scholarly journals Associations and correlates of general versus specific successful ageing components

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myriam V. Thoma ◽  
Luca Kleineidam ◽  
Simon Forstmeier ◽  
Andreas Maercker ◽  
Siegfried Weyerer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Exercise ◽  
Intervention Studies ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Successful Ageing ◽  
Active Lifestyle ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Cognitive Activities ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
Proxy Indicators

AbstractThe heterogeneity in the operationalisation of successful ageing (SA) hinders a straightforward examination of SA associations and correlates, and in turn, the identification of potentially modifiable predictors of SA. It is unclear which SA associations and correlates influence all facets of the SA construct, and whether psychosocial reserve models developed in neuropathological ageing research can also be linked to SA. It was therefore the aim of this study to disentangle the effect of various previously identified SA associations and correlates on (1) a general SA factor, which represents the shared underpinnings of three SA facets, and (2) more confined, specific factors, using bifactor modelling. The associations and correlates of three recently validated SA operationalisations were compared in 2478 participants from the German AgeCoDe study, aged 75 years and above. Based on participants’ main occupation, cognitive reserve (CR) and motivational reserve (MR) models were built. Younger age, male gender, more education, higher socio-economic status, being married or widowed, as well as more physical exercise and cognitive activities in old age were found to correlate positively with the general SA factor, indicating a simultaneous effect on all aspects of SA. Smoking and ApoE-ε4 were related only to the physiological facet of SA. CR models were significantly related to the general SA factor. Among all SA associations and correlates, proxy indicators of lifelong cognitive activity and physical exercise showed the strongest effects on SA. Future intervention studies should assess the influence of the preservation of active lifestyle across the life span on SA.

scholarly journals Use of Electronic Cigarettes in European Populations: A Narrative Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 1971 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Kapan ◽  
S. Stefanac ◽  
I. Sandner ◽  
S. Haider ◽  
I. Grabovac ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Cigarettes ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Cigarette Use ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Former Smokers ◽  
Male Sex ◽  
Socio Demographic Factors

The increasing popularity of electronic cigarettes in past decades has aroused public health concern. This study aims to review the literature on the prevalence of e-cigarette use among the general adult and young populations in Europe. We searched Medline and Google Scholar from September 2019, and included “prevalence of e-cigarettes”, “electronic cigarettes” or “e-cigarettes”, and “electronic nicotine delivery system” or “vaping”. The prevalence of current e-cigarette use ranged from 0.2% to 27%, ever-use ranged from 5.5% to 56.6% and daily use ranged from 1% to 2.9%. Current smokers of conventional cigarettes showed the highest prevalence for the use of e-cigarettes, ranging from 20.4% to 83.1%, followed by ex-smokers, with ranges from 7% to 15%. The following socio-demographic factors were associated with a higher chance of using e-cigarettes: male sex and younger age groups; results for economic status were inconclusive. In European countries, there is a higher prevalence of e-cigarette use among males, adolescents and young adults, smokers of conventional cigarettes, and former smokers.

scholarly journals WAYS TO INCREASE THE ACADEMIC ACTIVITY OF TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES

2021 ◽  
pp. 19-25
Author(s):  
O.I. Taranenko ◽  
◽  
L.A. Fedko ◽  
E.V. Shchepotieva ◽  
I.F. Veremeeva
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Academic Success ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Important Condition ◽  
Language Classes ◽  
Cognitive Activities ◽  
Definition Of

The relevance of the formation of professionally and socially significant personality traits is obvious. The theoretical and practical issues of students’ cognitive activities during their studies in higher education institutions are considered. The definition of cognitive skills is formulated and their characteristics are proposed. Being formed cognitive activity characterizes the attitude of students to the content and process of teaching, the desire for effective mastering knowledge, skills and abilities. Cognitive activity is defined as the most important condition for their academic success. The ways of increasing the cognitive activity of students, both during classes and in the process of extracurricular self-training, are proposed. The importance of self-control of knowledge in the course of independent activity in the performance of group or individual work is emphasized.

scholarly journals THE PROBLEM FIELD OF MODERN HIGHER PEDAGOGICAL EDUCATION

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 472-484
Author(s):  
O. A. Lapina ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Development ◽  
Professional Education ◽  
Personality Development ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
Professional Activity ◽  
New Literacy ◽  
Cognitive Activities ◽  
Scientific Subject ◽  
The Relationship

Introduction. The paper is concerned with the processes of professional-pedagogical education in modern higher educational institutions and the problems of business and speech culture that face the students involved in educational and cognitive activities. Objective. The objective of the paper is to substantiate the relationship between the activity of students in the educational process and the level of their human development and communicative creativity. The research aimed to develop a methodology to organize an educational process facilitating the actualization of professionally oriented thinking (the ability to understand, reveal, and explain the value of facts and phenomena). Materials and methods. The research methodology is a generalizing analysis of the problems of vocational education, its orientation, and contents at various levels of the specialist’s personality development. The units of practical assessment were self-esteem, speech activity, knowledge of the basic forms of work with words, and interpretation of meaning within the topic of reasoning. Research results.The findings have indicated the relationship between the student’s activity in the educational process and the level of their human development, communicative creativity, business and speech culture, passivity/activity in educational and cognitive activities, the degree of understanding the responsibility for choosing a profession, and the meaning of the “professionally-oriented rapport” concept. The ways of actualizing professionally-oriented thinking have been determined. A methodology for building an interest in the investigative type of thinking and the gradual conscious acquisition of a block of knowledge has been developed and tested. The study has clarified the professional significance of the organizational forms contributing to the development of cognitive and communicative competence of pro¬fessional thought creation. Discussion and conclusion. What are the advantages of the proposed model? It reveals the meaning of what has been learned, expands the desire to understand, conveys the essence of information, develops a professionally-oriented ability to substantiate one’s viewpoint; forms an opinion on science, a scientific subject, theory, and technology in a professionally significant field of activity. The research continues, however, the preliminary findings allow the following conclusions. The result of these actions is positive dynamics in understanding the value of teachers’ professional activity, the formation of a habit of self-organization and learn-and-create activity. Keywords: educational space of the university, professionally-oriented thinking, cognitive activity, culture of education, transformation of professional education, new literacy.

scholarly journals Gender differences in perception of the appropriate maturity age for men and women: Age norms of reproduction-related life events between the social context and evolutionary foundations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bojan Todosijević ◽  
Suzana Ignjatović
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Convincing Evidence ◽  
Optimal Timing ◽  
Social Forces ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Age Norms ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
The Social

Abstract The paper explores gender differences in the perception of appropriate age for reproduction-related life events. Evolutionary theory suggests that age norms are shaped by gender-specific evolutionary challenges. We tested two hypotheses based on the evolutionary rationale. Hypothesis 1 suggests that both men and women believe that women should reach maturity and experience reproduction-related life events earlier than men. Hypothesis 2 claims that men and women demonstrate this tendency asymmetrically. When women estimate the appropriate/ideal age for men, they suggest a higher appropriate age for men than men themselves. When men estimate the appropriate/ideal age for women, they suggest a younger age for women compared to women themselves. In the second part of the paper, we explored the background of these claims by testing the alternative explanations based on ‘social forces’ (culture, socio-economic status, education, age, values). The hypotheses were tested using the 9th wave of the ESS data, totaling around 47 thousand respondents and the sample of Balkan countries was analyzed in more detail. The appropriate age was measured using ‘ideal age’ as the concept which reflects the optimal timing expectations for reproduction-related events: living with a partner, marriage, and parenthood. Respondents were also asked to make judgments about the appropriate age of becoming an adult for men and women. The overall results supported the outlined expectations based on the evolutionary approach. The results did not provide convincing evidence for the alternative, non-evolutionary interpretation of the identified patterns.

The association of innate and acquired aerobic capacity with resilience in healthy adults: Protocol for an eight-week randomized controlled web-based physical exercise intervention study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Tobias Ochmann ◽  
Keito F A Philippi ◽  
Peter Zeier ◽  
Magdalena Sandner ◽  
Barlo Hillen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Exercise ◽  
Aerobic Capacity ◽  
Exercise Intervention ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Active Lifestyle ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Physically Inactive

BACKGROUND Physical activity ameliorates chronic stress. Latest research suggests a relation between resilience and physical fitness. Beneficial adaptations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, the sympathetic nervous system, the endocannabinoid system, and the tryptophan pathway, induced by an active lifestyle, are considered to be resilience conducive. However, detailed knowledge on the molecular link between the effects of acute and chronic physical exercise and an improved resilience is missing. OBJECTIVE Therefore, we implement a human exercise intervention trial addressing the main hypotheses: (1) web-based exercise training improves aerobic capacity of physically inactive adults, which (2) is accompanied by improved resilience. In this setting, we will analyze the relation of resilience parameters with innate and acquired aerobic capacity as well as circulating signaling molecules. METHODS 70 healthy physically inactive (<150min/week physical activity) adults (18-45y) will be randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. Participants in the intervention group receive weekly training utilizing progressive endurance and interval running individually adapted to their training performance via web-based physician support. A standardized incremental treadmill exercise test is performed before and after the intervention period of eight weeks to determine innate and acquired aerobic capacity. Before and after the intervention psychological tests and questionnaires that characterize parameters implicated in resilience (including impulse control, working memory, stress coping, emotion regulation) will be applied. Blood, and saliva will be sampled for analysis of lactate, cortisol, endocannabinoids, catecholamines, kynurenic acid, cell-free DNA and further circulating signal transducers. Statistical analysis will provide comprehensive knowledge on the relation of aerobic capacity and resilience, and furthermore, the capacity of peripheral factors to mediate the promoting effects of exercise on resilience. RESULTS The study was registered in October 2019. Enrollment began in September 2019. Out of 161 subjects, who were initially screened via telefon survey, 43 fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included. Among the 17 participants in the intervention group, and 14 participants in the control group, who completed the study (total 31), no serious adverse event has been reported. Four participants withdrew during the programm (individual reasons), and 8 participants have not yet completed or begun the program due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Enrollment and data analysis are ongoing, and results are expected to be submitted for publication in October 2021. CONCLUSIONS Our study aims to demonstrate that an increase in physical activity with a simultaneous improvement in aerobic capacity is associated with an increase in resilience. This study design allows to investigate the effect of an active lifestyle on circulating molecular marker levels and their relationship to resilience factors. This will offer novel approaches for the diagnosis of depression and the therapy by exercise prescription. CLINICALTRIAL DRKS00018078, registered October 02, 2019, German Clinical Trials Register. Retrospectively registered: First participant September 10, 2019.

scholarly journals Education and Cognition in Middle Age and Later Life: The Mediating Role of Physical and Cognitive Activity

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (7) ◽  
pp. e93-e104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yujun Liu ◽  
Margie E Lachman
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Middle Age ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Later Life ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Behavioral Variables ◽  
Cognitive Activities

Abstract Objectives Although educational attainment is related to cognitive function in later life, little is known about the mechanisms involved. This study assessed the independent mediating effects of two behavioral variables, physical and cognitive activity, on the association between educational attainment and cognitive function and change. Methods Data were derived from the three waves of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. Predictors (educational attainment) were from the 1995 baseline, mediators (physical and cognitive activities) were from the 2004 wave, and outcomes (cognitive function) were from the 2004 and 2013 waves. Conditional process modeling was applied using PROCESS in SPSS. Results There were both direct and indirect effects of educational attainment on level and change of executive function (EF) and episodic memory (EM). Physical activity and cognitive activity were both significant mediators for cognitive level. For mediators of change, however, cognitive activity was significant for EF and physical activity was significant for EM. Discussion Physical and cognitive activity are discussed as possible factors for protecting against cognitive decline in later life. The findings have implications for advancing supportive policies and practices related to maximizing the benefits of education and physical and cognitive activities for cognition in middle age and later life.

scholarly journals Nutritional knowledge in European adolescents: results from the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) study

2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 2083-2091 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Sichert-Hellert ◽  
Laurent Beghin ◽  
Stefaan De Henauw ◽  
Evangelia Grammatikaki ◽  
Lena Hallström ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Sugar Content ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Nutritional Knowledge ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Immigrant Adolescents ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Socio Economic Variables

AbstractObjectiveTo build up sufficient knowledge of a ‘healthy diet’. Here, we report on the assessment of nutritional knowledge using a uniform method in a large sample of adolescents across Europe.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingThe European multicentre HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) study conducted in 2006–2007 in ten cities in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece (one inland and one island city), Hungary, Italy, Spain and Sweden.SubjectsA total of 3546 adolescents (aged 12·5–17·5 years) completed a validated nutritional knowledge test (NKT). Socio-economic variables and anthropometric data were considered as potential confounders.ResultsNKT scores increased with age and girls had higher scores compared with boys (62 % v. 59 %; P < 0·0001). Scores were approximately 10 % lower in ‘immigrant’ adolescents or in adolescents with ‘immigrant’ mothers. Misconceptions with respect to the sugar content in food or in beverages were found. Overall, there was no correlation between BMI values and NKT scores. After categorization according to BMI, scores increased significantly with BMI group only in boys. These differences disappeared after controlling for socio-economic status (SES). Smoking status and educational level of the mother influenced the NKT scores significantly in boys, as well as the educational levels of both parents in girls.ConclusionsNutritional knowledge was modest in our sample. Interventions should be focused on the lower SES segments of the population. They should be initiated at a younger age and should be combined with environmental prevention (e.g. healthy meals in school canteens).

scholarly journals Which Type of Exercise Is More Beneficial for Cognitive Function? A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Open-Skill Exercise versus Closed-Skill Exercise among Children, Adults, and Elderly Populations

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 2737
Author(s):  
Hao Zhu ◽  
Aiguo Chen ◽  
Wei Guo ◽  
Fengshu Zhu ◽  
Biye Wang
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Physical Exercise ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Intervention Studies ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Potential Efficacy ◽  
Cross Sectional Studies ◽  
Type Of Exercise ◽  
Definition Of

A large number of studies have described a positive relationship between physical exercise and cognition. Physical exercise can be divided into closed-skill exercise (CSE) and open-skill exercise (OSE) based on the predictability of the performance environment. It remains unknown whether either of these types of exercise is more beneficial for cognitive function. Therefore, the purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of OSE versus CSE on cognition. Eligible studies included cross-sectional studies and intervention studies that had a clear definition of OSE and CSE, and these were used to compare the cognitive performance differences between the two classes of exercise. A total of 15 cross-sectional studies and 4 intervention studies were included in this meta-analysis. Among the cross-sectional studies, the overall effect size for OSE versus CSE was 0.304 (95% confidence interval (CI) (−0.097, 1.213); p < 0.05). Further subgroup analysis showed that the overall effect size for OSE versus CSE was 0.247 for inhibition and 0.360 for cognitive flexibility (both p < 0.05). In contrast, no significant differences between the two exercise modes were observed in the intervention studies. In particular, there were no significant differences in visuospatial attention or in processing speed between the two exercise modes. Taken together, these results suggest that OSE is superior to CSE, especially for executive function, according to the 15 cross-sectional studies examined. However, data from the intervention studies indicate that OSE is not superior. Therefore, additional well-designed, long-term intervention studies are needed to elucidate the potential efficacy of OSE in all populations.

Interactive Effects of Physical Activity and Cognitive Activity on Cognition in Older Adults Without Mild Cognitive Impairment or Dementia

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (9) ◽  
pp. 1008-1016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon Halloway ◽  
Michael E. Schoeny ◽  
JoEllen Wilbur ◽  
Lisa L. Barnes
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Growth Models ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Clinical Evaluations ◽  
Cognitive Activities ◽  
Parallel Growth

Objective: The purpose of this secondary analysis was to test effects of interactions between accelerometer-measured physical activity and self-reported cognitive activity on cognition in older adults without cognitive impairment. Method: Participants were 742 older adults from the Rush Memory and Aging Project who completed annual clinical evaluations. A series of parallel growth models tested effects of interactions between physical activity and cognitive activity on cognition (global index, five domains) at Year 5, controlling for demographics, health factors, and corresponding cognition measures at Year 1. Results: Results were mixed, with significant physical and cognitive activity interactive effects for working and semantic memory. In models without interactions, higher physical and cognitive activities at Year 1 and less decline in cognitive activity over time were independently associated with better cognition at Year 5. Discussion: These findings may inform interventions that enhance physical and cognitive activities to prevent cognitive impairment in older adults.

scholarly journals Cognitive Activities During Adulthood Are More Important than Education in Building Reserve

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 615-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce R. Reed ◽  
Maritza Dowling ◽  
Sarah Tomaszewski Farias ◽  
Joshua Sonnen ◽  
Milton Strauss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latent Variable ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Lewy Bodies ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Cognitive Factors ◽  
Cognitive Domain ◽  
Residual Variance ◽  
Religious Orders ◽  
Cognitive Activities

AbstractCognitive reserve is thought to reflect life experiences. Which experiences contribute to reserve and their relative importance is not understood. Subjects were 652 autopsied cases from the Rush Memory and Aging Project and the Religious Orders Study. Reserve was defined as the residual variance of the regressions of cognitive factors on brain pathology and was captured in a latent variable that was regressed on potential determinants of reserve. Neuropathology variables included Alzheimer's disease markers, Lewy bodies, infarcts, microinfarcts, and brain weight. Cognition was measured with six cognitive domain scores. Determinants of reserve were socioeconomic status (SES), education, leisure cognitive activities at age 40 (CA40) and at study enrollment (CAbaseline) in late life. The four exogenous predictors of reserve were weakly to moderately inter-correlated. In a multivariate model, all except SES had statistically significant effects on Reserve, the strongest of which were CA40 (β = .31) and CAbaseline (β = .28). The Education effect was negative in the full model (β = –.25). Results suggest that leisure cognitive activities throughout adulthood are more important than education in determining reserve. Discrepancies between cognitive activity and education may be informative in estimating late life reserve. (JINS, 2011, 17, 615–624)

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document