Associations among clinical characteristics of sleep quality, cognitive performance, and brain architecture in Thai dementia spectrum disorders

Abstract Study objectives To examine if sleep symptomatology was associated with subjective cognitive concerns or objective cognitive performance in a dementia-free community-based sample. Methods A total of 1421 middle-aged participants (mean±standard deviation = 57±7; 77% female) from the Healthy Brain Project completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) to measure sleep quality, insomnia symptom severity, and daytime sleepiness, respectively. Participants were classified as having no sleep symptomatology (normal scores on each sleep measure), moderate sleep symptomatology (abnormal scores on one sleep measure), or high sleep symptomatology (abnormal scores on at least two sleep measures), using established cut-off values. Analysis of covariance was used to compare objective cognitive function (Cogstate Brief Battery) and subjective cognitive concerns (Modified Cognitive Function Instrument) across groups. Results Following adjustments for age, sex, education, mood, and vascular risk factors, persons classified as having high sleep symptomatology, versus none, displayed more subjective cognitive concerns (d=0.24) but no differences in objective cognitive performance (d=0.00-0.18). Subjective cognitive concerns modified the association between sleep symptomatology and psychomotor function. The strength of the relationship between high sleep symptomatology (versus none) and psychomotor function was significantly greater in persons with high as compared with low cognitive concerns (β±SE =-0.37±0.16; p=0.02). Conclusions More severe sleep symptomatology was associated with greater subjective cognitive concerns. Persons reporting high levels of sleep symptomatology may be more likely to display poorer objective cognitive function in the presence of subjective cognitive concerns.

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Assessment of the Association Between Cigarette Smoking and Cognitive Performance in Patients With Schizophrenia-Spectrum Disorders: A Case-Control Study

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00642 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Filip Stramecki ◽

Kamila D. Kotowicz ◽

Patryk Piotrowski ◽

Dorota Frydecka ◽

Joanna Rymaszewska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cigarette Smoking ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders ◽

Schizophrenia Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorders ◽

Control Study

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Visual system damage and network maladaptation are associated with cognitive performance in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders ◽

10.1016/j.msard.2020.102406 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 45 ◽

pp. 102406 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Velina S. Chavarro ◽

Judith Bellmann-Strobl ◽

Hanna G. Zimmermann ◽

Michael Scheel ◽

Claudia Chien ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visual System ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Neuromyelitis Optica ◽

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders ◽

Spectrum Disorders

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Weighted Blankets and Sleep Quality in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Single-Subject Design

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy ◽

10.15453/2168-6408.1704 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 1-15

Author(s):

Bryan M Gee ◽

Victoria Scharp ◽

Amy Williams

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Single Subject ◽

Single Subject Design ◽

Subject Design ◽

Spectrum Disorders

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Improvement of sleep patterns and serum melatonin levels in children with autism spectrum disorders after consumption of beta-1,3/1,6-glucan in a pilot clinical study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-701988/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kadalraja Raghavan ◽

Vidyasagar Devaprasad Dedeepiya ◽

Ramesh Shankar Kandaswamy ◽

Mangaleswaran Balamurugan ◽

Nobunao Ikewaki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Conventional Therapy ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Sleep Pattern ◽

Control Group ◽

Melatonin Level ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Sleep Patterns ◽

Spectrum Disorders

Abstract Study objectives: Poor sleep quality is a major problem that patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) face, which is attributed to their low melatonin levels. Melatonin supplementation is recommended, but its effectiveness is varied. Beta-glucans have previously been reported to improve melatonin levels in animal studies. Therefore, we examined the effectiveness of Aureobasidium pullulans (Nichi Glucan), a species of black yeast that contains beta-1,3/1,6-glucan, in a pilot study of children with ASD. Methods Thirteen children (age = 2.5 to 13 years) with ASD were recruited into the study. The control group consisted of four patients (Gr. 1), while nine patients were in the treatment group (Gr. 2). Gr. 2 received 1 g of Nichi Glucan along with conventional therapy, whereas Gr. 1 underwent conventional therapy alone for 90 days. The serum melatonin levels and sleep patterns, assessed using a subjective questionnaire, were evaluated before and after treatment. Results In Gr. 2, the average serum melatonin level increased from 238.85 ng/dl pre-intervention to 394.72 ng/dl post-intervention. Eight out of nine subjects (88%) in Gr. 2 group showed and improvement in their sleep pattern and quality, while this improvement was not observed in the control group. Conclusions Our study is the first in the literature to report that consumption of Nichi Glucan for 90 days showed visible improvement in sleep quality, sleep pattern, and serum melatonin levels. A larger multicentre study is warranted to validate our findings.

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Psychosocial and Behavioral Impact of COVID-19 in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Online Parent Survey

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci10060341 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 341 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Marco Colizzi ◽

Elena Sironi ◽

Federico Antonini ◽

Marco Luigi Ciceri ◽

Chiara Bovo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Behavior Problems ◽

Clinical Characteristics ◽

Online Survey ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Parent Survey ◽

Home Support ◽

Different Types ◽

Spectrum Disorders ◽

Behavioral Impact ◽

The Impact

The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak could result in higher levels of psychological distress, especially among people suffering from pre-existing mental health conditions. Young individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are particularly at risk due to their vulnerability to unpredictable and complex changes. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ASD individuals, whether any pre-pandemic sociodemographic or clinical characteristics would predict a negative outcome, and to narratively characterize their needs. Parents and guardians of ASD individuals filled out an online survey consisting of 40 questions investigating socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of their children, impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on their wellbeing and needs to deal with the emergency. Data were available on 527 survey participants. The COVID-19 emergency resulted in a challenging period for 93.9% of families, increased difficulties in managing daily activities, especially free time (78.1%) and structured activities (75.7%), and, respectively, 35.5% and 41.5% of children presenting with more intense and more frequent behavior problems. Behavior problems predating the COVID-19 outbreak predicted a higher risk of more intense (odds ratio (OR) = 2.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.42–3.29) and more frequent (OR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.13–2.48) disruptive behavior. Even though ASD children were receiving different types of support, also requiring specialist (19.1%) or emergency (1.5%) interventions in a relatively low proportion of cases, a number of needs emerged, including receiving more healthcare support (47.4%), especially in-home support (29.9%), as well as interventions to tackle a potentially disruptive quarantine (16.8%). The COVID-19 outbreak has undoubtedly resulted in increased difficulties among ASD individuals.

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Intensity dependent effect of cognitive training on motor cortical plasticity and cognitive performance in humans

Experimental Brain Research ◽

10.1007/s00221-020-05933-5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 238 (12) ◽

pp. 2805-2818

Author(s):

Christina Berns ◽

Wanja Brüchle ◽

Sebastian Scho ◽

Jessica Schneefeld ◽

Udo Schneider ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Cognitive Training ◽

Activity Concentration ◽

Cortical Plasticity ◽

Cognitive System ◽

Brain Areas ◽

Motor Excitability ◽

Motor Cortical

Abstract Intervention-induced neuroplastic changes within the motor or cognitive system have been shown in the human brain. While cognitive and motor brain areas are densely interconnected, it is unclear whether this interconnectivity allows for a shared susceptibility to neuroplastic changes. Using the preparation for a theoretical exam as training intervention that primarily engages the cognitive system, we tested the hypothesis whether neuroplasticity acts across interconnected brain areas by investigating the effect on excitability and synaptic plasticity in the motor cortex. 39 healthy students (23 female) underwent 4 weeks of cognitive training while revision time, physical activity, concentration, fatigue, sleep quality and stress were monitored. Before and after cognitive training, cognitive performance was evaluated, as well as motor excitability using transcranial magnetic stimulation and long-term-potentiation-like (LTP-like) plasticity using paired-associative-stimulation (PAS). Cognitive training ranged individually from 1 to 7 h/day and enhanced attention and verbal working memory. While motor excitability did not change, LTP-like plasticity increased in an intensity-depending manner: the longer the daily revision time, the smaller the increase of neuroplasticity, and vice versa. This effect was not influenced by physical activity, concentration, fatigue, sleep quality or stress. Motor cortical plasticity is strengthened by a behavioural intervention that primarily engages cognitive brain areas. We suggest that this effect is due to an enhanced susceptibility to LTP-like plasticity, probably induced by heterosynaptic activity that modulates postsynaptic excitability in motorcortical neurones. The smaller increase of PAS efficiency with higher cognitive training intensity suggests a mechanism that balances and stabilises the susceptibility for synaptic potentiation.

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