OBJECTIVES:With increasing life expectancy, the prevalence of atherosclerosis and dementia is expected to rise in the future and as such represents a public health threat. This study focused on analysis of atherosclerosis risk factors and the protective factors of leisure-time activities in the development of dementia. METHODS:The sample comprised 1,298 participants that were selected from university hospitals and outpatient clinics between 2019-2023. All participants completed a questionnaire and medical data were obtained. We used logistic regression to identify dementia risk factors and we also compared the leisure-time protective factors between four groups based on the presence of atherosclerosis and/or dementia. RESULTS:Hypercholesterolemia (aOR = 3.25, p > 0.001), stroke (aOR = 1.43, p = 0.015), and carotid stenosis (aOR = 2.23, p > 0.001) were significantly associated with risk of dementia whereas age (aOR = 0.93, p < 0.001) and female gender (aOR = 0.70, p = 0.012) were negatively associated. The model of these factors demonstrated moderate discriminatory ability of AUC 0.737 (95% CI: 0.702-0.769). Higher education levels and regular cognitive and physical activities such as reading and exercise had positive effects against dementia. CONCLUSION:These findings accentuate the importance of cardiovascular health in reducing risk of dementia. Preventive strategies targeting hypercholesterolemia, carotid stenosis and inactivity, along with promotion of cognitive engagement and education, could substantially reduce the global burden of dementia.

BACKGROUND:Telomere length is a biomarker of cellular aging, influenced by various environmental and lifestyle factors. Air pollution is a known environmental stressor that may impact telomere dynamics. This study aimed to investigate the effect of age, lifetime exposure to air pollution, inflammatory parameters and selected lifestyle factors on telomere length. METHODS:The study included 356 participants aged 35-65 living in two regions with varying pollution. Telomere length was measured using qPCR. Individual lifetime exposures to PM10, PM2.5, NO2, benzo(a)pyrene and benzene were calculated based on historical air quality data. Statistical analysis of age, pollution exposure, inflammatory parameters, and lifestyle factors on telomere length was performed using logistic regression and generalized linear models, with odds ratios calculated. RESULTS:Unexpectedly, higher air pollutants lifetime exposures were associated with longer telomeres, particularly for PM10 51-55 μg/m3 (OR = 5.67, p < 0.001), PM2.5 42-45 μg/m3 (OR = 6.56, p < 0.001), B(a)P 6.9-8.3 ng/m3 (OR = 5.25, p = 0.002), NO2 26-27 μg/m3 (OR = 5.22, p = 0.001) and benzene 2.45-2.75 μg/m3 (OR = 6.13, p < 0.001). Age significantly affected telomere length, with older individuals having shorter telomeres. Socioeconomic factors such as college education were positively associated with longer telomeres, while lifestyle factors did not show significant associations. IL-8 was identified as a significant inflammatory marker negatively associated with very long telomeres. CONCLUSION:These baseline findings bring new perspective to the relationship between air pollution and telomere length. Contrary to traditional views, the results suggest potential adaptive responses, highlighting the need for further longitudinal research to explore telomere dynamics over time in conjunction with other factors.

Abstract Background Air pollution is associated with adverse health effects, especially on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, but according to recent research, even in cognitive health, metabolic, and immune systems. The objective was to analyse the effect of long-term exposure to air pollution on selected immune system parameters, 8-isoprostane a parameter of oxidative stress, and alpha-1-antitrypsin a protease inhibitor. Methods The number of 381 probands aged 35–65 from two differently polluted regions was included. Lifetime exposures to PM10, PM2.5, NO2, B(a)P, and benzene for each proband were calculated based on historical pollutant concentrations observed. The selected blood parameters were analysed in relation to independent variables (air pollutants, socioeconomic factors, etc.) using multiple regression. Possible covariates were determined. In its end, the study was conceived as a case–control study, and the odds ratio was quantified, expressing the strength of the association of the monitored parameters with the region. Results The average lifetime exposures to air pollution were significantly different between the two regions. Significant effects of the region were observed on IgM, IL-6, 8-isoprostane, and alpha-1-antitrypsin levels. The strongest positive association was observed between 8-isoprostane levels and benzene, PM2.5, PM10 and B(a)P. Odds ratio was 3.21 (95%CI 1.61–6.38). A significant negative association between all pollutants and IgM levels was observed even with covariate adjustment. Odds ratio was 1.80 (95%CI 1.15–2.82). A significant negative association between the alpha-1-antitrypsin levels and PM10, PM2.5, and benzene was found, independent of smoking as a covariate factor. Odds ratio was 1.77 (95%CI 1.09–2.87). In the case of IL-6, a significant effect of especially sleep as a covariate was observed. After covariates adjustment, a significant positive association between the IL-6 levels and PM10 and benzene was only observed. The odds ratio was 1.95 (95%CI 1.28–2.97). Conclusions The study confirmed that long-term exposure to air pollutants is associated with reduced levels of the protease inhibitor alpha-1-antitrypsin and decreased immune system performance by IgM. Furthermore, long-term exposure to air pollutants was associated with increased oxidative stress in humans, measured by 8-isoprostane levels. Residents who live in an industrial, environmentally polluted region showed elevated levels of IL-6.

IntroductionFor many infectious diseases, women are at higher risk and have a more severe disease course than men for many reasons, including biological differences, social inequalities, and restrictive cultural norms. The study focuses on infections with human papillomaviruses (HPV) in the form of cervical cancer as a gender-specific disease. The main goal is to evaluate cervical tumour incidence trends in the Czech female population in the HPV vaccination period 2012–2020 in relation to selected demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic indicators.MethodsThis is a retrospective ecological study. Data from publicly available databases about the incidence and mortality of cervical tumours (C53 Malignant neoplasm of cervix uteri, D06 Carcinoma in situ of cervix uteri according to ICD 10) and HPV vaccination rate were analysed and compared with demographic, socioeconomic and territorial data. Associations were searched using correlation analysis.ResultsThere was a decreasing trend in the incidence of cervical cancer in the observed period. Regarding cervical tumours (C53, D06) and malignant neoplasm of cervix uteri incidence (C53), the decrease was approximately 11 and 20%, respectively. Differences between regions were observed in incidences and vaccination rates. Based on correlation analysis, indicators connected with urban/rural aspects, such as a share of urban population and population density, were statistically significant. The indicators related to higher cervical cancer incidence are the high unemployment rate of women, the high number of divorces, the high number of abortions, the high share of the urban population, the high number of students, and the high number of women with only primary education. On the other hand, the indicators related to lower cervical cancer incidence are the high gross domestic product (GDP), the high average gross monthly wage per employee, the high employment rate of women, the higher average age of mothers at birth, and the high number of women with tertiary education.ConclusionResults underline the problem of economically disadvantaged regions and families. Increasing vaccination rates, promoting regular screening for cervical cancer, and supporting awareness in the population, especially in regions with higher incidence rates, should be priorities for public health efforts.

OBJECTIVE:The main objective is to confirm a hypothesis that atherosclerosis, through various mechanisms, considerably influences cognitive impairment and significantly increases the risk for developing dementia. Complete sample should be 920 individuals. The present study aimed to analyse epidemiological data from a questionnaire survey.METHODS:The work was carried out in the form of an epidemiological case control study. Subjects are enrolled in the study based on results of the following examinations carried out in neurology departments and outpatient centres during the project NU20-09-00119 from 2020 to 2023. Respondents were divided into four research groups according to the results of clinical examination for the presence of atherosclerosis and dementia. The survey was mainly concerned with risk factors for both atherosclerosis and dementia. It contained questions on lifestyle factors, cardiovascular risk factors, leisure activities, and hobbies.RESULTS:Analysis of the as yet incomplete sample of 877 subjects has yielded the following selected results: on average, 16% of subjects without dementia had primary education while the proportion was 45.2% in the group with both dementia and atherosclerosis. Subjects with dementia did mainly physical work. Low physical activity was more frequently noted in dementia groups (Group 2 - 54.4% and Group 3 - 47.2%) than in subjects without dementia (Group 1 - 19.6% and Group 4 - 25.8%). Coronary heart disease was more frequently reported by dementia patients (33.95%) than those without dementia (16.05%).CONCLUSION:Cognitively impaired individuals, in particular those with vascular cognitive impairment, have poorer quality of life and shorter survival. Risk factors contributing to such impairment are similar to those for ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke. It may be concluded that most of the analysed risk factors play a role in the development of both atherosclerosis and dementia.

Background. Early detection and diagnosis of dementia are of key importance in treatment, slowing disease progression or suppressing symptoms. Color vision impairment may be observed in some cases in patients with Alzheimer's disease, and its potential role in early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases is questioned. Objectives. The aim of this review is to provide up-to-date information on color vision impairment in various neurodegenerative diseases. Material and methods. A literature search was conducted using the electronic databases PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, and the term "dementia" was searched with keyword combinations related to color vision. Results. A total of 785 records were identified through database searching, and 25 articles were ultimately included in the analysis. Multiple studies have shown that patients with neurodegenerative diseases and dementia have impaired color vision, and the possible role of color vision changes are considered as potential biomarkers for early detection in several cases. The results show that color vision impairment is being investigated not only in patients with Alzheimer's disease but also in other neurodegenerative diseases. Conclusions. In individuals with cognitive impairment or neurodegenerative diseases, color vision changes have repeatedly been reported. In some cases, the use of color vision changes for differential diagnosis between certain neurodegenerative diseases has proved useful. Several authors have agreed that color vision tests could be a possible simple method for early diagnosis of dementia.

Background:Over 55 million people worldwide are living with dementia. The rate of cognitive decline increases with age, and loss of senses may be a contributing factor. Objectives:This study aimed to analyze hearing, olfactory function, and color vision in patients with dementia. Materials and methods:The sample comprised 40 patients with dementia and 37 cognitively normal controls aged 41-85 years. All participants underwent conventional pure-tone audiometry and a screening version of the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults, the Odorized Markers Test of olfactory function and the Ishihara color vision test. The effects of comorbidities and lifestyle factors were also assessed. Results:Patients with dementia had significantly worse hearing at almost all frequencies tested and significantly greater olfactory impairment than cognitively normal controls. Color vision impairment was found in less than 8% of the sample, with no significant difference between the groups. Impairment of two senses (hearing and olfaction) was significantly more common in patients with dementia than in controls. Conclusion:Individuals with dementia were found to have sensory decline, namely hearing and olfactory impairment. Color vision was rarely impaired in the sample. Participants with dementia tended to have more multisensory impairments than controls.

Background The perception of the quality of care provided by the medical institution to patients is directly affected by the job satisfaction of nurses. The feeling of job satisfaction is caused besides other things by the subjective expectations of employees about what their work should provide them with in return. The aim of the study is to evaluate and compare job satisfaction of hospital nurses in the Czech Republic in 2011 and 2021 by identifying differences between their personal preferences and perceived saturation. Methods The respondents are hospital nurses in the Czech Republic in 2011 and 2021. A developed questionnaire was used to determine the job satisfaction factors. The order of factors of personal preferences, perceived saturation and differences between them was compiled. For evaluation was used the Euclidean distance model that enables to capture the order and determine the significance given by the distance in which the factors are located. Results At the top of personal preferences of hospital nurses, the factors salary and patient care are in the first two places with a similar distance. The salary factor is the most preferred by hospital nurses in both evaluated periods, and at the same time there is the greatest discrepancy between personal preferences and perceived saturation. By contrast, image of profession and working conditions were sufficiently saturated by the employer in both periods, but nurses do not significantly prefer these factors. Conclusions The salary and patient care (i.e. the mission of the nurse’s work itself) are at the top of personal preferences of hospital nurses, with an exclusive position among other factors. We consider it important that the hospital management emphasizes them in the management of hospital nurses. At the same time, the patient care is perceived by the hospital nurses as one of the most saturated factors - in contrast to salary, which is located at the complete opposite pole as the least saturated factor and therefore emerges from the mutual comparison as the factor with the greatest degree of divergence. The stated conclusions are valid for both compared periods. New method of data evaluation was successfully tested.

Background Lifetime (or long-term) exposure to air pollution has been linked to an increased risk of premature death. This association might persist even at low air pollutant concentrations level. The objective was to describe and compare lifetime exposures to PM 10 , PM 2.5 , NO 2 , benzene, and benzo(a)pyrene in two differently polluted localities and quantify years of life lost due to all-cause mortality attributable to PM 10 , PM 2.5 , NO 2 . Methods The study population was selected from two differently polluted localities of the Czech Republic from the period 2000–2017. For determination of lifetime exposures specially developed methodology for historical air pollutants time series concentrations estimation was used. Estimated lifetime exposures, new WHO air quality guideline levels and relative risks were used to quantify years of life lost due to all-cause mortality attributable to air pollutants. Results Significant differences in lifetime exposures of air pollutants between study areas were found. Average lifetime exposure to PM 10 , PM 2.5 , NO 2 , benzene and B(a)P was 45.6 μg/m 3 , 34.9 μg/m 3 , 18.1 μg/m 3 , 2.1 μg/m 3 and 2.6 ng/m 3 , respectively, in high-polluted area, against 24.9 μg/m 3 , 19.4 μg/m 3 , 13.3 μg/m 3 , 0.8 μg/m 3 , 0.4 ng/m 3 in low-polluted area. All-cause mortality and years of life lost due to all-cause mortality (non-external) were higher in high-polluted area. The highest contribution was found for PM 2.5 , when the population attributable fraction was at the 23% level for the high polluted area and at the 14% level for the low polluted area. The highest losses of 35,776 years per 100,000 men or 131 days per 1 man were achieved in the high polluted area and in a case of PM 2.5 exposure, namely for men in the age category of 80–84 years. Additionally, the results were expressed per number of deaths. The average value for the number of deaths attributable to PM 2.5 exposure was 4.75 years per1 death man, or 3.51 years per 1 death woman in a high-polluted area. Conclusions Expression of years of life lost due to all-cause mortality attributable to air pollution per number of deaths can be more appropriate for communication about health risks or in the field of public health protection.

BACKGROUND AND AIM Estimates of historical concentrations are necessary when epidemiological studies on chronic diseases, especially oncological diseases, need to relate to lifetime exposure to air pollutants. The aim was to develop a methodology to obtain the most reliable estimates of annual average historical pollutant concentrations, which are further applied to the evaluation of long-term exposure. METHODS A combination of air quality monitoring data, a modelled of five-year average pollutant concentrations in a grid 1x1 km and a number of spatial and time correlations of PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, benzene, and B(a)P concentrations have been used. Subsequently, the data were corrected for residential areas and for emissions balances. RESULTS In the period 1997-2019, the result accuracy is mainly influenced by the number and territorial distribution of air quality monitoring stations in the respective district. For the period 1980-1995 concentration estimates are directly related to the 1997 and uses correlations with emission balance data, so is burdened with more uncertainty. The resulting annual concentration data represents six pollutants for 13 evaluated districts for the period 1980 - 2019. CONCLUSIONS This work is an original contribution to the interdisciplinary field of environmental epidemiology, dealing with the relationship between long-term or lifetime exposure to air pollutants and the incidence of chronic diseases. The methodology tries to solve the insufficient or different availability of historical input data from pollutant monitoring as effectively as possible. KEYWORDS air pollution; pollutant concentration; air quality monitoring; temporal and spatial pollutant correlation; historical concentrations; geographic information system; long-term exposures.

OBJECTIVESThis is a review article that deals with the question of whether type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for the development of Alzheimer's disease.METHODSWe searched the PubMed database and relevant publications were selected for review. The introduction, which describes the possibilities of how type 2 diabetes can affect the development of Alzheimer's disease, is followed by other questions related to this issue: May on the contrary Alzheimer's disease induce type 2 diabetes? What is a relative risk for type 2 diabetes to induce dementia? How type 2 diabetes influence conversion of mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease? What is the role of antidiabetic medication? Proposition of term "type 3 diabetes" for Alzheimer's disease.RESULTSType 2 diabetes mellitus has been shown to increase the risk for cognitive decline and dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Despite extensive research and numerous publications, the mechanisms underlying these associations remain unclear.CONCLUSIONSBecause of similar molecular and cellular features among type 1 and type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance associated with memory deficit and cognitive decline, some researches proposed the term "type 3 diabetes" for Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Cancer of respiratory tract is the world's most common cause of death among all cancer diseases. It's occurrence is influenced by many risk factors including outdoor and indoor air pollution, occupational exposure and other risk factors. The aim was to compare selected significant risk factors for respiratory cancer in two different polluted areas. METHODS: A combination of a longitudinal cross-section study with a risk assessment methodology was used. Data from a specially developed methodology were used to evaluate lifetime exposures, and in addition, exposures to aerosol fractions PM₂.₅, PM₁.₀ and PM₀.₂₅ were measured using cascaded personal samplers. The results were expressed as lifetime cancer risks and their proportions to the overall incidence of the disease. RESULTS: By comparing the risks of benzo[a]pyrene in ambient air and fibrogenic dust in workplaces , much more higher risks have been attributed to indoor radon exposures, while surprisingly a very high proportion of the most biologically effective ultrafine particles in the ambient air aerosol was found (UFP, ie PM₀.₂₅ was in the ratio 0.43, 0.57 and 0.67 in SPM, PM₂.₅ and PM₁.₀). Proportions of carcinogenic risks in industrial (IA) and non-industrial (NA) areas take on very different values with dominance of other factors (85% for men in IA, especially smoking) or radon (100% for women in NA). The benzo[a]pyrene represents only a proportion of lung cancers below 1%. CONCLUSIONS: The most significant proportion of respiratory cancers is represented by radon and other risk factors, although UFP mass dominance was found in IA and it is hypothesized as the major carrier of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. KEYWORDS radon; benzo[a]pyrene; lung cancer; occupational exposure; lifetime cancer risk, suspended particulate matter (SPM), fine and ultrafine particles (FP, UFP)

This study constitutes a cross sectional analysis of the association between cognitive impairment defined by neuropsychological tests and carotid stenosis. The main objective was to compare the results of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R) with regard to the degree of carotid stenosis. The sample comprised 744 patients who underwent a carotid duplex ultrasound and cognitive function testing (by ACE-R and MMSE). A multivariable analysis of potential confounding factors was completed. The significance of the different number of positive (MMSE ≤ 27, ACE-R ≤ 88) and negative (MMSE ≥ 28, ACE-R ≥ 89) results of the neuropsychological tests was analysed with regard to the degree of carotid stenosis (50-99%). Neuropsychological test results were also compared between carotid stenosis of 50-69%, 70-89%, and 90-99%. For both the MMSE and ACE-R, a difference was observed between positive and negative test results when higher degrees of stenosis were present. However, for the ACE-R only, more severe stenosis (80-89%, 90-99%) was predominantly associated with positive test results (p-value < 0.017). The same dependence for ACE-R (although not statistically significant) was observed in the group of patients without an ischemic stroke (confounding factor). In the case of the MMSE and more severe stenosis, negative results predominated, regardless of the confounding factor. There were no statistically significant differences in test results between carotid stenosis of 50-69%, 70-89%, and 90-99%. The results suggest that for assessing the early risk of cognitive impairment in patients with carotid atherosclerosis, the ACE-R appears more suitable than the MMSE.

Only a few researchers have addressed the issue of lifetime exposure related to air pollutant concentration. This study aims to develop a methodology to obtain the most reliable estimates of historical concentrations of air pollutants, which would be further applied to the long-term exposure evaluation. In particular, PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, benzene, and B(a)P concentrations have been obtained. Data of monitored concentrations, model calculations, and subsequent implementation of several corrections based on previous work on temporal and spatial correlations of these substances in the air have been deployed. This work makes an original contribution to the field of meteorology and epidemiology because of this innovative technique to estimate the most reliable historical concentrations of air pollutants. The novelty of our work lies in the additional implications of this study because historical concentration data serve as input data for the construction of epidemiological associations. The approach is based primarily on the availability of monitoring results of air pollutants.

The health impacts of suspended particulate matter (SPM) are significantly associated with size-the smaller the aerosol particles, the stronger the biological effect. Quantitative evaluation of fine and ultrafine particles (FP and UFP) is, therefore, an integral part of ongoing epidemiological studies. The mass concentrations of SPM fractions (especially PM2.5, PM1.0, PM0.25) were measured in an industrial area using cascade personal samplers and a gravimetric method, and their mass ratio was determined. The results of PM2.5, PM1.0 were also compared with the reference measurement at stationary stations. The mean ratios PM2.5/SPM, PM1.0/SPM, and PM1.0/PM2.5 were 0.76, 0.65, and 0.86, respectively. Surprisingly, a mass dominance of UFP with an aerodynamic diameter <0.25 μm (PM0.25) was found with mean ratios of 0.43, 0.57, 0.67 in SPM, PM2.5 and PM1.0. The method used showed satisfactory agreement in comparison with reference measurements. The respirable fraction may consist predominantly of UFP. Despite the measures currently being taken to improve air quality, the most biologically efficient UFP can escape and remain in the air. UFP are currently determined primarily as particle number as opposed to the mass concentration used for conventional fractions. This complicates their mutual comparison and determination of individual fraction ratios.

Background: Tetanus is an important infectious disease that is characterized by high lethality. For many decades, an effective vaccine against this disease has been available, the use of which has achieved the elimination of this dangerous infection. Objective: To prove that at present tetanus is a disappearing infection, against which there is good immunity in all age groups, including the oldest individuals. Methods: Protective antibodies against tetanus have been demonstrated in persons over 60 years of age using the ELISA method. Results: Examination of elderly persons in serological reviews in the Czech Republic between 1986 and 2002 showed protective antibody titres. In most cases, a group of 13 people aged 61-93 years who had an interval of more than 10 years from the last vaccination had tetanus antibody protection titres. Conclusions: Elderly people in the Czech Republic have good and acceptable immunity to tetanus as confirmed by a number of antibody tests within serological reviews or other examinations. The epidemiological situation in tetanus in the Czech Republic is also circumstantial evidence, but highly valid. Since 1990, only isolated cases have been recorded, with still high exposure of the entire population. KLÍČOVÁ SLOVA Tetanus, mizející infekce, ELISA protilátky, starší osoby

INTRODUCTION:The toe brachial index (TBI) is recommended for the detection of lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) in case of reduced efficacy of the ankle brachial index (ABI), which most often occurs in diabetics. In this case, TBI is expected to give more accurate results. There are not many studies dealing with the use of TBI specifically in diabetics and the results are different.OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this work is to present the interim results of the study, whose main objective is to assess the validity of TBI in diabetics and to determine whether this method provides improvements over the ABI.METHODS:In the first phase of the study, 42 limbs were examined in 21 patients with type 2 diabetes. ABI was measured using the automatic oscillometric method (ABI OSC) and the manual method using the pencil doppler (ABI DPP). TBI was determined using an automatic plethysmographic method. The reference examination of the arteries of the lower limbs was performed using duplex ultrasonography (DUS). A paired t-test was used to compare the individual TBI and ABI methods. Cut-off points ABI &lt; 0.9; TBI &lt; 0.7; and DUS stenosis &gt; 50 % were used to evaluate validity parameters.RESULTS:The individual ABI and TBI methods gave different results (p &lt; 0.05). In eight limbs of the total number, LEAD was demonstrated using DUS. The best validity parameters were demonstrated by the TBI - sensitivity 0.88; specificity 0.88; positive predictive value 0.64; negative predictive value 0.97, positive likelihood ratio 7.44; negative likelihood ratio 0.14. The ABI method of calculation, that uses lower systolic blood pressure determined from two measurement sites on the ankle as a numerator, had a higher validity parameters. The ABI OSC did not correctly detect a single limb with stenosis &gt; 50 % in this cohort.CONCLUSION:According to the interim results of this work, the TBI was more suitable for the detection of LEAD in diabetics in comparison with ABI.

INTRODUCTION:Dementia becomes a major public health challenge in both the Czech Republic and worldwide. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer's disease (AD).OBJECTIVE:We conducted two successive epidemiological projects in 2012-2015 and 2016-2019. Their aim was to study the effect of selected potential genetic, vascular and psychosocial risk factors on the development of AD by comparing their frequencies in AD patients and controls.METHODS:Epidemiological case-control studies were conducted. In total, data from 2106 participants (1096 cases, 1010 controls) were analyzed.RESULTS:Three times more females than males suffered from AD. The highest proportion of cases were those with primary education, unlike controls. There were statistically significantly more manual workers among cases than among controls. Of selected vascular risk factors, coronary heart disease was found to be statistically significantly more frequent in cases than in controls. The onset of hypertension and diabetes mellitus was earlier in controls than in cases. As for hobbies and interests, there were statistically significant differences in physical activity, reading and solving crosswords between the groups, with these activities being more common in controls.CONCLUSION:The prevalence of chronic neurodegenerative diseases, in particular AD, is currently increasing. Given the aging of the population, these conditions may be expected to rise in prevalence. Potential risk of AD needs to be studied, analyzed and confirmed; a detailed knowledge of the risks of AD and early detection of the pathology may therefore be very beneficial for prevention and early treatment of this condition.

Východiska: Pojem mírná kognitivní porucha byl zaveden v 90. letech 20. století. Tato porucha je popisována jako přechodná fáze mezi normálním stárnutím a demencí. Dle vývoje věkové struktury populace se problematika chorob spojených s úbytkem kognice dostává do popředí zájmu odborného světa i společnosti. Cíl: Práce seznamuje s problematikou mírné kognitivní poruchy a předkládá vybrané výsledky epidemiologické studie případů a kontrol, jejímž cílem bylo zjistit, zda jsou u pacientů s mírnou kognitivní poruchou přítomny rizikové faktory předpokládající možnou konverzi do Alzheimerovy choroby. Metody: Metodika studie zahrnovala dotazníkové šetření, a odběr venózní krve na genetickou analýzu. Data byla následně statisticky zpracována. Výsledky: Do současnosti byly zpracovány informace získané od 698 osob (219 případů a 479 kontrol). Ve skupině případů bylo 1,7 × více žen s poruchou kognice než mužů. Další statisticky významné rozdíly byly zjištěny u typu vykonávané práce, kdy osoby v kontrolní skupině vykonávaly častěji duševní práci, a u výskytu ischemické choroby dolních končetin, která se více vyskytovala ve skupině případů. Byly nalezeny statisticky významné asociace u genu pro TOMM40, IDE a CLU. Závěry: Vzhledem k tomu, že amnestická forma mírné kognitivní poruchy je považována za předstupeň demence, je pravděpodobné, že vznik této choroby ovlivňují stejné rizikové faktory. Znalost a potvrzení těchto rizik může pomoci v prevenci a včasnému záchytu jak mírné kognitivní poruchy, tak demence.

Background: Alzheimer‘s disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease, which is caused by a number of factors – one of them is genetic predisposition Whole-genome association studies make it possible to find candidate genes whose changes could contribute to the development of this disease. Aim: This literature review summarizes the findings of whole-genome association studies aimed at determining the genetic predisposition to late-onset Alzheimer‘s disease. Its aim is to compile an overview of candidate genes associated with this disease for future research. Methods: The work is processed in the form of literary research. It describes important genes that are associated with late-onset Alzheimer‘s disease. Results: Based on previous experience, the genes APOE, TOMM40, CD36, CLU, CHAT, IDE and TNK1 were selected, which are the most suitable candidates for future targeted genetic testing in the Czech population. Conclusions: This work presented a list of genes associated with late-onset Alzheimer‘s disease. Future research in this area can make a significant contribution to the prediction and subsequent prevention of this serious disease.