Dr Magda Chechlacz

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

School of Psychology, University of Birmingham

Scientific Background

Research Interests

Dr Chechlacz’s research is broadly concerned with understanding how variability in the neurochemical, structural and functional organisation of the brain affect cognitive performance, in particularly attentional functions, as well as whether and how these individual differences predict the susceptibility to neurological disorders and the way we age. Her prior research programme funded by the British Academy examined whether variability in the organisation of the visual attention networks is associated with individual differences in attentional functions, whether structural lateralization underlies functional lateralization in the organisation of attention and whether behavioural asymmetries are causally linked to the structural asymmetries in attention networks. Her current work aims to test for associations between common genetic variants in neurotransmitter signalling and resting state connectivity within attention networks as well as examine the links between those functional genetic polymorphisms and individual differences in age-related cognitive decline in attention.

Scientific Inspiration

Santiago Ramón y Cajal, not just for his groundbreaking discoveries and contributions to neuroscience but also beautiful drawings of neurons and neural networks. His line sketches used to capture my imagination when as neurobiology student I used to study axonal growth under the microscope and also inspire my current fascination with diffusion tractography, a magnetic resonance imaging technique used to non-invasively explore human brain connectivity underlying normal functions and dysfunctions in neurological disorders.

Research Groups

Centre for Neurogenetics

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases:

Mentoring – as a PhD supervisor I am not a boss or a teacher but someone providing support and advice.
Technique-oriented – best thing about being an academic is ability to continue learning new cutting-edge techniques.
Collaborative – best research is done in collaboration, I view both colleagues and students I work with as collaborators, valued members of a research team.

Provision of Training

I will facilitate technical training at first, either teaching, advising or putting you in touch with other researchers who can help. However, I will expect more independence later.

Progression Monitoring and Management

I expect that at the start of the PhD I will provide a lot of support and guidance in development of ideas and choosing/learning research methods. But in time this relationship will change with a PhD student gradually taking on fuller ownership of the project and becoming a research partner rather than trainee at the time of thesis submission.

Communication

I have an open door policy and I am happy to discuss any issues and problems as they are arising, in return I expect honest communication. I am known to email my team/PhD students at all hours of the day and night (I have numerous international collaborators and projects, so different time zones apply), however I will not expect you to do the same.

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me:

In a group meeting

At least once a fortnight

In year 1 of PhD study

At least once a week

In year 2 of PhD study

At least once a fortnight

In year 3 of PhD study

At least once a fortnight

These meetings will be mainly face to face, and I am usually contactable for an instant response 3 or 4 days a week.

Working Patterns

Certain tasks in my lab need to occur at set times, and students need to be able to commit to a rota/timetable shared with other members of the team.

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 1 week’s notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Current Projects (2025-26)

Primary supervisor for:

Cognitive deficits and accelerated brain ageing in older adults with undiagnosed sleep apnoea and pulmonary dysfunctions

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

Cognitive deficits and accelerated brain ageing in older adults with undiagnosed sleep apnoea and pulmonary dysfunctions

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Joseph Welch

University of Registration: University of Birmingham

BBSRC Research Themes: Integrated Understanding of Health (Ageing)

Project Outline

Cognitive ageing is inevitable but numerous studies indicate large heterogeneity in the rate of cognitive deterioration, ranging from a gradual drop in cognitive functioning, to dementia. With an increasingly ageing UK population, one of the key research challenges is understanding factors associated with a risk of hastened cognitive decline. The proposed project tests the fundamental hypothesis that undetected obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and associated pulmonary dysfunction in older adults leads to accelerated brain and cognitive ageing. Thus, we aim to expand understanding of the mechanisms of OSA-mediated cognitive decline in the elderly.

OSA is one of the leading causes of poor cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health and has been associated with increased risk of hypertension, coronary heart disease, and stroke. The links between OSA and cognitive deficits are poorly understood and often controversial. The negative health and cognitive consequences of OSA are exacerbated by comorbidities, such as pulmonary dysfunction.

In the last few years, OSA has emerged as a potentially modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia in the elderly population. It has been further suggested that OSA and dementia might share several common pathophysiology, such as cerebrovascular and glymphatic changes, and neurodegeneration (atrophy). Despite the increasing awareness of the negative health and cognitive consequences of OSA, current statistics indicate that only a relatively small number of older adults are tested and treated for OSA. In middle-aged individuals who are overweight or obese, loud snoring, waking up during the night, mental fatigue associated with concentration problems and memory lapses, excessive daytime sleepiness and napping, are considered symptoms of OSA and trigger medical referral. By contrast, the same symptoms in older individuals are frequently attributed to normal ageing and not medically investigated. In one recent study (n=1,052), 56% of community-dwelling older adults, were classified as being at high risk of OSA based on detailed questionnaire screening, and in 94% of these cases OSA was medically confirmed. Strikingly, only 8% of these adults were previously referred to be tested for OSA.

Research addressing the mechanistic processes underpinning the link between OSA and cognitive decline in older adults is only beginning to emerge. While recently published studies firmly indicate that robust structural brain changes contribute to cognitive deficits in older adults diagnosed with OSA, there is a paucity of studies exploring mechanisms underpinning the observed brain changes in terms of common and separate contributions of sleep disordered breathing (OSA) and pulmonary dysfunctions. Thus, the proposed project tests the specific hypothesis that atrophy, cerebrovascular and glymphatic changes in older adults with undiagnosed OSA and/or pulmonary dysfunctions results in accelerated brain ageing and cognitive decline. By combining detailed characterization of sleep patterns, physiological markers of sleep disordered breathing and pulmonary function with comprehensive cognitive testing and advanced MRI methods, the project aims to comprehensively examine the association between undiagnosed OSA and/or pulmonary dysfunctions on accelerated brain and cognitive decline putting elderly individuals at increased risk of dementia.

References

Hayden KM et al (2011). Age and ageing, 40, 684-689.

Frenzel S et al (2022). J Alzheimers Dis, 90, 1073-1083.

Culebras A & Anwar, S. (2018). Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep, 18, 53.

Gosselin N et al., (2019). Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 199, 142-148.

Polsek D et al (2018). Neurosci Biobehav Rev, 86, 142-149.

Braley TJ et al (2018). J Am Geriatr Soc, 66, 1296-1302.

Shi Y et al (2017). Sci Rep, 7, 10095.

Previous Projects (2024-25)

Primary supervisor for:

Cognitive deficits and accelerated brain ageing in older adults at risk for undiagnosed sleep apnoea

Co-supervisor on a project with Dr Davinia Fernández-Espejo.

Previous Projects (2023-24)

Primary supervisor for:

Cognitive deficits and accelerated brain ageing in older adults at risk for undiagnosed sleep apnoea