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The static lighting condition (SLC) in confined spaces may pose great challenges to the health of long-stay workers, inducing sleep disorders, cognitive decline, and negative emotions such as depression or anxiety. To explore human responses to the SLC (300 lx and 6000 K), 20 young subjects (22.6 ± 1.88 years old) were recruited in the underground confined lab for a week by measuring melatonin, core body temperature (CBT), subjective alertness (KSS score), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI), Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). The results showed a posterior shift in circadian rhythm after 1 week of confinement, with 0.62 h delay of dim light melatonin onset (DLMO), higher melatonin concentrations in the evening, lower melatonin concentrations at midnight, a day-by-day increase in KSS and CBT at bedtime, but this decreased daily when waking up, with cumulative effects. There was a progressive increase in sleep latency, PSQI scores, response time and scores of subjective emotion scales, meaning worse sleep, performance and emotional state. Due to limited exposure to high-lighting stimuli during the daytime, the initial concentrations of melatonin increased in the evening and decreased before sleep. In confined spaces, active health interventions by dynamic lighting patterns were proposed to safeguard human health and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals exposed to elevated noise levels experience heightened emotional intensity, leading to increased cognitive disruption and a higher likelihood of accidents. This study seeks to investigate the impact of noise exposure on human cognitive performance, and the moderating role of emotion. Twelve healthy male college-age students underwent exposure to three noise conditions, each characterized by different sound pressure levels and sharpness. Each condition included an initial acoustic/thermal adaption period lasting approximately 40 min, followed by intermittent questionnaire tests and a battery of computerized cognitive tests. Statistical analysis revealed that reducing noise levels proved advantageous, enhancing perceived sound quality, positive emotions, and auditory perception abilities, while concurrently reducing false alerts and accelerating execution speed. Many of these effects were found to be counteracted by elevated sharpness. Correlation analyses and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) results suggested that human emotions mediate the relationship between noise exposure and cognitive performance. The potential underlying mechanism suggests that negative feelings towards noise contribute to poor emotional states, subsequently influencing cognitive processes and impairing executive function. The outcomes of this study provide valuable insights into the mechanism of noise exposure and its effects on human cognition and subjective perceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Supplementation with dietary neuro-pigments lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) has been shown to improve many aspects of visual and cognitive function in adults. In this study, we tested whether a similar intervention could improve such outcomes in preadolescent children. Methods: Sixty children (age range 5–12 years) were randomized in a 2:1 ratio in this double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Subjects were supplemented with gummies containing either a combination of 10 mg lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin (LZ) or placebo for 180 days. Macular pigment optical density (MPOD) was the primary endpoint. The secondary endpoints included serum levels of L and Z, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), critical flicker fusion (CFF), eye strain and fatigue using visual analogue scales (VAS), Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire-Abbreviated (CSHQ-A), and Creyos Health cognitive domains like attention, focus/concentration, episodic memory and learning, visuospatial working memory, and visuospatial processing speed. Safety was assessed throughout the study on the basis of physical examination, vital signs, clinical laboratory tests, and monitoring of adverse events. Results: The LZ group showed significant increases in MPOD at all visits post-supplementation, with significant increases as early as day 42 compared to placebo. The LZ group showed significant increases in serum lutein levels, reduced eye strain and fatigue, and improved cognitive performance (focus, episodic memory and learning, visuospatial working memory) at days 90 and 180 compared to placebo. Further, the LZ group showed significant increases in processing speed (CFF), attention, visuospatial processing, and serum Z and BDNF levels on day 180 compared to placebo. No safety concerns were observed. Conclusions: Supplementing LZ resulted in increased MPOD levels, along with increased serum levels of L, Z, and BDNF. These changes were associated with improved visual and cognitive performances and reduction in eye strain and eye fatigue in the children receiving LZ gummies. The investigational product was safe and well tolerated. Trial Registration: http://ctri.nic.in/ Identifier CTRI/2022/05/042364. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It has been shown that inflammation may be associated with cognitive impairment (CI). Diet modulates inflammation. However, there is currently a scarcity of epidemiological studies exploring the connection between the inflammatory potential of diet and CI. The objective was to investigate the correlation between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and cognitive impairment in older adults in the United States. Methods: The present investigation utilized a cross-sectional dataset obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2014. Dietary intake data was used to calculate DII scores, which were then used to categorize participants into quartiles. Participants' cognitive function was assessed using the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD), Animal Fluency Test (AFT), and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). Individuals who scored in the lowest quartile on any of these tests were classified as exhibiting low cognitive performance. The association between DII and cognitive impairment was investigated by multivariate logistic regression, smooth curve fitting, and subgroup analysis. Results: A total of 947 older adults were enrolled in the study. Following the adjustment of confounding variables, DII scores exhibited a significant and positive correlation with low cognitive performance, as measured by AFT (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02-1.28, p = 0.02) and the DSST (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.13-1.68, p = 0.004). Compared with the lowest quartile of DII, the highest weighted odds ratio of cognitive impairment based on AFT was observed in the fourth quartile group (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.05-3.38, p = 0.03). Similarly, a comparable pattern was evident in DSST (OR 4.30, 95% CI 1.85-9.98, p = 0.003). Additionally, the smooth curve fitting results showed a nonlinear relationship between DII and cognitive decline evaluated by DSST (p for nonlinearity = 0.016). No interaction effects between cognitive impairment and age or gender were observed in relation to all cognitive test scores. Conclusion: This research reveals a positive link between diet with higher inflammatory potential and cognitive decline among elderly individuals in America. However, additional studies on dietary interventions are necessary to explore the cause-and-effect relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In traditional Asian medicine, Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort also known as Conioselinum anthriscoides "Chuanxiong", is mainly used for improving blood circulation or for analgesic and anti-inflammatory purposes, but they also have a long history of use for pain disorders in the head and face, such as headache. Despite the possibility that the plant is effective for diseases such as cerebral infarction and vascular dementia (VaD), the mechanism of action is not well understood. To determine if the dried rhizomes of L. chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma, CR) methanol extract (CRex) has activity in a VaD mice model. Through network analysis, we confirm that CR is effective in cerebrovascular diseases. In mice, we induce cognitive impairment, similar to VaD in humans, by chronically reducing the cerebral blood flow by performing bilateral common carotid artery stenosis (BCAS) and administering CRex for 6 weeks. We measure behavioral changes due to cognitive function impairment and use immunofluorescence staining to confirm if CRex can inhibit the activation of astrocytes and microglia involved in the inflammatory response in the brain. We quantify proteins involved in the mechanism, such as mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), in the hippocampus and surrounding white matter, and analyze gene expression and protein interaction networks through RNA sequencing to interpret the results of the study. CRex administration rescued cognitive impairment relating to a novel object and inhibited the activation of astrocytes and microglia. Western blotting analysis revealed that CRex regulated the changes in protein expression involved in MAPK signaling such as extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38). The administration of CRex suppressed approximately 44% of the pathological changes in gene expression caused by BCAS. CRex extract effectively inhibited cognitive impairment caused by BCAS, and the mechanism through which this occurred is inhibited activation of astrocytes and microglia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individual differences in cognitive performance in childhood are a key predictor of significant life outcomes such as educational attainment and mental health. Differences in cognitive ability are governed in part by variations in brain structure. However, studies commonly focus on either gray or white matter metrics in humans, leaving open the key question as to whether gray or white matter microstructure plays distinct or complementary roles supporting cognitive performance. To compare the role of gray and white matter in supporting cognitive performance, we used regularized structural equation models to predict cognitive performance with gray and white matter measures. Specifically, we compared how gray matter (volume, cortical thickness, and surface area) and white matter measures (volume, fractional anisotropy, and mean diffusivity) predicted individual differences in cognitive performance. The models were tested in 11,876 children (ABCD Study; 5,680 female, 6,196 male) at 10 years old. We found that gray and white matter metrics bring partly nonoverlapping information to predict cognitive performance. The models with only gray or white matter explained respectively 15.4 and 12.4% of the variance in cognitive performance, while the combined model explained 19.0%. Zooming in, we additionally found that different metrics within gray and white matter had different predictive power and that the tracts/regions that were most predictive of cognitive performance differed across metrics. These results show that studies focusing on a single metric in either gray or white matter to study the link between brain structure and cognitive performance are missing a key part of the equation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Senior citizens suffering from cognitive impairment (CI) are on the East Asia rise. Multiple variables could lead to inter-/intra-individual cognition effectiveness variations, though previous research efforts did not consider weighting issues. This study scrutinized 5639 participants meeting required inclusion criteria by the CHARLS. Cognitive capacity was evaluated through Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Considering that MMSE scorings were not following normal distribution, a non-parametric test and multiple linear regression were performed to screen candidate variables linked to cognitive capacity. Such applicability of candidate factors in the cumulative effect and the weighting of the impact on cognitive performance were evaluated by random forest (RF) algorithm. Age, gender, education, marital status, residence, the type of residence, exercise, socialization level and drinking were correlated to MMSE scorings (p < 0.05). Among them, age, education, gender and sociality were correlated to individual MMSE items (p < 0.05). Regardless of MMSE scores and several MMSE items, age is always a prime factor. However, in the attention and computation item, education is better than age and ranks first. This preliminary study prompted age, education, gender, and sociality with varying weightings to be linked to cognitive capacity within a Chinese cohort by differing cognitive aspects. At different levels of cognitive performance, the main risk factors are basically similar, but there are still some differences. • The forecast accuracy between sociodemographic/lifestyle factors and MMSE score, together with weighting of each candidate factor in whole were initially analyzed for the first time. • Age, education, gender and social status were correlated to MMSE scores and individual MMSE items with differing weights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caffeine (CAF), a prevalent psychoactive stimulant, is believed to potentially enhance cognitive ability. However, studies on the effects of various doses are limited and yield inconsistent results, particularly in female athletes. Therefore, we aimed to assess the association between three different dosages of CAF intake (low, moderate, and high) and cognitive skills in female athletes with low CAF consumption. This study had a randomized, crossover, double-blind design in which each athlete performed four experimental sessions after ingesting either a placebo (PLAC), 3 mg·kg−1 of CAF (3 mg of CAF), 6 mg·kg−1 of CAF (6 mg of CAF), or 9 mg·kg−1 of CAF (9 mg of CAF) with an in-between washout period of at least 72 h. Following a 60 min window post-capsule consumption, fourteen female athletes (age: 17.4 ± 0.8 years) were assessed through various cognitive tests, namely, simple reaction time (SRT), choice reaction time (CRT), and attentional task (AT) tests, along with the mental rotation test (MRT). Additionally, they were required to complete a questionnaire about the undesirable side effects of CAF. Our results indicated that, compared to those of PLAC, the SRT, CRT, and AT performance were significantly improved following the administration of both 3 mg of CAF and 6 mg of CAF. While the greatest enhancement was observed after consuming 3 mg of CAF, no significant differences were found between the effects of 3 mg and 6 mg of CAF. Interestingly, MRT performance did not improve with any of the CAF dosages. Moreover, the ingestion of 9 mg of CAF did not enhance cognitive skills and was linked to the highest occurrence of CAF-related side effects. In conclusion, our results highlight the recommendation for a low CAF dosage of 3 mg·kg−1, in contrast to a higher dose of 6 mg·kg−1 or 9 mg·kg−1 of CAF, to enhance various aspects of cognitive performance in female athletes with low CAF consumption without adverse side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital neuropsychological test batteries are popular in college athletics; however, well-validated digital tests that are short and portable are needed to expand the feasibility of performing cognitive testing quickly, reliably, and outside standard clinical settings. This study assessed performance on digital versions of Trail Making Test (dTMT) and a modified Symbol Digit Modalities Test (dSDMT) in uninjured collegiate athletes (n = 537; 47% female) using the C3Logix baseline assessment module. Time to complete (dTMT) and the number of correct responses (dSDMT) were computed, transformed into z scores, and compared to age-matched normative data from analogous paper-and-pencil tests. Overall sample performance was compared to normative sample performance using Cohen's d. Sample averages on the dTMT, Part A, and dSDMT were similar to published norms; 97 and 92% of z scores fell within 2 standard deviations of normative means, respectively. The sample averaged faster completion times on dTMT, Part B than published norms, although 98% of z scores were within 2 standard deviations of the normative means. Brief, digitized tests may be useful in populations and testing environments when longer cognitive test batteries are impractical. Future studies should assess the ability of these tests to detect clinically relevant changes following a suspected head injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To explore the behavior patterns of students and working adults regarding the duration and quality of sleep and water intake in an urban environment and to identify the relationship between nighttime sleep extent and water intake with mood and cognitive performance. Methods: This was a descriptive correlational study conducted at Islamic International Medical College, Riphah University at the Pathology department from March to June 2022. A total of 160 participants with age range of 20 to 50 years completed a self-report questionnaire regarding sleep patterns, water intake, and perceptions of mood, concentration, and memory. Analyzed the relationship between sleep duration, water intake, mood, mindfulness/ concentration, and memory using Kendall's Tau-b correlation coefficient in SPSS 22. Results: A significant number (28.7%) of participants had a sleep duration of ≤ 6 hours, with 41.3% sleeping after midnight. 82.5% of the participants switch off-screen just before sleeping. 63.7% have a routine water intake of less than 2 L/day. An aberrant statistically significant negative correlation between total sleeping hours and mood (τb = -.313, p = 0.004) was identified, showing a negative effect on mood with a sleeping time of ≥ 9 hours when compared with the other two groups (6-9 hours, τb = - .689, p = 0.001, ≤ 6hours, τb = - .697, p = 0.001). A significant correlation between daily water intake and concentration was found, wherein a decrease in daily water intake showed a negative effect on concentration (τb = .289, p = 0.008). Conclusions: Sleep duration and water intake patterns may affect mood and cognitive performance. Regular sufficient nighttime sleep and adequate hydration may help improve cognitive functioning and mood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the utility of dichotomous versus dimensional scores across two measures of social determinants of health (SDOH) regarding their associations with cognitive performance and psychiatric symptoms in a mixed clinical sample of 215 adults referred for neuropsychological evaluation (M age = 43.91, 53.5% male, 44.2% non-Hispanic White). Both dimensional and dichotomous health literacy scores accounted for substantial variance in all cognitive outcomes assessed, whereas dimensional and dichotomous adverse childhood experience scores were significantly associated with psychiatric symptoms. Tests of differences between correlated correlations indicated that correlations with cognitive and psychiatric outcomes were not significantly different across dimensional versus dichotomous scores, suggesting that these operationalizations of SDOH roughly equivalently characterize risk of poorer cognitive performance and increased psychiatric symptoms. Results highlight the necessity of measuring multiple SDOH, as different SDOH appear to be differentially associated with cognitive performance versus psychiatric symptoms. Furthermore, results suggest that clinicians can use cut-scores when characterizing patients' risk of poor cognitive or psychiatric outcomes based on SDOH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19 is a disease known for its neurological involvement. SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers neuroinflammation, which could significantly contribute to the development of long-term neurological symptoms and structural alterations in the gray matter. However, the existence of a consistent pattern of cerebral atrophy remains uncertain. Objective: Our study aimed to identify patterns of brain involvement in recovered COVID-19 patients and explore potential relationships with clinical variables during hospitalization. Methodology: In this study, we included 39 recovered patients and 39 controls from a pre-pandemic database to ensure their non-exposure to the virus. We obtained clinical data of the patients during hospitalization, and 3 months later; in addition we obtained T1-weighted magnetic resonance images and performed standard screening cognitive tests. Results: We identified two groups of recovered patients based on a cluster analysis of the significant cortical thickness differences between patients and controls. Group 1 displayed significant cortical thickness differences in specific cerebral regions, while Group 2 exhibited significant differences in the cerebellum, though neither group showed cognitive deterioration at the group level. Notably, Group 1 showed a tendency of higher D-dimer values during hospitalization compared to Group 2, prior to p-value correction. Conclusion: This data-driven division into two groups based on the brain structural differences, and the possible link to D-dimer values may provide insights into the underlying mechanisms of SARS-COV-2 neurological disruption and its impact on the brain during and after recovery from the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related disorder, characterized by the gradual loss of memory and cognitive function owing to neuronal damage and brain shrinkage. This study aimed to investigate how intranasal injection of human adiposederived stem cell-conditioned media (hADSC-CM) ameliorates cognitive performance and affects the level of estrogen receptor beta (Erβ) in the hippocampus of rats in an AD model. Methods: A total of 32 male rats were divided into four groups, including the control, AD model, hADSC-CM, and vehicle groups. The Morris water maze was used to assess the animals’ behavioral changes. Moreover, Nissl and Thioflavin-S staining were performed to evaluate the histology of the hippocampus. Immunohistochemistry was also carried out to evaluate the expression level of Erβ. Results: The intranasal injection of hADSC-CM improved the rats’ cognitive performance by reducing the number of dark cells and beta-amyloid plaques in the hippocampus in the AD model. Besides, the intranasal injection of hADSC-CM increased the level of Erβ in this model. Conclusion: The present findings indicated that the intranasal injection of hADSC-CM ameliorated cognitive function. Amyloid plaques and dark cells also diminished in the CA1 area of the hippocampus. Moreover, the expression level of ERβ increased. It can be concluded that hADSC-CM has significant treatment benefits for AD in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Having rich social networks is associated with better physical and cognitive health, however older adults entering long-term care may experience an increased risk of social isolation and consequent negative impacts on cognitive function. Our study aimed to identify if there is an association between accessing specific types of services or activities within long-term care on social networks and cognition. Methods A cross-sectional study of 96 residents from 2 aged care providers in New South Wales, Australia. Residents were given a battery of assessments measuring social network structure (Lubben Social Network Scale, LSNS-12), quality of life (EuroQol 5D, Eq. 5D5L) and cognitive function (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA). Demographic factors and service use factors were also collected from aged care providers’ electronic records. Independent sample t-test, ANOVA and linear regression analyses were used to explore associated factors for cognition. Results Residents had a mean age of 82.7±9.4 years (median=81) and 64.6% were women. Most residents had cognitive impairment (70.8%) and reported moderate sized social networks (26.7/60) (Lubben Social Network Scale, LSNS-12). Residents who had larger social networks of both family and friends had significantly better cognitive performance. Service type and frequency of attendance were not associated with cognitive function. Conclusions Among individuals most at risk of social isolation, having supportive and fulfilling social networks was associated with preserved cognitive function. The relationship between service provision and social interactions that offer psychosocial support within long-term facilities and its impact over time on cognitive function requires further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this review was to assess current evidence regarding changes in cognitive function according to time-of-day (TOD) and assess the key components of research design related to manuscripts of chronobiological nature. Methods: An English-language literature search revealed 523 articles through primary database searches, and 1868 via organization searches/citation searching. The inclusion criteria were met by eleven articles which were included in the review. The inclusion criteria set were healthy adult males, a minimum of two timepoints including morning and evening, cognitive measures of performance, and peer-reviewed academic paper. Results: It was established that cognitive performance varies with TOD and the degree of difference is highly dependent on the type of cognitive task with differences ranging from 9.0 to 34.2% for reaction time, 7.3% for alertness, and 7.8 to 40.3% for attention. The type of cognitive function was a determining factor as to whether the performance was better in the morning, evening, or afternoon. Conclusion: Although some studies did not establish TOD differences, reaction time and levels of accuracy were highest in the evening. This implies that cognitive processes are complex, and existing research is contradictory. Some studies or cognitive variables did not show any measurable TOD effects, which may be due to differences in methodology, subjects involved, testing protocols, and confounding factors. No studies met all requirements related to chronobiological research, highlighting the issues around methodology. Therefore, future research must use a rigorous, approach, minimizing confounding factors that are specific to examinations of TOD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of a probable cognitive deficit in older adults is associated with advanced age and degree of functional impairment. This fact has encouraged the search for non-pharmacological preventive interventions. We set out to evaluate the benefits of the use of specific training programs in everyday cognition on the cognitive functioning of older adults. Methods: For this purpose, we conducted a randomised controlled trial of two groups. In the experimental group we carried out an 'Everyday Cognition Training Program', and in the control group we carried out a 'Traditional Cognitive Training Program'. The study was divided into four phases. The interventions were carried out in 10 associations of older people. In each group, 20 sessions were conducted in each phase. Participants received a total of 80 sessions. Therefore, a total of 800 intervention sessions were conducted throughout the study. The ERFC Questionnaire was used to assess the intervention. Each participant performed eight assessments, two (initial and final) for each of the four stages. Results: The study had a final sample of 237 participants. The intervention group had significantly better scores on the ERFC (at P < 0.001) than the control group at both post-intervention and follow-up, except in the third stage of the study, where no significant differences were found after the intervention between the study groups. Conclusions: The main findings of this study indicate that the use of an Everyday Cognition Training Program presents greater benefits in the cognitive functioning in older adults than the use of a Traditional Cognitive Training Program. Clinical Trial Registration : ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04041999. Ageing involves changes in complex cognitive functions that result in a decline in autonomy and quality of life. Everyday cognition describes the capability to resolve complicated cognitive problems in one's daily life. Our research has identified the advantages of an intervention based on everyday cognition, as it predicts improvements in daily performance. These expected enhancements relate to everyday performance and not only to specified cognitive functions, thus suggesting their potential application in the routine activities of older individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive fatigue, a state of reduced mental capacity arising from prolonged cognitive activity, poses significant challenges in various domains, from road safety to workplace productivity. Accurately detecting and mitigating cognitive fatigue is crucial for ensuring optimal performance and minimizing potential risks. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of the current landscape in cognitive fatigue detection. We systematically review various approaches, encompassing physiological, behavioral, and performance-based measures, for robust and objective fatigue detection. The paper further analyzes different challenges, including the lack of standardized ground truth and the need for context-aware fatigue assessment. This survey aims to serve as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners seeking to understand and address the multifaceted challenge of cognitive fatigue detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the impact of the emotional valence of external situations (EVES) on cognitive performance and electrophysiological (EEG) responses during decision-making. 26 healthy adults underwent a modified version of the Trier social stress test, performing five interview-style discourses. Each discourse entailed preparing a speech under increasingly stressful conditions. Participants were also exposed to gradually increasing EVES (i.e., an examining committee displaying progressively more negative-connoted emotional facial expressions). In addition, after each speech, participants completed an arithmetic task to test how emotional manipulation affected cognitive performance. Behavioral data (preparation times) and EEG data (frequency bands) were collected to assess stress regulation, stress resilience, and cognitive performance. The results indicate that EVES significantly influenced stress regulation and resilience, as reflected in the behavioral data. Neurophysiological findings showed increased parietal lobe activity (P4) in the theta and delta bands with rising emotional valence, plateauing from the preparation of the second discourse onward. This suggests enhanced emotional processing and attentional demands. However, gamma band activity decreased in P4 during the preparations for the two discourses following the first, indicating a shift of cognitive resources from higher cognitive functions to emotional processing. This highlights the cognitive cost of maintaining performance and stress regulation under emotionally charged conditions. Such findings suggest that emotional valence modulates cognitive performance and that specific neural mechanisms are involved in managing stress responses. The findings underscore the complex relationship between emotion, cognition, and neural mechanisms, offering valuable insights for stress regulation and resilience, and enhancing performance under pressure.

Abstract INTRODUCTION This study investigated whether epigenetic age acceleration (AA) is associated with the change in cognitive function and the risk of incident dementia over 9 years, separately in males and females. METHODS Six epigenetic AA measures, including GrimAge, were estimated in baseline blood samples from 560 Australians aged ≥70 years (50.7% female). Cognitive assessments included global function, episodic memory, executive function, and psychomotor speed. Composite cognitive scores were also generated. Dementia (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders – IV [DSM‐IV] criteria) was adjudicated by international experts. RESULTS Associations between epigenetic AA and cognitive performance over‐time varied by sex. In females only, GrimAA/Grim2AA was associated with worse delayed recall, composite cognition, and composite memory (adjusted‐beta ranged from –0.1372 to –0.2034). In males only, GrimAA/Grim2AA was associated with slower processing speed (adjusted‐beta, –0.3049) and increased dementia risk (adjusted hazard ratios [HRs], 1.78 and 2.00, respectively). DISCUSSION Epigenetic AA is associated with cognitive deterioration in later life but with evidence of sex‐specific associations. Highlights Epigenetic age acceleration was associated with cognitive deterioration over time. However, these associations differed by sex. In females, accelerated GrimAge appeared to be a better marker of decline in memory. In males, accelerated GrimAge was associated with slower processing speed over time. Association between accelerated GrimAge and dementia risk was found only in males.

Abstract Training studies typically investigate the cumulative rather than the analytically challenging immediate effect of exercise on cognitive outcomes. We investigated the dynamic interplay between single‐session exercise intensity and time‐locked recognition speed‐accuracy scores in older adults with Alzheimer's dementia (N = 17) undergoing a 24‐week dual‐task regime. We specified a state‐of‐the‐art hierarchical Bayesian continuous‐time dynamic model with fully connected state variables to analyze the bi‐directional effects between physical and recognition scores over time. Higher physical performance was dynamically linked to improved recognition (−1.335, SD = 0.201, 95% Bayesian credible interval [BCI] [−1.725, −0.954]). The effect was short‐term, lasting up to 5 days (−0.368, SD = 0.05, 95% BCI [−0.479, −0.266]). Clinical scores supported the validity of the model and observed temporal dynamics. Higher physical performance predicted improved recognition speed accuracy in a day‐by‐day manner, providing a proof‐of‐concept for the feasibility of linking exercise training and recognition in patients with Alzheimer's dementia. Highlights Hierarchical Bayesian continuous‐time dynamic modeling approach A total of 72 repeated physical exercise (PP) and integrated recognition speed‐accuracy (IRSA) measurements PP is dynamically linked to session‐to‐session variability of IRSA Higher PP improved IRSA in subsequent sessions in subjects with Alzheimer's dementia Short‐term effect: lasting up to 4 days after training session

Abstract Concussive and subconcussive head impatcs in sports have drawn more attention in recent years. Thus, the cognitive ability of soccer players and its relationship with circulating levels of irisin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) were studied in this study. Fifteen amateur soccer players and 15 sedentary men volunteered to participate in this study. After evaluating the aerobic and anaerobic capacities of the participants, their cognitive performances were measured. Blood samples were obtained at rest, and the ELISA method was used to measure the concentrations of serum NSE, plasma BDNF, and irisin. There were no differences between groups in terms of cognitive abilities or serum NSE levels (P > 0.05). Plasma irisin (P = 0.019) and BDNF (P < 0.001) levels were higher in the soccer players than the sedentary subjects. There was a positive correlation between irisin and NSE (r = 0.461, P = 0.010) and BDNF (r = 0.405, P = 0.007) concentrations. General cognitive performance is maintained in amateur soccer players. This is accompanied by the unchanged NSE. However, elevated irisin and BDNF levels appear to be independent of cognitive performance.

Introduction: Scientific evidence proposes that a healthy and diverse diet may have a role in preserving brain and cognitive performance. We sought to investigate the association of dietary diversity and quality with cognitive performance and odds of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: This cross-sectional study was undertaken on 89 participants (60 Alzheimer's patients and 29 healthy individuals) over 60 years old (38 men and 51 women). A three-day food record was used to assess the dietary intake of participants. The dietary diversity (DD) score was examined using guidelines by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), and diet quality was assessed using the healthy eating index (HEI) and dietary quality index (DQI). Cognitive performance was appraised via the Mini-Mental State Test (MMSE). Results: The DD score was significantly lower in the AD group than in the healthy group (p0.05). There was a significant association between DD score with total MMSE score (β= 0.33, p=0.02), memory (β=0.35, p=0.02), and language (β= 0.32, p=0.03). HEI was positively correlated with calculation (β= 0.32, p=0.02). A high DD reduced the odds of AD by 79% (OR: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.42; p

Objective: To analyze hemodynamic parameters, kidney and cognitive function, and physical performance of institutionalized older adults with high- and low-strength. Method: Cross-sectional study. Twenty-one older adults (11 women, 10 men) participated in this study. Blood samples were collected for analysis of biochemical parameters. Cognitive function was evaluated using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), clock drawing test (CDT), and verbal fluency test, while physical performance was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and, blood pressure, heart rate, and Framingham Risk Score were evaluated. Result: Based on the median value, participants were divided into low-strength (81.63 ± 3.03 years) and high-strength (82.10 ± 2.11 years). The high-strength group showed significantly lower systolic (138.8 ± 3.6 vs. 116.5 ± 3.1; p

IntroductionOveralll, muscular fitness and academic performance are two variables widely studied in the literature. However, evidence on the relationship between muscular fitness and specific school subjects (e.g., physical education), as well as their differences by sex, is scarce.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine the associations between muscular fitness and overall academic performance and between muscular fitness and specific subjects (i.e., language, math, foreign language, and physical education) in a sample of secondary Spanish school students.MethodsFor the present study, a sample of 766 students (45% boys, aged 12-17 years). From the Eating Healthy and Daily Life Activities (EHDLA) study was used. The Assessing the Levels of Physical Activity and Fitness (ALPHA-FIT) battery was used to determine handgrip strength and lower body muscular strength. The performance of the different school subjects was provided by the school centers.ResultsOverall, for both boys and girls, higher muscular fitness was associated with greater academic results, with the greatest differences in physical education. However, only significant differences were identified for girls.Discussion and conclusionGlobal muscular fitness is important for contributing to cognitive development, both in physical education and in the rest of the subjects of the educational curriculum for adolescents. At the same time, although the association appears to follow the same trend for both sexes, the results seem more evident for girls.

This study aims to investigate the effect of Ramadan intermittent fasting on cognitive work performance using a more natural approach. To achieve the objective of this study, a natural experimental approach was employed by incorporating a pretest-posttest control group design. A forward-type Digit Span Test (DST) was utilized as the measure of the cognitive work performance and was administered to participants twice, before and during Ramadan, with one-month gap between the tests. Two hundred and sixty-seven participants were naturally grouped into fasting and non-fasting groups according to their report during Ramadan session and into morning and afternoon periods, or AM and PM hours, according to their module scheduling. The results of the analyses suggest that the cognitive work performance of the fasting participants during the PM hours is better, after controlling the DST scores before Ramadan. The study also concludes that the cognitive work performance of the fasting participants between AM and PM hours does not differ. This result could be explained using the perspectives of post-lunch performance dip and the beneficial effect of breakfast. Methodological limitations and potential practical implementation of this study are also discussed.

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic, with over 83 million confirmed cases and 1.8 million deaths, has raised concerns about long-term cognitive issues, especially in populations facing disparities. Despite a few years since Peru’s first COVID-19 wave, the cognitive effects on adults remain unclear. This study is the first in Peru to explore COVID-19’s impact on general cognition and executive function.MethodsA retrospective cross-sectional study compared individuals with COVID-19 history to controls, assessing general cognition, verbal fluency, attention, and executive function. Among 240 assessed, 154 met the study inclusion criteria, with about 60% female and an average age of 38.89 ± 16.001 years. Groups included controls (n = 42), acute phase (AP, n = 74) (1–14 days of symptoms), and hyperinflammatory phase (HP, n = 38) (>14 days of symptoms).ResultsSignificant cognitive differences were observed. The HP group exhibited lower general cognitive performance (p = 0.02), working memory (p = 0.01), and executive function (planning; p < 0.001; flexibility; p = 0.03) than controls. Those with

IntroductionThis observational study investigated the effects of sleep deprivation and ad libitum caffeine consumption on cognitive performance, risk behavior, and mood among 28 Israeli Special Forces (SF) soldiers (mean age: 20.57 ± 0.92 years) during a 96-hour combat exercise.MethodsActigraphy was used to monitor sleep and activity; cognitive function, risk-taking propensity, mood states, and self-reported sleepiness were assessed using the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT), Evaluation of Risks Scale (EVAR), Profile of Mood States (POMS), Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS); and caffeine consumption by questionnaire at 0, 50, and 96 hours. For analyses, participants were divided into Low (

Introduction: Cannabis use impairs cognitive performance in healthy subjects; several studies have shown improved cognitive outcomes in schizophrenic patients using cannabis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of cannabis use on cognitive function in Moroccan patients with schizophrenia who were cannabis users. Method: Two groups were recruited in a Moroccan University Psychiatric Centre. Fifty patients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to the DSM-V who were cannabis users (SZ CANN +) and forty-nine patients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM-V who do not use cannabis (SZ CANN-). Cognitive functioning was assessed using the CogState neuropsychological battery. Results: The results of the study suggest that SZ CANN- patients performed better in the test of psychomotor function, attention and verbal memory. While SZ CANN+ patients performed better in the test of working memory, visual memory and emotional recognition. We found no relationship between SZ CANN+ patients and SZ CANN- patients concerning executive function. Conclusions: Our results suggest that cannabis use may have different effects on neurocognitive functioning. It is associated with disorders of psychomotor function, attention and verbal memory. So, it is associated with an improvement in working memory, visual memory and emotion recognition.

Despite an abundance of evidence that exercise benefits cognition and mood, physical activity levels among older adults remain low, with time and inaccessibility posing major barriers. Interval stair climbing is an accessible time-efficient form of physical activity demonstrated to benefit cognition and mood in young adults, but effectiveness in older adults remains unknown. To address this, 28 older adults (Mage = 69.78 years, 16 females) undertook cognitive and mood assessments twice, 1 week apart, once preceded by interval stair climbing. A fairly large, albeit only marginally significant, effect size (η p 2 =.12) indicated improved cognition following the moderate- to high-intensity intervention; however, rather than improving mood, older adults reported feeling more tired (g = 0.51). These outcomes provide initial indications that this mode of exercise that can easily translate to naturalistic settings offers promise as an intervention strategy, but more research is needed to optimize the protocol to suit aged populations (ACTRN1261900169014). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIMS: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between somatic sensations, impaired vision, and cognitive performance using the factor structure convergence insufficiency symptoms survey questionnaire in university undergraduate and post-graduate students. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Centre-based and questionnaire-based. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Subjects were recruited from a university. First, an e-Survey was conducted with the help of Google form and distributed through WhatsApp and Gmail to carry out the survey. The age group of participants was ranged from 18 to 30 years. A total number of 561 responses was received during the data collection period. As per the exclusion criteria, 230 responses were excluded from the study. Out of 331 students, 154 were male while 177 were female. Out of 331 participants, 213 were undergraduates and 118 were postgraduate's students. RESULTS: A total of 331 participants took part in the study. The minimum age was 18 years and the maximum age was 30 years. The mean age of the participants was 23.40 ± 2.42. Among all students, 23.81% had somatic sensations followed by 10.49% had impaired vision, and 16.31% had a poor cognitive function. The correlation between somatic sensations-impaired visions was a moderate positive correlation and a strong positive correlation between somatic sensations-cognitive performance and impaired vision-cognitive performance. CONCLUSIONS: A significant relationship between somatic sensations, impaired vision, and cognitive performance was found in the study. The students had more somatic sensations than impaired vision and cognitive performance.

Abstract Background Plant-based diets may provide protection against cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease, but observational data have not been consistent. Previous studies include early life confounding from socioeconomic conditions and genetics that are known to influence both cognitive performance and diet behaviour. This study investigated associations between Mediterranean (MED) diet and MIND diets and cognitive performance accounting for shared genotype and early-life environmental exposures in female twins. Methods Diet scores were examined in 509 female twins enrolled in TwinsUK study. The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery was used to assess cognition at baseline and 10 years later (in n = 275). A co-twin case–control study for discordant monozygotic (MZ) twins examined effects of diet on cognitive performance independent of genetic factors. Differences in relative abundance of taxa at 10-year follow-up were explored in subsamples. Results Each 1-point increase in MIND or MED diet score was associated with 1.75 (95% CI: − 2.96, − 0.54, p = 0.005 and q = 0.11) and 1.67 (95% CI: − 2.71, − 0.65, p = 0.002 and q = 0.02) fewer respective errors in paired-associates learning. Within each MZ pair, the twin with the high diet score had better preservation in spatial span especially for MED diet (p = 0.02). There were no differences between diet scores and 10-year change in the other cognitive tests. MIND diet adherence was associated with higher relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae UCG-010 (0.30% (95% CI 0.17, 0.62), q = 0.05) which was also associated with less decline in global cognition over 10 years (0.22 (95% CI 0.06, 0.39), p = 0.01). Conclusions MIND or MED diets could help to preserve some cognitive abilities in midlife, particularly episodic and visuospatial working memory. Effects may be mediated by high dietary fibre content and increased abundance of short-chain fatty acid producing gut bacteria. Longer follow-up with repeated measures of cognition will determine whether diet can influence changes in cognition occurring in older age.

Abstract Background Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) is involved in regulating integrative brain function and synaptic transmission. Aberrant mGluR5 signaling and relevant synaptic failure play a key role in the initial pathophysiological mechanism of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The study aims to investigate the association between mGluR5 availability and AD’s biomarkers and cognitive function. Methods We examined 35 individuals with mGluR5 tracer [18F]PSS232 to assess mGluR5 availability, and with [18F]Florbetapir PET to assess global amyloid deposition, and [18F]FDG PET to assess glucose metabolism. The plasma neurofilament light (NfL) and p-tau181 levels in a subset of individuals were measured (n = 27). The difference in mGluR5 availability between the AD and normal control (NC) groups was explored. The associations of mGluR5 availability with amyloid deposition, glucose metabolism, gray matter volume (GMV), neuropsychological assessment scores, and plasma biomarkers were analyzed. Results The mGluR5 availability was significantly reduced in AD patients’ hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus compared to NCs. Global amyloid deposition was positively associated with mGluR5 availability in the AD group and reversely associated in the NC group. The mGluR5 availability was positively correlated with regional glucose metabolism in the overall and stratified analyses. The availability of mGluR5 in the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus demonstrated a strong relationship with the GMV of the medial temporal lobe, plasma p-tau181 or NfL levels, and global cognitive performance. Conclusions [18F]PSS232 PET can quantify the changes of mGluR5 availability in the progression of AD. mGluR5 availability correlated not only with neuropathological biomarkers of AD but also with neurodegenerative biomarkers and cognitive performance. mGluR5 may be a novel neurodegenerative biomarker, and whether mGluR5 could be a potential therapeutic target for AD needs to be further studied.

Glass is one of the most adaptable modern materials. However, the use of glass can have unfavorable effects such as glare, heat, and discomfort. This study focuses on the issue of designing contemporary glass buildings and facades in humid tropical environments to evaluate the thermal comfort of building occupants and assess its effects on the completion of cognitive tasks. The Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) parameter was used to measure thermal comfort, and the ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) scale was used to assess thermal comfort perception. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment was used to assess eight female respondents’ cognitive abilities, and the cut-off point was 26. The WBGT has a temperature range of 25, 54°–28, 83°C, in terms of thermal sensation, 54% of respondents feel hot and 62% are uncomfortable. In the completion of cognitive tasks, 75% received a score of less than 26. The results show that there is an effect of thermal comfort on cognitive performance. Due to respondents feeling uncomfortable in high-rise buildings with glass facades, as well as with cognitive outcomes that are below the cut-off point, recommendations for improvement are needed to increase thermal comfort, such as double glass facades.

الملخص: أهداف البحث: يعد الأداء المعرفي المنخفض مصدر قلق رئيسي بين أطفال الصيادين في ماليزيا. وبالتالي، هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى تقييم المدخول الغذائي، والحالة التغذوية، والنشاط البدني، والحالة الاجتماعية والاقتصادية، وربطها بالأداء المعرفي لأطفال الصيادين في تيرينجانو، ماليزيا. لقد بحثنا أيضا في المخاطر المرتبطة بالأداء المعرفي المنخفض. طريقة البحث: شملت هذه الدراسة المقطعية 94 طفلا تتراوح أعمارهم بين 7-11 سنة في تيرينجانو. تم تقييم كفاية النظام الغذائي باستخدام استرجاع النظام الغذائي لمدة 24 ساعة. تم تقييم القياسات الأنثروبومترية عن طريق حساب مؤشر كتلة الجسم للعمر والطول مقابل العمر. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، تم إجراء اختبار متوسط اليود البولي لتحديد تركيز اليود. تم قياس النشاط البدني باستخدام استبيان النشاط البدني للأطفال. تم استخدام مصفوفات رافين التقدمية الملونة لتحديد الأداء المعرفي. تم إجراء الانحدار اللوجستي ذو الحدين على العوامل التي كانت مرتبطة بالأداء المعرفي لتحديد العوامل الأكثر تأثيرا على الأداء المعرفي. النتائج: حصل أطفال الصيادين على جميع العناصر الغذائية التي يحتاجونها بشكل كافٍ باستثناء الدهون والألياف الغذائية والثيامين وحمض الفوليك وفيتامين ج وفيتامين هـ والكالسيوم والزنك والبوتاسيوم. معظم الأطفال لديهم مؤشر كتلة الجسم الطبيعي بالنسبة للعمر (الوسيط=-0,86) والطول بالنسبة للعمر (الوسيط=83,9). ومع ذلك، فإن أكثر من نصفهم يعانون من نقص اليود .16٪ من أطفال الصيادين لديهم مستوى نشاط بدني منخفض ويصنف أدائهم المعرفي على أنه متوسط درجات منخفض.أظهر المستوى التعليمي للأم، مؤشر كتلة الجسم للعمر، البروتين، والنياسين، علاقات مهمة مع الأداء المعرفي. من بين هذه المتغيرات، كان مؤشر كتلة الجسم للعمر والربيع الرابع في تناول البروتين كانت عوامل الخطر المهمة لانخفاض الأداء المعرفي بين أطفال الصيادين في تيرينجانو. الاستنتاجات: يعد النظام الغذائي المتوازن وأنماط الحياة الصحية أمرا ضروريا للنمو المعرفي للطفل. وبالتالي، ينصح بالتدخلات التي تؤكد على تعزيز أنماط الحياة الصحية التي تركز بشكل خاص على مؤشر كتلة الجسم بالنسبة للعمر وتناول البروتين. Abstract: Objectives: Low cognitive performance is a major concern among fishermen's children in Malaysia. Thus, this study was aimed at assessing dietary intake, nutritional status, physical activity, and socio-economic status, and their associations with cognitive performance among fishermen's children in Terengganu, Malaysia. We also investigated the risk associated with low cognitive performance. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 94 children 7–11 years of age in Terengganu. Dietary adequacy was assessed with two 24-h dietary recall surveys. Anthropometric measurements were assessed by calculation of the body mass index (BMI)-for-age Z-score and height-for-age Z-score. In addition, median urinary iodine tests were conducted to determine iodine concentrations. Physical activity was measured with the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C). Raven's coloured progressive matrices were used to determine cognitive performance. Binominal logistic regressions were performed on factors associated with cognitive performance, to identify the risk factors with the strongest association with cognitive performance. Results: The children of fishermen had adequate intake of all necessary nutrients except for fat, dietary fibre, thiamine, folate, vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, zinc, and potassium. Most of the children had normal BMI-for-age [median = −0.86 (2.11)] and height-for-age (mean = −1.01 ± 1.03). However, more than half had iodine deficiency [median = 83.9 (102)]. In addition, 16% had low physical activity levels, and their cognitive performance was classified with a low average score [median = 80.0 (21.0)]. The mother's education level (p = 0.037), children's BMI-for-age (p = 0.012), protein (p = 0.020), and niacin (p = 0.032), exhibited significant relationships with cognitive performance (p

(1) Background. Neurofeedback has been used in sports since the 1990s, frequently showing positive outcomes in enhancing athletic performance. This systematic review provides an updated analysis of neurofeedback training in sports, evaluating reaction time, cognitive performance, and emotional regulation to address literature gaps and suggest future research directions. (2) Methods. A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science databases for articles published from January 2016 to April 2023. The search included only original articles written in English, resulting in 24 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. (3) Results. The reviewed studies cover a wide range of sports, including golf, basketball, swimming, rifle shooting, football, volleyball, athletics, judo, ice hockey, triathlon, handball, fencing, taekwondo, and darts. They involved athletes of varying experience levels (beginners, professionals, and experts) and utilized neurofeedback training targeting different frequency bands (alpha, beta, theta, and SMR), either individually or in mixed protocols. Findings show improvements in sports and cognitive performance, emotional regulation, and anxiety management. (4) Conclusions. This systematic review supports the effectiveness of neurofeedback in enhancing sports and cognitive performance across various disciplines and experience levels. Notable improvements were observed in technical skills, physical performance parameters, scoring, attention, concentration, reaction time, short-term and working memory, self-regulation, and cognitive anxiety. Future research should standardize protocols, include more diverse samples, and explore long-term effects to further validate these findings.

The visual environment plays a crucial role in how individuals perceive and interact with their surroundings, particularly for older adults, who spend most of their time indoors. Cognitive decline and daily cognitive performance in older adults are significantly influenced by the characteristics of indoor visual environment (IVE). However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the effects and associations of IVE characteristics on cognitive performance in older adults. Systematic review is a comprehensive, transparent, and structured approach that employs a predefined, rigorous methodology to identify, select, and critically assess all relevant studies, minimizing bias and providing a reliable summary of the evidence. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to comprehensively synthesize the evidence on the association between IVE characteristics and cognition in older adults through a systematic review. A systematic search was conducted using three databases, i.e., Web of Science, PubMed, and EBSCO, along with forward and backward citation tracking, covering studies published from database inception to April 2024. Inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed quantitative or mixed-method studies targeting older adults, with IVE characteristics as the intervention and cognitive function or related assessments as outcome. Only studies published in English were included. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (Version 2018). A total of 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. The results show that the methodological quality of most studies was high, and IVE characteristics have dual effects on cognitive performance in older adults, with different IVE characteristics affecting various aspects of cognitive function. Importantly, older adults with cognitive impairments maintain normal levels of color perception, color or numbers as environmental cues have temporal relevance, and differences in texture direction or range may lead to visual illusions, negatively affecting their cognitive performance. Furthermore, three higher-order dimensions were constructed to explain the mapping associations between them. The cognitive needs of older adults for the IVE were further inferred based on their cognitive performance. This study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the association between IVE characteristics and cognitive performance of older adults, and provides a strong basis and reference for the construction of supportive cognitive compensation environments for aging services and architects.

In their recent review, Vicente and Pereira concluded that pork meat can be an option for a healthful and sustainable diet [...]

The KALRN gene (encoding kalirin) has been implicated in several neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. However, genetic evidence supporting this implication is limited and targeted epigenetic analyses are lacking. Here, we tested associations between epigenetic variation in KALRN and interindividual variation in depressive symptoms (PHQ9) and cognitive (MoCA) performance, in an Italian population cohort (N = 2409; mean (SD) age: 67 (9) years; 55% women). First, we analyzed the candidate region chr3:124584826–124584886 (hg38), within the KALRN promoter, through pyrosequencing of 1385 samples. Then, we widened the investigated region by analyzing 137 CpGs annotated to the whole gene, rescued from epigenome-wide (Illumina EPIC) data from 1024 independent samples from the same cohort. These were tested through stepwise regression models adjusted for age, sex, circulating leukocytes fractions, education, prevalent health conditions and lifestyles. We observed no statistically significant associations with methylation levels in the three CpGs tested through pyrosequencing, or in the gene-wide association analysis with MoCA score. However, we observed a statistically significant association between PHQ9 and cg13549966 (chr3:124106738; β (Standard Error) = 0.28 (0.08), Bonferroni-corrected p = 0.025), located close to the transcription start site of the gene. This association was driven by a polychoric factor tagging somatic depressive symptoms (β (SE) = 0.127 (0.064), p = 0.048). This evidence underscores the importance of studying epigenetic variation within the KALRN gene and the role that it may play in brain diseases, particularly in atypical depression, which is often characterized by somatic symptoms.

A proper time display format is essential for pilots to understand integrated meteorological radar information, thereby making informed flying decisions and steering clear of hazardous weather. Previous studies on time display format supported the advantages of digital format, while some studies found that analog clock format is superior to digital format. This study explored the effect of time display format on the cognitive performance of integrated meteorological radar information through two experiments. Experiment 1 first examined the effects of digital and analog clock displays on the timing of individual processing advance or delay changes in a general scenario. Then, Experiment 2 was conducted in a simulated flight scenario to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of digital and analog clock display in delay time processing with and without time pressure. The results showed the following: (1) Analog clock has more advantages than digital display format in processing the varying time difference. (2) Whether with or without time pressure, analog clock is more conducive to individual cognition of integrated meteorological radar information than digital time display. (3) The length of delay time is an important factor affecting individual time cognition, and it can also affect the cognition of radar information. The longer the delay time, the more difficult it is to identify the time and understand the information. These findings provide a certain reference for the design of the integrated meteorological radar information display interface.

The effect of liver fibrosis on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients is unclear. Therefore, we performed a prospective cross-sectional study on 219 patients with T2DM and older than 60 years to evaluate the association between liver fibrosis, liver steatosis, and cognitive impairment. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to screen for MCI or dementia. Liver fibrosis was estimated using the non-invasive Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score, and liver steatosis was assessed with the hepatic steatosis index. The mean age was 71 ± 6 years, 47% were women and according to MoCA cut-off values, 53.88% had MCI and 16.43% had dementia. A moderate or high risk of advanced fibrosis was significantly higher in patients with MCI or dementia compared to those with normal cognition (p < 0.001). After adjusting for confounders, a FIB-4 score greater than 1.54 was associated with MCI or dementia (p = 0.039). Multivariate analysis identified age over 70.5 years, antiplatelet medication use, and a FIB-4 score above 1.54 as the most relevant risk factors. Liver fibrosis, but not liver steatosis, is associated with MCI or dementia in older T2DM patients, suggesting that FIB-4 score might be a simple biomarker for the detection of cognitive impairment.

The cognitive performance of emergency icons plays an important role in emergency rescue. In order to investigate the mechanism of the effect of changes in emergency icon presentation mode and luminance contrast on cognitive performance, a visual search paradigm was adopted and an eye movement experiment was used to validate the results. The results of experiment A show that under high and medium loads, the main effect of emergency icon presentation mode and luminance contrast is obvious, the search speed of reverse-colour emergency icons is significantly faster than that of graphic emergency icons and emergency icons with borders, the average reaction time of search in luminance contrast of 0. 90 is the shortest, and the average reaction time of 0. 10, 0. 30 and 0. 60 has a tendency to decrease with the increase of luminance contrast. The average reaction time of emergency icon presentation mode and luminance contrast has no significant effect on cognitive performance under low loads. The results of the eye movement experiment in experiment B show that under high and medium loads, the gaze time of the reverse-colour contingency icons is significantly lower than that of the other presentation modes, and the mean gaze time of the contingency icons with a border with a higher luminance contrast (0. 90) is significantly lower than that of the low luminance contrast, with a tendency for the gaze time to decrease with the increase of the contrast. There is no significant difference in the gaze time of the icon presentation modes and luminance contrasts under the low loads. There is no significant difference in the number of gaze points under high, medium, and low loads, explaining the results of experiment A. Subjective ratings also provide cognitive explanations for the experimental results. The contingency icon presentation style and luminance contrast have a significant effect on cognitive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study tested the hypothesis that healthy aging attenuates cognitive practice effects and, consequently, limits the familiarity-associated reductions in heart rate (HR) and breathing frequency (BF) responses during retesting. Methods : Twenty-one cognitively normal older and younger adults (65 ± 2 vs. 26 ± 1 years old) participated in the study. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Digit-Span-Test (DST), Trail Making Test (TMT-B), and California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT-II) were administered twice at 3-week intervals, while HR and BF were monitored by electrocardiography and plethysmography, respectively. Results : Cognitive performances were not affected by the age factor, and the retest factor only affected CVLT-II. HR and BF increased only in the younger adults (p <.01) during cognitive tests; retesting attenuated these responses (retest factor p <.01). Long-delay free-recall in CVLT-II was unchanged in cognitively normal older versus younger adults. Healthy aging did not diminish short-term memory assessed by DST and CVLT-II short-delay or long-delay free-recalls. Conclusions : Only CVLT-II, but not MMSE, DST or TMT-B, demonstrated cognitive retesting practice effects in the younger and older adults. Cognitive testing at 3-week intervals in cognitively normal older and younger subjects revealed divergent cardiorespiratory responses to MMSE, DST, and TMT-B cognitive testing, particularly HR, which increased only in younger adults and to a lesser extent during retesting despite the absence of practice effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current study is to test how psychological distress mediates the associations between neighborhood social cohesion (NSC) and cognitive performance including episodic memory, semantic verbal fluency, fluid reasoning, and numeracy in older adults. Nine multiple regressions were used to analyze the associations between NSC and cognitive performance, NSC and psychological distress, and psychological distress and cognitive performance respectively based on data from 4922 older adults with a mean age of 66.51 (S.D. = 8.27) years old and 47.01% males from Understanding Society: the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS). Moreover, a mediation analysis was conducted by the mediation toolbox on MATLAB 2018a (https://github.com/canlab/MediationToolbox). The current study found that NSC is positively related to all cognitive measures but negatively related to psychological distress, whereas psychological distress is negatively associated with all cognitive performance. Moreover, there was a complete mediation effect of psychological distress on the positive association between NSC and semantic verbal fluency and the association between NSC and fluid reasoning. However, NSC only partially mediated the positive associations between NSC and episodic memory and numeracy respectively. From a policy standpoint, findings from the current study contribute evidence that reinforces the need for program designers and policymakers to join the WHO's global efforts to build age-friendly communities, which promotes NSC, then leads to reduced psychological distress, and thus better cognitive functions among the elderly. Preserving cognitive functions may in turn reduce health care burdens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive-Motor Dual Task (CMDT) training has been widely utilized in rehabilitation and sports practice. However, whether CMDT training can better enhance athletes' cognitive-motor performance compared to traditional single-task (ST) training remains unclear. Method: A systematic review that complied with PRISMA was carried out (Prospero registration number: CRD42023443594). The electronic databases used for the systematic literature search from the beginning through 13 June 2023, included Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library. After obtaining the initial literature, two researchers independently assessed it based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Finally, the included literature was analyzed to compare the differences between ST training and CMDT training. Results: After screening 2,094 articles, we included 10 acute studies and 7 chronic studies. Conclusion: This systematic review shows that athletes typically show a degradation of performance in CMDT situations as opposed to ST when evaluated transversally. However, this performance decline is notably reduced following longitudinal training in CMDT, indicating the effectiveness of sustained CMDT training in enhancing cognitive-motor performance under dual-task conditions. Our study provides new insights into the application of CMDT in the field of sports training. Practitioners can utilize CMDT to assess athletic skill levels or optimize cognitive-motor performance of athletes, taking into account the specific needs of each sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]