Mahjong Playing and Leisure Physical Activity Alleviate Cognitive Symptoms in Older Community Residents

Author(s):  
Ming Ding ◽  
Hui Ouyang ◽  
Caiyun Zhang ◽  
Lijun Jiang ◽  
Runsen Zhuang ◽  
...  

Leisure activities, particularly physically and cognitively stimulating leisure activities, mitigate cognitive decline. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between mahjong playing, leisure physical activity, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Older adults with and without MCI were recruited (n = 489, healthy group; and n = 187, MCI group). The regression results showed that years of mahjong playing (odds ratio = 0.595, 95% confidence interval [0.376, 0.961], p = .032) and physical activity (odds ratio = 0.572, 95% confidence interval [0.381, 0.849], p = .012) were associated with reduced odds of having MCI after adjusting for a series of covariates. Leisure physical activity and mahjong playing interacted with each other and produced combined effects on the odds of having MCI. Combined cognitive and physical interventions may produce larger benefits on cognition than either intervention alone.

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aileen P. McGinn ◽  
Kelly R. Evenson ◽  
Amy H. Herring ◽  
Sara L. Huston ◽  
Daniel A. Rodriguez

Background:Crime is one aspect of the environment that can act as a barrier to physical activity. The goals of this study were to (1) compare measures of perceived crime with observed crime and (2) examine the association between the independent and combined effects of objective and perceived crime on physical activity.Methods:Perceived crime and physical activity were assessed in 1659 persons via telephone survey. Crime was objectively measured in a subset of 303 survey participants.Results:For all types of crime, there was low agreement between objective and perceived measures. Both perceived and objectively measured crime were independently associated with leisure activities.Conclusions:This study suggests that perceptions and objective measures of crime are both important correlates of leisure physical activity. Evaluating both measures is necessary when examining the relationship between crime and physical activity to develop interventions that will most influence leisure physical activity levels.


Author(s):  
Eeva Aartolahti ◽  
Johanna Eronen ◽  
Timo Törmäkangas ◽  
Taina Rantanen ◽  
Mirja Hirvensalo ◽  
...  

This study examined equity in physical activity (PA) by investigating whether perceived opportunity for PA was associated with willingness to be more active. Among community residents (75, 80, or 85 years old, n = 962) perceived opportunity for PA (poor and good), willingness to be more active (not at all, a bit, and a lot), and level of PA (low, moderate, and high) were assessed via questionnaires. Multinomial logistic regression showed that physical activity moderated the association between poor opportunity and willingness to increase PA. Among those with moderate PA, poor opportunity for PA increased the odds of willingness to be a lot more active (multinomial odds ratio, mOR 3.90, 95% confidence interval 2.21–6.87) than not wanting to be more active compared to those perceiving good opportunities. Associations were similar at high PA levels (p < 0.001), but were not found at low PA levels. Those with moderate or high PA wish to increase their activity particularly when the perceived opportunities for activity are not optimal. Among those with low PA, perceived opportunities are not associated with a perceived need to increase physical activity. Increasing equity in physical activity in old age requires provision of support and opportunities at every level of physical activity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-294
Author(s):  
Jeannie B. Concha ◽  
Kristen Kelly ◽  
Briana Mezuk

Background. Hispanics/Latinos in the United States experience both a health advantage and disadvantage in developing diabetes. Ethnic identity, a predictor of psychological well-being, has not been widely applied to physical health outcomes. The objective of this study is to apply what is known regarding ethnic identity and psychological health to physical health outcomes (diabetes) and to explore the moderating effect of education as a possible underlying mechanism of the Hispanic Health Advantage/Disadvantage. Specifically, this study examines (a) the association between ethnic identity and diabetes prevalence among adult Hispanics/Latinos and (b) determines whether education modifies this relationship. Method. Data come from the nationally representative adult U.S. household study, National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS), collected in 2001 to 2003 ( N = 1,746). Multiple logistic regression was conducted to examine the relationship between ethnic identity, education, and their interaction with likelihood of diabetes. Results. Hispanics/Latinos with high ethnic identity have a higher odds of reporting diabetes among those with 13 to 15 years of education (odds ratio: 1.84; 95% confidence interval: 1.16–2.92) and a lower odds among those with 16+ years of education (odds ratio: 0.53; 95% confidence interval: 0.34–0.84). Ethnic identity is associated with diabetes prevalence and the relationship is moderated by educational attainment. Conclusion. Given the growth, diversity, and diabetes disparities among Hispanics/Latinos, our buffering and exacerbating findings exemplify the complexity and fluidity of theory in understanding psychological/behavioral processes. The findings highlight the importance of designing targeted health interventions that take into account the diverse psychosocial and educational experiences of Hispanics/Latinos.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Kartini Edwin

Prematurity refers to live births before 37 weeks of gestation and associated with infant morbidity/mortality. Activation of HIF during the final pregnancy phase is believed to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of premature birth and other pregnancy disorders. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between hypoxicstatus and the intensity of HIF-1α expression in a premature placenta.Stored biological materials premature placenta (paraffin blocks) was used in this study. Thirtyone samples of placental hypoxia (H) and 28 samples of premature placental non-hypoxia (N) as controls, were selected non-random consecutively. Subsequently, immunohistochemistry was performed to analyze HIF-1α expression. TheChi-square testwas used to analyze the data and a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Moderate to strong intensity of HIF-1α expressionwas observed in 58% of hypoxic placenta samples, whereas most of non-hypoxic placental samples(86%) did not expressed or expressed weaklyHIF-1α.There was a significant correlation between the intensity of HIF-1α expression and placental hypoxia (p <0.05) and Odds Ratio (OR) value was 8.31 with a 95% confidence interval (2.32-29.77). The conclusion shows that hypoxic status is associated with intensity of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α expression in a premature placenta.


2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (suppl 6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thainá Ferreira de Toledo Piza ◽  
Paula Parisi Hodniki ◽  
Sinval Avelino dos Santos ◽  
Maria Teresa da Costa Gonçalves Torquato ◽  
Adrielen Aparecida Silva Calixto ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objectives: to analyze the leisure physical activity of people with and without chronic non-communicable diseases by the single health system of the city of Ribeirão Preto – São Paulo. Methods: observational cross-sectional study, data were collected by means of interviews in a sample for convenience and random of adults. Results: there were 719 people, where 70.1% had chronic non-communicable diseases, being 68.1% inactive. Physical inactivity presents a similar distribution between the groups with and without disease and a national average in leisure physical activity. Conclusions: these data are aimed at health services that do not encourage physical and auditory leisure activities, such as multiprofessional activities in the health area.


Author(s):  
Malorie Polster ◽  
Erin E. Dooley ◽  
Kate Olscamp ◽  
Katrina L. Piercy ◽  
April Oh

Background: Dissemination of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (Guidelines) is needed, but how individuals respond to the Guidelines is not well understood. This surveillance study describes US adults’ reported responses to and information sources for hearing about the Guidelines and explores relationships between how respondents heard about the Guidelines and their reported response(s). Methods: Data were analyzed from the population-based 2019 Health Information National Trends Survey 5 Cycle 3. Population-weighted proportions of response were calculated. Among those who had heard about the Guidelines, binary logistic regressions examined associations between the reported response(s) and the information source and number of sources reported. Results: The analytical sample included 5047 adults. Nearly 65% of US adults reported hearing about the Guidelines, and 29% reported a behavioral response (eg, increased physical activity). Hearing about the Guidelines through health professionals (adjusted odds ratio = 2.30, 95% confidence interval, 1.45–3.65) or social media (adjusted odds ratio = 1.89, 95% confidence interval, 1.20–2.96) (vs other sources) was associated with reporting increasing physical activity. Hearing from multiple sources (vs one source) was associated with reporting increasing physical activity (adjusted odds ratio = 1.97, 95% confidence interval, 1.18–3.31). Conclusion: Findings suggest dissemination of the Guidelines across multiple channels may promote greater changes in physical activity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 174550651987118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura P Abell ◽  
Kelly A Tanase ◽  
Madison L Gilmore ◽  
Anna E Winnicki ◽  
Victor L Holmes ◽  
...  

Objectives: While physical activity is important for health, many women do not meet recommended levels, particularly mothers. The purpose of this study was to assess whether physical activity levels differ by number of children at home in women aged 25–44 in the general US population. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis used 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data for females aged 25–44 (N = 6266) from California, Colorado, New York, Texas, and Utah. Ordered logistic regression analysis assessed the relationship between physical activity levels and number of children at home while controlling for state and demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related factors. Results: About half of participants reported “inactive” or “insufficiently active” physical activity levels and about two-thirds reported having one or more children at home. The results of adjusted analysis indicated that physical activity level was significantly related to having one child (adjusted odds ratio = 0.75, 95% confidence interval = 0.63, 0.89), two children (adjusted odds ratio = 0.79; 95% confidence interval = 0.67, 0.93), and three or more children (adjusted odds ratio = 0.80, 95% confidence interval = 0.67, 0.94) at home. Conclusion: Overall, physical activity levels were significantly related to presence of children at home for women aged 25–44, but increasing number of children at home did not impact effect size. For women aged 25–44 in a primary care setting, a moderate prevalence of inactive or insufficiently active physical activity may be expected. Providers should address physical activity with all patients in this target population during well-visits, but particularly for women with children at home; educate patients about the health benefits of regular physical activity; and provide resources that will help them integrate physical activity into their daily lifestyles.


2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 536-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert G. Weaver ◽  
Justin B. Moore ◽  
Brie Turner-McGrievy ◽  
Ruth Saunders ◽  
Aaron Beighle ◽  
...  

Background. The YMCA of USA has adopted Healthy Eating and Physical Activity (HEPA) Standards for its afterschool programs (ASPs). Little is known about strategies YMCA ASPs are implementing to achieve Standards and these strategies’ effectiveness. Aims. (1) Identify strategies implemented in YMCA ASPs and (2) evaluate the relationship between strategy implementation and meeting Standards. Method. HEPA was measured via accelerometer (moderate-to-vigorous-physical-activity [MVPA]) and direct observation (snacks served) in 20 ASPs. Strategies were identified and mapped onto a capacity building framework ( Strategies To Enhance Practice [STEPs]). Mixed-effects regression estimated increases in HEPA outcomes as implementation increased. Model-implied estimates were calculated for high (i.e., highest implementation score achieved), moderate (median implementation score across programs), and low (lowest implementation score achieved) implementation for both HEPA separately. Results. Programs implemented a variety of strategies identified in STEPs. For every 1-point increase in implementation score 1.45% (95% confidence interval = 0.33% to 2.55%, p ≤ .001) more girls accumulated 30 min/day of MVPA and fruits and/or vegetables were served on 0.11 more days (95% confidence interval = 0.11-0.45, p ≤ .01). Relationships between implementation and other HEPA outcomes did not reach statistical significance. Still regression estimates indicated that desserts are served on 1.94 fewer days (i.e., 0.40 vs. 2.34) in the highest implementing program than the lowest implementing program and water is served 0.73 more days (i.e., 2.37 vs. 1.64). Conclusions. Adopting HEPA Standards at the national level does not lead to changes in routine practice in all programs. Practical strategies that programs could adopt to more fully comply with the HEPA Standards are identified.


1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 126-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas L. McKenzie ◽  
Kathryn J. LaMaster ◽  
James F. Sallis ◽  
Simon J. Marshall

The relationship of classroom teachers’ leisure time physical activity and their conduct of physical education classes was investigated. Eighteen 4th- and 5th-grade teachers reported on their leisure physical activity and had their physical education classes observed systematically during 4 consecutive semesters. Correlational analyses confirmed that more active teachers taught physical education differently from those that were less active. Teachers who were more active provided students with increased physical fitness activities, and the teachers themselves spent more time promoting physical fitness during lessons. The study provides some support for the hypothesis that physically active teachers provide higher quality physical education.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 106-113
Author(s):  
Stephanie T. Broyles ◽  
Elizabeth A. Gollub ◽  
Allison Tohme ◽  
Peter T. Katzmarzyk

There is increasing recognition that community-based approaches may have merit in improving physical activity and healthy eating behaviors. The “Challenge for a Healthier Louisiana” program supported twelve projects that addressed the root causes of obesity through integrated community-level changes. Partnerships provided community-based obesity prevention by promoting healthier eating and/or physical activity through enhanced infrastructure, policy changes, and programming. To evaluate whether the program resulted in changes in healthy eating and/or physical activity among adults, surveys were conducted pre- and postintervention among participants. Participants who were exposed to physical activity programs were more likely to adopt the consumption of fruits (odds ratio = 2.0; 95% confidence interval [1.1, 3.6]), were more likely to eat vegetables once per day ( p = .028), and were more likely to participate in physical activity ( p = .053). Participants who were exposed to healthy eating programs were more likely to eat fruit once per day ( p = .035), were more likely to eat vegetables at least once per day ( p = .008), and were more likely to participate in physical activity ( p = .018). In conclusion, there is some indication that the Challenge for a Healthier Louisiana program produced changes in health behaviors among program participants; however, the sustainability of these changes will require further evaluation.


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