When Is It Safe to Fly or Travel to High Altitude?

2019 ◽  
pp. 175-175
Author(s):  
David L. Brody
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
High Altitude ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Air Force ◽  
Moderate Altitude ◽  
Impaired Balance

Most commercial airplanes are pressurized to the equivalent of about 7000 to 8000 feet. U.S. Air Force researchers have shown that uninjured people experience very little change in cognitive function or symptoms at this altitude, but that this is not the case after concussion. Symptoms and deficits that had resolved can come back at altitude, most notably headaches, slowing of cognitive performance, and impaired balance. Inform the patient and family about this risk and then let them make their own decisions about whether it is worth it. No evidence of permanent harm from flying or traveling to moderate altitude in concussion patients exists, but it has not been carefully studied.

When Is It Safe to Fly or Travel to High Altitude?

2014 ◽  
pp. 121-122
Author(s):  
David L Brody
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
High Altitude ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Air Force ◽  
United States Air Force ◽  
Moderate Altitude ◽  
Impaired Balance

Most commercial airplanes are pressurized to the equivalent of about 7,000–8,000 feet. United States Air Force researchers have shown that uninjured people have very little change in cognitive function or symptoms at this altitude, but that this is not the case after concussion. Symptoms and deficits that had resolved can come back at altitude, most notably headaches, slowing of cognitive performance, and impaired balance. Inform the patient and family about this risk and then let them make their own decisions about whether it is worth it. There is no evidence of permanent harm from flying or traveling to moderate altitude in concussion patients, but it has not been carefully studied.

Effects of a Group Program to Increase Cognitive Performance Through Cognitively Stimulating Leisure Activities in Healthy Older Subjects

GeroPsych ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina A. Tesky ◽  
Christian Thiel ◽  
Winfried Banzer ◽  
Johannes Pantel
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
Group Program ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Older Subjects

To investigate the effects of leisure activities on cognitive performance of healthy older subjects, an innovative intervention program was developed. Frequent participation in cognitively stimulating activities (i.e., reading, playing chess, or playing music) is associated with reduced risk of dementia. AKTIVA (active cognitive stimulation – prevention in the elderly) is an intervention program designed to enhance cognitive stimulation in everyday life by increasing cognitive stimulating leisure activities. The present study determines the effects of AKTIVA on cognitive function, mood and attitude toward aging in a sample of older participants from the general population. Several measurement instruments were used including the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-Cog), the Trail-Making Test (TMT), and the Memory Complaint Questionnaire (MAC-Q). Initially, the sample consisted of 307 older persons (170 female, 72 ± 7 years). The intervention was evaluated with a randomized, controlled pre-post follow-up design. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: AKTIVA intervention (n = 126), AKTIVA intervention plus nutrition and exercise counseling (n = 84), no-intervention control group (n = 97). The AKTIVA intervention consisted of 8 weekly sessions and two booster sessions after a break of 4 months. Participation in the group program resulted in positive effects on cognitive function and attitude toward aging for subassembly groups. Older persons (≥ 75 years) showed enhanced speed of information processing (by TMT Version A) (F = 4.17*, p < .05); younger participants (< 75 years) showed an improvement in subjective memory decline (by MAC-Q) (F = 2.55*, p < .05). Additionally, AKTIVA enhanced the frequency of activities for leisure activities for subassembly groups. The results of this study suggest that the AKTIVA program can be used to increase cognitively stimulating leisure activities in the elderly. Further research is necessary to identify the long-term effects of this intervention particularly with respect to the prevention of dementia.

Characterization of High Altitude Turbulence for Air Force Platforms

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank H. Ruggiero ◽  
Joseph A. Werne ◽  
Alex Mahalov ◽  
Basil Nichols ◽  
Donald E. Wroblewski
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Air Force

Sleep symptomatology is associated with greater subjective cognitive concerns: Findings from the community-based Healthy Brain Project

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Nicolazzo ◽  
Katharine Xu ◽  
Alexandra Lavale ◽  
Rachel Buckley ◽  
Nawaf Yassi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Psychomotor Function ◽  
Community Based ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Insomnia Severity

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.

scholarly journals Slow Wave Sleep and EEG Delta Spectral Power are Associated with Cognitive Function in Parkinson’s Disease

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Kimberly H. Wood ◽  
Adeel A. Memon ◽  
Raima A. Memon ◽  
Allen Joop ◽  
Jennifer Pilkington ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Slow Wave ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Slow Wave Sleep ◽  
Spectral Power ◽  
Z Scores ◽  
Domain Scores

Background: Cognitive and sleep dysfunction are common non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Objective: Determine the relationship between slow wave sleep (SWS) and cognitive performance in PD. Methods: Thirty-two PD participants were evaluated with polysomnography and a comprehensive level II neurocognitive battery, as defined by the Movement Disorders Society Task Force for diagnosis of PD-mild cognitive impairment. Raw scores for each test were transformed into z-scores using normative data. Z-scores were averaged to obtain domain scores, and domain scores were averaged to determine the Composite Cognitive Score (CCS), the primary outcome. Participants were grouped by percent of SWS into High SWS and Low SWS groups and compared on CCS and other outcomes using 2-sided t-tests or Mann-Whitney U. Correlations of cognitive outcomes with sleep architecture and EEG spectral power were performed. Results: Participants in the High SWS group demonstrated better global cognitive function (CCS) (p = 0.01, effect size: r = 0.45). In exploratory analyses, the High SWS group showed better performance in domains of executive function (effect size: Cohen’s d = 1.05), language (d = 0.95), and processing speed (d = 1.12). Percentage of SWS was correlated with global cognition and executive function, language, and processing speed. Frontal EEG delta power during N3 was correlated with the CCS and executive function. Cognition was not correlated with subjective sleep quality. Conclusion: Increased SWS and higher delta spectral power are associated with better cognitive performance in PD. This demonstrates the significant relationship between sleep and cognitive function and suggests that interventions to improve sleep might improve cognition in individuals with PD.

scholarly journals Simultaneous generalized and low-layer SCIDAR turbulence profiles at san pedro mártir observatory

2019 ◽  
Vol 490 (1) ◽  
pp. 1397-1405 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Avila ◽  
O Valdés-Hernández ◽  
L J Sánchez ◽  
I Cruz-González ◽  
J L Avilés ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Wind Direction ◽  
Close Agreement ◽  
Baja California ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Combined Effect ◽  
Moderate Altitude ◽  
San Pedro ◽  
Simultaneous Measurements

ABSTRACT We present optical turbulence profiles obtained with a Generalized SCIDAR (G-SCIDAR) and a low-layer SCIDAR (LOLAS) at the Observatorio Astronómico Nacional in San Pedro Mártir (OAN-SPM), Baja California, Mexico, during three observing campaigns in 2013, 2014, and 2015. The G-SCIDAR delivers profiles with moderate altitude-resolution (a few hundred metres) along the entire turbulent section of the atmosphere, while the LOLAS gives high altitude resolution (on the order of tens of metres) but only within the first few hundred metres. Simultaneous measurements were obtained on 2014 and allowed us to characterize in detail the combined effect of the local orography and wind direction on the turbulence distribution close to the ground. At the beginning of several nights, the LOLAS profiles show that turbulence peaks between 25 and 50 m above the ground, not at ground level as was expected. The G-SCIDAR profiles exhibit a peak within the first kilometre. In 55 per cent and 36 per cent of the nights stable layers are detected between 10 and 15 km and at 3 km, respectively. This distribution is consistent with the results obtained with a G-SCIDAR in 1997 and 2000 observing campaigns. Statistics computed with the 7891 profiles that have been measured at the OAN-SPM with a G-SCIDAR in 1997, 2000, 2014, and 2015 campaigns are presented. The seeing values calculated with each of those profiles have a median of 0.79, first and third quartiles of 0.51 and 1.08 arcsec, which are in close agreement with other long term seeing monitoring performed at the OAN-SPM.

scholarly journals Effects of between-person differences and within-person changes in symptoms of anxiety and depression on older age cognitive performance

2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (8) ◽  
pp. 1350-1358 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. J. Laukka ◽  
D. Dykiert ◽  
M. Allerhand ◽  
J. M. Starr ◽  
I. J. Deary
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Negative Mood ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Sample Mean ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
Lothian Birth Cohort

AbstractBackgroundAnxiety and depression are both important correlates of cognitive function. However, longitudinal studies investigating how they covary with cognition within the same individual are scarce. We aimed to simultaneously estimate associations of between-person differences and within-person variability in anxiety and depression with cognitive performance in a sample of non-demented older people.MethodsParticipants in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1921 study, a population-based narrow-age sample (mean age at wave 1 = 79 years, n = 535), were examined on five occasions across 13 years. Anxiety and depression were measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and cognitive performance was assessed with tests of reasoning, logical memory, and letter fluency. Data were analyzed using two-level linear mixed-effects models with within-person centering.ResultsDivergent patterns were observed for anxiety and depression. For anxiety, between-person differences were more influential; people who scored higher on HADS anxiety relative to other same-aged individuals demonstrated poorer cognitive performance on average. For depression, on the other hand, time-varying within-person differences were more important; scoring higher than usual on HADS depression was associated with poorer cognitive performance relative to the average level for that participant. Adjusting for gender, childhood mental ability, emotional stability, and disease burden attenuated these associations.ConclusionsThe results from this study highlight the importance of addressing both between- and within-person effects of negative mood and suggest that anxiety and depression affect cognitive function in different ways. The current findings have implications for assessment and treatment of older age cognitive deficits.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document