scholarly journals Weakening of the cognition and height association from 1957 to 2018: findings from four British birth cohort studies

Author(s):  
David Bann ◽  
Liam Wright ◽  
Vanessa Moulton ◽  
Neil M Davies

Background: On average taller individuals have been repeatedly found to have higher scores on cognitive assessments, yet it is unclear whether the magnitude of this association has systematically changed across time. Recent studies have found that this association can be explained by genetic factors, yet this does not preclude the influence of environmental or social factors that affect the genome. We tested whether the association between cognition and height has weakened across time. Methods: We used four British birth cohorts (born 1946c, 1958c, 1970c, and 2001) with comparable data available at 10/11 and 14/17 years (N = 41,418). Height was measured at each age, and cognition via verbal reasoning (10/11 years) and vocabulary/comprehension scales (14/16 years) and via mathematical tests at both ages. We constructed age-adjusted height and cognition measures and converted cognition measures to ridit scores to aid interpretation. We then used linear and quantile regression to investigate whether cross-sectional associations between cognition and height differed in each cohort, sequentially adjusting for sex, childhood socioeconomic position, and maternal and paternal height. Results: Taller participants had higher mean cognitive assessment scores in childhood and adolescence, yet the associations were weaker in later (1970c and 2001c) cohorts. After adjustment for sex the mean difference in height comparing the highest with lowest verbal cognition scores at 10/11 years was 0.57 SD (95% CI = 0.44, 0.7) in the 1946c, 0.59 SD (0.52, 0.65) in the 1958c, 0.47 SD (0.41, 0.53) in the 1970c, 0.30 SD (0.23, 0.37) in the 2001c. This pattern of change in association was observed across all specifications (ages 10/11 and 14/16 years, and for each cognition measure used), and was robust to adjustment for social class and parental height, and modelling of plausible missing-not-at-random scenarios. Quantile regression suggested that these average differences were driven by differences in the lower centiles of height. This pattern was most evident in older cohorts. For example, in 1958c, the difference in height was 0.73 SD (0.64, 0.82) at the 10th centile, yet 0.46 SD (0.34, 0.57) at the 90th centile. Conclusion: Associations between height and cognitive assessment scores in childhood-adolescence weakened by at least half from 1957 to 2018. These results support the notion that environmental and social change can markedly weaken associations between cognition and other traits.

Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Terence J Quinn ◽  
Robert Shaw ◽  
Martin Taylor-Rowan

Introduction: Guidelines recommend screening all stroke admissions for cognitive impairment. Delirium may be an important contributor to cognitive problems, but available data are limited by potential selection biases and imperfect delirium assessment. We aimed to describe robust estimates of delirium occurrence (incidence and prevalence) and risk factors in an acute stroke unit (ASU). Methods: We collected data from sequential admissions to our University Hospital ASU over a 20 week period (Feb-July 2016). The only exclusion was where the clinical team felt that any form of assessment was inappropriate. We aimed to perform cognitive assessments at 48 hours post stroke. Cognitive assessments were based on mini Montreal Cognitive Assessment (m-MoCA) and GP-Cog informant interview to assess for pre-stroke dementia. We assessed for delirium based on DSM-V criteria. We described univariable and multivariable associations with delirium occurrence. Results: Across the study period, 184 strokes were admitted; median age 71 years (IQR:61-79). Some form of cognitive assessment was available for 178 (97%). In total. 152 had evidence of cognitive impairment on m-MOCA, 55 (31%) met criteria for delirium and 25 (15%) had pre-stroke dementia. Significant univariable associations with delirium were:age and pre-existing cognitive decline. On logistic regression:age, history of drug or alcohol misuse and pre-stroke mRS were all independently associated with delirium. Discussion: In an unselected ASU population a substantial proportion will have cognitive impairment based on screening. Delirium is common and contributes to this cognitive problems seen in acute stroke. Independent associations with delirium occurrence were identified but were non-modifiable. Our results have implications for policy and practice. As post-stroke cognitive impairment is multifactorial, screening delirium and pre-existing cognitive issues should form part of the initial assessment.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Bann ◽  
Shaun Scholes ◽  
Rebecca Hardy ◽  
Dara O’Neill

BackgroundHigh body mass index (BMI) is an important contributor to higher blood pressure (BP) levels and its deleterious consequences. However, the strength of this association may be context-specific and differ across time due to increases in medication use or secular changes in body composition. Thus, we utilised two independent data sources to investigate if associations between BMI and systolic BP (SBP) in Britain changed from 1989-2018.MethodsWe used 23 repeated cross-sectional datasets—the Health Survey for England (HSE) at ≥25 years (1994–2018; N=126,742); and three British birth cohorts (born 1946, 1958, and 1970) with outcomes available at 43-46 years (N=18,657). Anthropometry and BP were measured using standard protocols. We used linear and quantile regression to investigate cross-sectional associations between BMI and SBP.ResultsIn HSE, associations were weaker in subsequent years, and this trend was most pronounced amongst older adults—after accounting for sex, treatment and education, the mean difference in SBP per 1 kg/m2 increase in BMI amongst adults ≥55 years was 0.75mmHg (95% CI: 0.60, 0.90) in 1994, 0.66mmHg (0.46, 0.85) in 2003, and 0.53mmHg (0.35, 0.71) in 2018. In cohorts, BMI and SBP associations were of similar magnitude in 1958 and 1970 cohorts and weaker in the 1946 cohort. Quantile regression analyses suggested that associations between BMI and SBP were present both below and above the hypertension threshold.ConclusionThe consequences of BMI may differ across time and by age —associations between BMI and SBP appear to have weakened in recent decades, particularly in older ages. Thus, at older ages, this weakening strength of association may partly offset the public health impacts of increases in obesity prevalence. However, BMI remains positively associated with SBP in all adult age groups, highlighting the potential adverse consequences of the ongoing obesity epidemic.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 1762-1767
Author(s):  
Novita Linda Akbar ◽  
Elmeida Effendy ◽  
Vita Camellia

BACKGROUND: Prescribing donepezil as an addition in reducing the cognitive dysfunctions among schizophrenia patients that have been given by antipsychotic (risperidone and olanzapine) is commonly used. Also, to determine the presence of the dysfunctions, an assessment is conducted by Montreal Cognitive Assessments based on Indonesian version (MoCA-Ina) to provide a more understandable test. AIM: To determine the score differences of MoCA-Ina between male patients of schizophrenia prescribed with only risperidone, and those with the addition of Donepezil within a certain interval of times. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: It is a pre-post-test experimental design with non-probability of consecutive sampling. METHODS: The study involved 48 of schizophrenia patients who have been prescribed fixed dose risperidone for 4 mg/day orally, and 24 people who were the intervention group were prescribed with the additional of 5 mg of donepezil per day started from the first until sixth week, followed by the increased dosages to 10 mg until twelfth week. These patients were recruited from the Public Hospital of Dr Pirngadi Medan, Indonesia, under the Department of Psychiatry. Then, the statistical data were analysed by Mann Whitney U, Friedman, and Wilcoxon, followed by analysing of SPSS version 21. RESULTS: The addition of five mg of Donepezil increased the MoCA-Ina score significantly compared to those who only prescribed with risperidone during all weeks of observation. CONCLUSION: Based on the results, the addition of donepezil increased the score level of the MoCA-Ina in the intervention group.


2008 ◽  
Vol 39 (05) ◽  
Author(s):  
HL Müller ◽  
S Schröder ◽  
U Gebhardt ◽  
I Zwiener ◽  
A Faldum ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Narendra Kumar Singh ◽  
Nishant Goyal

Background: Schizophrenia is associated with a high familial, social and economic burden. Schizophrenia is also associated with a high level of disability which may create impediments on the social and economic areas of the patients as well as on their respective family networks. Families with schizophrenia may encounter problems such as impairment of health and well being of other family members, restriction of social activities of the family members and shrinking of support from the social network. Aims: The present study examined the difference in perceived social support and burden of care between the male and female caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study examining the difference in perceived social support and burden of care between the male and female caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. The sample consisted of 60 (30 male and 30 female) caregivers of the patients with the diagnosis of schizophrenia as per ICD-10-DCR. Results and Conclusion: This study revealed that male caregivers perceived more social support and less burden of care as compared to female caregivers. Key words: Gender, social support, burden


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 114
Author(s):  
Wahdaniah Wahdaniah ◽  
Sri Tumpuk

Abstract: Routine blood examination is the earliest blood test or screening test to determine the diagnosis of an abnormality. Blood easily froze if it is outside the body and can be prevented by the addition of anticoagulants, one of which Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetate (EDTA). Currently available vacuum tubes containing EDTA anticoagulants in the form of K2EDTA and K3EDTA. K3EDTA is usually a salt that has better stability than other EDTA salts because it shows a pH approaching a blood pH of about 6.4. The purpose of this research is to know the difference of erythrocyte index results include MCH, MCV and MCHC using K3EDTA anticoagulant with K2EDTA. This research is a cross sectional design. This study used venous blood samples mixed with K2EDTA anticoagulant and venous blood mixed with K3EDTA anticoagulants, each of 30 samples. Data were collected and analyzed using paired different test. Based on data analysis that has been done on MCH examination, p value <0,05 then there is a significant difference between samples with K3EDTA anticoagulant with K2EDTA to erythrocyte index value. Then on the examination of MCV and MCHC obtained p value <0.05 then there is no significant difference between samples with K3EDTA anticoagulant with K2EDTA to erythrocyte index value.Abstrak: Pemeriksaan darah rutin merupakan pemeriksaan darah yang paling awal atau screening test untuk mengetahui diagnosis suatu kelainan. Darah mudah membeku jika berada diluar tubuh dan bisa dicegah dengan penambahan antikoagulan, salah satunya Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetate (EDTA). Dewasa ini telah tersedia tabung vakum yang sudah berisi antikoagulan EDTA dalam bentuk  K2EDTA dan  K3EDTA. K3EDTA  biasanya berupa garam yang mempunyai stabilitas yang lebih baik dari garam EDTA yang lain karena menunjukkan pH yang mendekati pH darah yaitu sekitar 6,4. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui perbedaan hasil indeks eritrosit meliputi MCH, MCV dan MCHC menggunakan antikoagulan K3EDTA dengan K2EDTA. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian dengan desain cross sectional. Penelitian ini menggunakan sampel darah vena yang dicampur dengan antikoagulan K2EDTA dan darah vena yang dicampur dengan antikoagulan K3EDTA, masing-masing sebanyak 30 sampel. Data dikumpulkan dan dianalisis menggunakan uji beda berpasangan. Berdasarkan analisis data yang telah dilakukan pada pemeriksaan MCH didapatkan nilai p < 0,05 maka ada perbedaan yang signifikan antara sampel dengan antikoagulan K3EDTA dengan K2EDTA terhadap nilai indeks eritrosit. Kemudian pada pemeriksaan MCV dan MCHC didapatkan nilai p < 0,05 maka tidak ada perbedaan yang signifikan antara sampel dengan antikoagulan K3EDTA dengan K2EDTA terhadap nilai indeks eritrosit.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 748-751
Author(s):  
Seyed Ali Dehghan Manshadi ◽  
Neda Alijani ◽  
Mohammadreza Salehi ◽  
Omid Dadras ◽  
SeyedAhmad SeyedAlinaghi ◽  
...  

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of exposure to hepatitis A by means of serologic markers in chronic hepatitis B patients, with the secondary aim of finding the best prevention method for hepatitis A infection in susceptible groups of our setting. Methods: During the period between 2016 and 2017, we recruited 403 hepatitis B patients aged more than 14 years and regularly attending the infectious diseases clinic at a referral university hospital, Tehran, Iran. A blood sample was collected from all the patients and tested for hepatitis A IgG. The data was analyzed by SPSS v.19. Results: Although none of the patients had previously received hepatitis A vaccine, the results for serologic level of hepatitis A IgG, demonstrated positive results in 379 (94%) cases. The mean age of patients with negative and positive IgG was 29.17 and 42.46 years, respectively; the difference was statistically significant (P≤0.001). The majority of seronegative patients were young adults aged < 25 years and 25 to 35 years (P <0.001). Conclusion: Seroprevalence of hepatitis A in chronic HBV patients in Iran is high. As HBV infected patients younger than 35 years could be seronagative for HAV infection, evaluation of these patients for HAV infection and vaccination of seronegative patients would be a reasonable approach.


Author(s):  
I Ketut Widana

The working practice of the engineering students is part of the learning process that is irreducible and indispensable. The composition of  lecturing between theoretical and practical one is 40% to 60%. With this condition, the students spend more time at the laboratory. Generally, the students perform in the laboratory work by standing position. The design of research is observational cross-sectional. The method applied is observation, interview and measuring. The subjects of research are practicing students amounting to 21 students. Referring to the analysis of statistical test or Wilcoxon signed ranks test, the difference of effect of work position is significant, namely p < 0.05 towards musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) before and after working. The quantity of the average complaint after working is score 44.62 ± 9.47. The result of Wilcoxon signed rank test shows that there is significant different effects of standing work position, namely p < 0.05 towards fatigue generally before and after working. The degree of the working pulse is on the average of 110.78  ± 17.80 bpm (beats per minutes) which can be categorized into the medium workload. Using paired t-test, the result is p < 0.05.


Author(s):  
Erika Viktória Miszory ◽  
Melinda Járomi ◽  
Annamária Pakai

Abstract Aim The number of Hungarian polio patients can be estimated at approximately 3000. Polio infection is currently affecting people 56–65 years of age. The aim of the study was to reveal the quality of life of patients living with polio virus in Hungary. Subject and methods The quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted in January–April 2017 among polyomyelitis patients living in Hungary. In the non-random, targeted, expert sample selection, the target group was composed of patients infected with poliovirus (N = 268). We have excluded those who refused to sign the consent statement. Our data collection method was an SF-36 questionnaire. Using the IBM SPSS Statistics Version 22 program, descriptive and mathematical statistics (χ2-test) were calculated (p < 0.05). Results The mean age of the members of the examined population is 63.5 years; 68.1% were women and 31.90% were men. The majority of the respondents were infected by the polyovirus in 1956 (11.9%), 1957 (24.3%), and 1959 (19.5%). Polio patients, with the exception of two dimensions (mental health, social operation), on the scale of 100 do not reach the “average” quality of life (physical functioning 23 points, functional role 36 points, emotional role 47 points, body pain 48 points, general health 42 points, vitality 50 points, health change 31 points). Conclusion The quality of life of polio patients is far below the dimensions of physical function, while the difference in mental health compared to healthy people is minimal. It would be important to educate health professionals about the existing disease, to develop an effective rehabilitation method.


Author(s):  
Rosalía Romero-Tena ◽  
Carmen Llorente-Cejudo ◽  
María Puig-Gutiérrez ◽  
Raquel Barragán-Sánchez

Without having a reaction time, the pandemic has caused an unprecedented transformation in universities around the world, leading to a revolution from structured models anchored in the conception of transmission of training towards a teaching approach-learning saved thanks to the incorporation of technology. This study aims to verify whether the pandemic situation has influenced the digital competence self-perception of students. Comparing two groups during the academic years 2019/2020 and 2020/2021, the instrument used is the questionnaire for digital competence “DigCompEdu Check-In” for future teachers. After the educational intervention, group A (before COVID-19) presented higher self-perceptions of competence than group B (during COVID-19); the pandemic situation caused by COVID-19 has negatively influenced students’ self-perception of their digital skills in the pretest in the different dimensions under study. Before receiving the training, the group that did not experience the pandemic enjoyed a higher self-perception of their competencies than the group that experienced the pandemic. The data obtained indicate that the difference exists, and that it is statistically significant, and may be a consequence of the clear relationship between self-perception and the way in which students face reality through their personal and subjective vision.


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