Prof. So Kwok-Fai of Jinan University delivers "Mental Health and Lifestyle Intervention"

Abstract:

Anxiety disorders affect more than 2% of the whole population, with a prevalence of subthreshold diseases of over 10%. Multiple neuropathological mechanisms have been proposed, including monoamine neurotransmitters, neural circuits, and neuroglial cells.

In addition to these central factors, circulating hormones such as glucocorticoids profoundly affect mental functions, suggesting crosstalk between peripheral tissues and central nuclei.

In this talk, the effect of exercise, light therapy and Goji glycopeptide on mental health will be discussed.

Biography:

Prof. SO Kwok-Fai, Director of GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration at Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Emeritus Professor, Chair of Anatomy in the State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Hong Kong; Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Co-Chairman of the Board of Director of the ChinaSCINet, and Editor-in-Chief of Neural Regeneration Research. Received PhD degree from MIT. He is one of the pioneers in the field of axonal regeneration in visual system. He was the first to show lengthy regeneration of retinal ganglion cells in adult mammals with peripheral nerve graft. He is currently using multiple approaches to promote axonal regeneration after injury in the optic nerve and spinal cord. His team identifies neuroprotective and regenerative factors including: exercise, wolfberry, trophic factors, peptide nanofiber scaffold, and environmental manipulation. 1995 obtained the Natural Science Award of the National Natural Science Foundation of China. 1999 elected Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. 2015 elected FNAI, US National Academy of Inventors, Fellow. 2017 elected Member of DABI (Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives), 2019 elected Fellow of the Chinese Academy of Medical Science, 2021 elected Member of College of Fellows, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE Fellow). 2021–2024 listed the world top 2% neuroscientists. “The World’s Top Neuroscientists (2023)”—Top Ten in China, cited more than 31560 times, H-index 93 (Google Scholar). He is the author and co-author of over 500+ publications; co-inventor of 46 patents.