More Than Selection Effects: Volunteering Is Associated With Benefits in Cognitive Functioning

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (8) ◽  
pp. 1741-1746
Author(s):  
Ben Lennox Kail ◽  
Dawn C Carr
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Cognitive Outcome ◽  
Cognitive Measures ◽  
Formal Volunteering ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Cognitive Selection ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Objectives Volunteering is a lifestyle behavior that bolsters cognitive resilience. However, previous studies have not assessed the degree to which cognitive functioning is predictive of becoming a volunteer (i.e., selection into volunteering), and how this might contribute to the superior cognitive performance observed among volunteers. The purpose of this brief report is to address the role of cognition-related selection into becoming a volunteer in the association between formal volunteering and two cognitive measures: (a) overall cognitive function and (b) self-rated memory. Method The Health and Retirement Study was used to assess whether, net of cognitive selection into volunteering, formal volunteering is associated with cognitive function. Results Selection explained between 4.9% and 29% of the effect of volunteering on cognitive function (depending on the cognitive outcome and the level of volunteering). However, net of cognitive selection into volunteering, among all cognitive measures there are beneficial effects of formal volunteering on cognitive function. Discussion These findings suggest a proportion of the positive association between volunteering and cognitive function is explained by selection. However, net of selection, formal volunteering is associated with benefits to cognitive function. These findings offer promise for the development of volunteer-based interventions designed to bolster cognitive functioning.

scholarly journals The serotonergic system and cognitive function

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dubravka Švob Štrac ◽  
Nela Pivac ◽  
Dorotea Mück-Šeler
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Pharmacological Targets ◽  
Characteristic Features ◽  
Cognition Enhancement ◽  
And Function ◽  
Poor Concentration

AbstractSymptoms of cognitive dysfunction like memory loss, poor concentration, impaired learning and executive functions are characteristic features of both schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The neurobiological mechanisms underlying cognition in healthy subjects and neuropsychiatric patients are not completely understood. Studies have focused on serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) as one of the possible cognitionrelated biomarkers. The aim of this review is to provide a summary of the current literature on the role of the serotonergic (5-HTergic) system in cognitive function, particularly in AD and schizophrenia.The role of the 5-HTergic system in cognition is modulated by the activity and function of 5-HT receptors (5-HTR) classified into seven groups, which differ in structure, action, and localization. Many 5-HTR are located in the regions linked to various cognitive processes. Preclinical studies using animal models of learning and memory, as well as clinicalThe current evidence implies that reduced 5-HT neurotransmission negatively influences cognitive functions and that normalization of 5-HT activity may have beneficial effects, suggesting that 5-HT and 5-HTR represent important pharmacological targets for cognition enhancement and restoration of impaired cognitive performance in neuropsychiatric disorders.

scholarly journals Implicit associations with nature and urban environments: Effects of lower-level processed image properties

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Menzel ◽  
Gerhard Reese
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Positive Mood ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Implicit Associations ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Urban Images ◽  
Positive Valence

Nature has numerous beneficial effects on human health. Even watching nature compared to urban images, which are known to differ in several image properties that were processed at early stages, can improve mood, perceived restoration, and cognitive function, suggesting that the visual input alone evokes these effects. Furthermore, nature images – compared to urban ones – are implicitly and explicitly associated with positive valence. To study automatic bottom-up processes and the role of lower-level visual processing involved in the beneficial effects of nature, we investigated implicit associations in a dichotomous set of nature and urban images in three domains, namely valence, mood, and stress restoration. To examine the role of lower-level processing on these associations, we analysed nature and urban images for several properties and created stimuli that lacked the spatial information but retained certain image properties of the original photographs (i.e., phase-scrambled images). While original nature images were associated with good, positive mood, and restoration, urban images were associated with bad and stress. The studies also showed that image properties differ between our nature and urban images, and that they contribute to the implicit associations with valence. However, image properties and lower-level processing seem to play no or only minor roles for associations with mood and stress restoration.

scholarly journals Sarcopenia and Cognitive Function: Role of Myokines in Muscle Brain Cross-Talk

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 173
Author(s):  
Lucia Scisciola ◽  
Rosaria Anna Fontanella ◽  
Surina ◽  
Vittoria Cataldo ◽  
Giuseppe Paolisso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cross Talk ◽  
Functional Decline ◽  
Geriatric Syndrome ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
And Function ◽  
Injury Protection

Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome characterized by the progressive degeneration of muscle mass and function, and it is associated with severe complications, which are falls, functional decline, frailty, and mortality. Sarcopenia is associated with cognitive impairment, defined as a decline in one or more cognitive domains as language, memory, reasoning, social cognition, planning, making decisions, and solving problems. Although the exact mechanism relating to sarcopenia and cognitive function has not yet been defined, several studies have shown that skeletal muscle produces and secrete molecules, called myokines, that regulate brain functions, including mood, learning, locomotor activity, and neuronal injury protection, showing the existence of muscle-brain cross-talk. Moreover, studies conducted on physical exercise supported the existence of muscle-brain cross-talk, showing how physical activity, changing myokines' circulating levels, exerts beneficial effects on the brain. The review mainly focuses on describing the role of myokines on brain function and their involvement in cognitive impairment in sarcopenia.

Participation in activities mediates the effect of Internet use on cognitive functioning in old age

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Stefan T. Kamin ◽  
Alexander Seifert ◽  
Frieder R. Lang
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The Relationship

ABSTRACT Research indicates that Internet use positively influences cognitive functioning in later life, but we do not know the behavioral pathways that explain this association. This study explored the role of participation in activities as a potential mediator of the relationship between Internet use and cognitive functioning over a 4-year period. We analyzed representative data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The sample included 8353 European participants between 50 and 97 years of age. We used data from 2013 (T1), 2015 (T2), and 2017 (T3). Participants reported whether they participated in a diverse range of social and leisure activities. In addition, they provided information about their Internet use as well as cognitive functioning measures. Findings from cross-lagged panel analysis indicated a positive association between Internet use and change in cognition over the course of 4 years. This relationship was partly mediated by the number of reported activities. Internet use was positively associated with the change in activities after 2 years, which, in turn, positively predicted cognitive functioning 2 more years later. This is the first study that explores the temporal sequence of Internet use, participation in activities, and cognitive functioning. It sheds light on the mechanisms that account for the positive effects of Internet use on healthy aging.

scholarly journals The Association Between Leisure Games and Cognitive Functioning Among Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 702-703
Author(s):  
Tyran Terada ◽  
Yeonjung Lee
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Marital Status ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Final Model ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Stimulating leisure games have been shown to offer cognitive stimulation among older adults. This cross-sectional study examined the association between word games (crossword puzzles and scrabble) / cards and games (games such as chess) and cognitive functioning among adults aged 65 years and older (n=3271). All data were collected from the Health and Retirement Study (2016). Results from the hierarchical regression models suggest that higher levels of participation in word games (p<.01) and cards and games (p<.01) predicted higher levels of cognitive functioning. In the final model, after controlling for age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, education, and income, a total variance of 31 percent was explained. All covariates were statistically significant except marital status. Word games (β=.117, p<01) and cards and games (β=.054, p<.01) had a significantly positive association with cognitive functioning. These findings suggest that participation in word games and cards and games are associated with cognitive functioning among older adults.

scholarly journals Birth weight and cognitive function in early adulthood: the Australian aboriginal birth cohort study

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 240-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. Pearce ◽  
K. D. Mann ◽  
G. Singh ◽  
S. M. Sayers
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Cognitive Outcomes ◽  
Cognitive Outcome ◽  
Birth Cohort Study ◽  
Cognitive Measures ◽  
Testing Tools

It has been suggested that in addition to genetic factors, fetal and post-natal growth influence cognition in early adulthood. However, most studies have been in developed populations, so it is unclear if the same findings would be seen in other, less developed, settings, and have used testing tools not applicable to an Australia Aboriginal population. This study investigated the relationships between cognitive function in early adulthood and birth weight and contemporary height. Simple reaction time (SRT), choice reaction time (CRT) and working memory (WM) were assessed using the CogState battery. A significant association was seen between birth weight and SRT in early adulthood, but not with the other two cognitive measures. Urban dwellers had significantly shorter SRT and CRT than their remote counterparts. Contemporary body mass index and maternal age were associated with CRT. Only fetal growth restriction was associated with WM, with greater WM in those with restricted growth. No associations were seen with contemporary height. These results suggest that fetal growth may be more important than the factors influencing post-natal growth in terms of cognition in early adulthood in this population, but that the associations may be inconsistent between cognitive outcomes. Further research is required to identify whether similar associations are seen in other, similar, populations and to assess why differences in cognitive outcome measures are seen.

scholarly journals High BDNF serum levels are associated to good cognitive functioning in bipolar disorder

2019 ◽  
Vol 60 ◽  
pp. 97-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ester Mora ◽  
Maria J. Portella ◽  
Gerard Piñol-Ripoll ◽  
Ricard López ◽  
Daniel Cuadras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Cognitive Outcome ◽  
Oxidative Stress Markers ◽  
Stress Markers ◽  
Bipolar Patients ◽  
And Oxidative Stress

AbstractBackground:Neurotrophins such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), inflammation and oxidative damage may contribute to the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD) in terms of illness activity. To date, there is a lack of studies linking the cognitive impairment observed in BD with these neurobiological mechanisms. This study aimed to investigate the role of these neurobiological factors in clinical and cognitive outcomes in a sample of bipolar individuals.Methods:We measured serum BDNF, cytokines and oxidative stress markers in a sample of 133 individuals: 52 euthymic bipolar patients, 32 manic patients and 49 healthy controls. They were all assessed with a comprehensive cognitive battery. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected. Multiple linear regression models were built to study associations of neurotrophins and inflammatory and oxidative measures with cognitive functioning.Results:BDNF levels were decreased in euthymic (p = 0.039) and manic (p < 0.001) individuals. Conversely, inflammatory (interleukin 6 (IL-6)) (p = 0.019) and oxidative stress (p = 0.003) measures were increased in bipolar individuals compared to controls. BDNF levels were associated with executive functioning (β = 0.01, p = 0.02) and verbal memory (β = 0.013, p = 0.005), together with other demographic variables. In particular, verbal memory was also associated with obesity (β=-0.04, p = 0.005). Neither inflammatory markers, oxidative stress markers nor other relevant clinical variables showed any association with cognitive outcome.Conclusions:Of all the peripheral neurobiological factors analysed, BDNF was the only one significantly associated with cognitive dysfunction in bipolar disorder individuals. This study emphasizes the role of BDNF not only across mood phases but also in cognitive functioning.

scholarly journals Genetic polymorphisms of BDNF on cognitive functions in drug-naive first episode patients with schizophrenia

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiuru Su ◽  
Limin Qiao ◽  
Qing Liu ◽  
Yujie Shang ◽  
Xiaoni Guan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Cognitive Deficits ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Language Performance ◽  
Chronic Patients ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Drug Naïve ◽  
Genotype And Allele Frequencies

AbstractBrain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is reported to be involved in cognitive decline in patients with schizophrenia (SZ). Previous studies have found that cognitive deficits remain stable during the chronic disease phase in SZ, but the findings were inconsistent. The role of BDNF in cognitive deficits at different stage of illness remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the effect of BDNF polymorphisms on cognitive deficits in drug-naïve first-episode (DNFE) patients and chronic patients with SZ. 262 DNFE patients, 844 chronic patients, and 1043 healthy controls were recruited to compare 4 polymorphisms in BDNF gene and cognitive function. We found that there was no significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies between SZ patients and controls. However, they were closely related to cognitive functioning. BDNF rs2030324 polymorphism played a strong role in language performance only in DNFE patients with SZ. The language index of DNFE patients with rs2030324 TT and TC genotypes was worse than that of chronic patients, but there was no significant difference in CC genotypes between DNFE and chronic patients. Rs6265 had no significant effect on cognitive functioning in patients and controls. Our result suggests BDNF gene polymorphisms were related to different domains of cognitive function at the different stage of SZ, especially language in DNFE patients.

scholarly journals Verbal Memory Performance in Depressed Children and Adolescents: Associations with EPA but Not DHA and Depression Severity

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3630
Author(s):  
Sophie Emery ◽  
Isabelle Häberling ◽  
Gregor Berger ◽  
Noemi Baumgartner ◽  
Michael Strumberger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Learning Curves ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Depression Severity ◽  
Omega 3 ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Cognitive Improvement

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) have been described as positively associated with cognitive functioning. Current meta-analyses have identified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) as potentially more effective than docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). An especially vulnerable subgroup that might benefit from these beneficial effects are depressed youths. In this study, we examined associations between red blood cell (RBC) DHA and EPA levels and depression severity and verbal memory performance in a sample of 107 moderately (n = 63) and severely (n = 44) depressed youths. The findings showed that youths with high RBC EPA levels had steeper learning curves compared to those with moderate or low RBC EPA levels (Pillai’s Trace = 0.195, p = 0.027, ηp2 = 0.097). No associations between RBC DHA levels or depression severity and verbal memory performance were observed. Our results further confirm previous findings indicating a more important role of EPA compared to DHA in relation to cognitive functioning. Future research should further investigate the differential role of EPA and DHA concerning cognitive functioning in depressed youths. Evidence supporting beneficial supplementation effects could potentially establish a recommendation for a natural and easily accessible intervention for cognitive improvement or remission.

scholarly journals Evaluating Additional Aspects of Muscle Function with a Digital Handgrip Dynamometer and Accelerometer for Cognitive Functioning in Older Adults: A Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 495-499
Author(s):  
Lukus Klawitter ◽  
Sean J. Mahoney ◽  
Lindsey Dahl ◽  
Kyle J. Hackney ◽  
Stephen D. Herrmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Force Control ◽  
Muscle Function ◽  
Grip Force ◽  
Handgrip Strength ◽  
Poor Cognitive Function

Handgrip dynamometers are used to assess handgrip strength (HGS), and low HGS is linked to poor cognitive function. Although HGS is a reliable measure of muscle function, it is only measuring maximal grip force. Other aspects of muscle function such as force control, fatigability, and steadiness are unaccounted for in current HGS protocols. This pilot study sought to determine the role of maximal HGS, submaximal HGS force control, HGS fatigability, and HGS neuromuscular steadiness on cognitive function in older adults. Our findings indicate that these additional HGS measurements could factor into detecting poorer cognitive functioning, while also evolving HGS protocols.

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