Psychosom 2006:75;96-102.

Wang H-X, Mittleman MA, Orth-Gomer K. Influence of social support on progression of coronary artery disease in women. Soc Sci Med 2005;60:599-607.

Wang H-X, Karp A, Winblad B, Fratiglioni L. Late-life engagement in social and leisure activities is associated with a decreased risk of dementia. Am J Epidemiol 2002;155:1081-7.

Wang H-X, Wahlin Å, Basun H, Fastbom J, Winblad B, Fratiglioni L. Low levels of vitamin B12 and folate and Alzheimer’s disease incidence. Neurology 2001;56:1188-94.

Fratiglioni L, Wang H-X, Maytan M, Ericsson K, Winblad B. The Influence of Social Network on the Occurrence of Dementia. Lancet 2000;355:1315-9.

Wang H-X, Fratiglioni L, Frisoni GB, Viitanen M, Winblad B. Smoking and the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease. Am J Epidemiol1999;149:640-4.