scholarly journals Age-Related Decline in Children’s Reward Sensitivity: Blacks’ Diminished Returns

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. p112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari
Keyword(s):  
Racial Differences ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Black Children ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Reward Sensitivity ◽  
Behavioral Approach ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
White Children ◽  
Age Related ◽  
American Children

Background: It is important to study the correlates of reward sensitivity since it predicts high-risk behaviors. While ageing reduces children’s reward sensitivity and its associated risk taking, there is more to find out about racial differences in regard to the effect of age on reward sensitivity. Minorities’ Diminished Returns (MDRs) suggest that resources and assets show weaker effects on Black children than White children. Aim: We compared White children to Black children as for the effects of age on reward sensitivity. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 10533 American children who participated in the baseline of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. The independent variable was age, while the dependent variable was reward sensitivity as captured by the behavioral approach/behavioral avoidance system (BAS-BIS). Gender, parental education, marital status, parental education, and household income were the covariates. Results: Higher age was associated with less reward sensitivity. A significant interaction was found between race and age when it comes to children’s reward sensitivity. It suggested that age is associated with a smaller gain in terms of reduced reward sensitivity in Black children than White children. Conclusion: Age is more likely to reduce reward sensitivity in White children than Black children. This finding is in line with MDRs, and may be due to social racism, segregation, stratification, and discrimination.

scholarly journals Mental Rotation in American Children: Diminished Returns of Parental Education in Black Families

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 130-141
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari
Keyword(s):  
Mental Rotation ◽  
Social Stratification ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Efficiency Score ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
White Children ◽  
Family Socioeconomic Status ◽  
White Families ◽  
American Children

Background: While parental education and family socioeconomic status (SES) are associated with an increase in children’s cognitive functioning, and less is known about racial variation in these effects. Minorities’ Diminished Returns (MDRs) suggest that, under racism and social stratification, family SES and particularly parental education show weaker effects on children’s tangible outcomes for marginalized, racialized, and minoritized families, particularly Blacks, compared to Whites. Aim: We conducted this study to compare the effect of parental education on children’s mental rotation abilities, as an important aspect of cognitive function, by race. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 11,135 9–10-year-old American children. Data came from baseline of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. The independent variable was parental education. The dependent variable, mental rotation, was measured by the Little Man Task. Ethnicity, gender, age, marital status, and household income were the covariates. Results: Parental education was positively associated with mental rotation. However, parental education showed a weaker association with mental rotation in Black than in White families. This was documented by a significant interaction between race and parental education on children’s efficiency score. Conclusion: Parental education shows a weaker correlation with mental rotation of Black rather than White children, which is probably because of racism, social stratification, and discrimination. This finding is in line with the MDRs phenomenon and suggests that marginalization and racism may interfere with the influences of parental assets and resources and Black American children’s development.

scholarly journals Racial Variation in the Association between Childhood Depression and Frontal Pole Volume among American Children

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. p121
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari
Keyword(s):  
Racial Differences ◽  
Black Children ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Racial Groups ◽  
Inverse Association ◽  
Frontal Pole ◽  
Access To Treatment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
White American ◽  
American Children

Background: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is associated with an altered structure and function of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). There is more to find out about how this association differs among diverse racial groups. Aim: This study was performed to investigate racial differences in the association between MDD and frontal pole volume in 9/10-year-old children in the U.S. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study used the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. Then an analytical sample included 10185 American children between the ages of 9 and 10. The independent variable was current MDD, measured using K-SADS. The primary outcome was frontal pole volume, measured using the structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (sMRI). Race was the moderator. Mixed-effects regression models were used for data analysis. Results: In the overall sample, MDD was associated with a smaller frontal pole volume among children. Race showed a statistically significant interaction with MDD on children’s frontal pole volume, indicating stronger effects on White children compared to Black children. Conclusion: The inverse association between MDD and frontal pole volume is steeper in Black than White American children. White American children with and without MDD show more similar frontal pole volume, while Black children with and without MDD differ more when it comes to the frontal pole volume. It is unknown whether or not the stronger association between frontal pole volume and MDD in Black children is due to a poor access to treatment or to a higher chronicity of MDD in Black communities.

scholarly journals Diminished Association between Parental Education and Parahippocampal Cortical Thickness in Pre-Adolescents in the US

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. p34
Author(s):  
Mona Darvishi ◽  
Mohammed Saqib ◽  
Shervin Assari
Keyword(s):  
Racial Differences ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Us ◽  
American Children ◽  
The Right

Introduction: Socioeconomic status (SES) indicators, such as parental education and household income, are associated with the thickness of various cortical areas. However, less is known about the parahippocampal region. Additionally, more research is required regarding how the correlation between SES indicators and cortical thickness differs among diverse racial groups. Purpose: This study uses a national sample of pre-adolescents ages 9 to 10 years old in the US and was performed with two aims in mind. First, to investigate the correlations between two SES indicators, namely parental education and household income, and parahippocampal cortical thickness. Second, to explore racial differences in these associations. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we used data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study to analyze the Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (sMRI) data of 9,849 US pre-adolescents between the ages of 9 and 10 years old. The main outcomes were parahippocampal cortical thickness separately calculated for the right and the left hemispheres using sMRI. The independent variables were parental education and household income, which were both treated as nominal variables. Age, sex, ethnicity, and family structure were the covariates, and race was the moderator. Mixed-effects regression models were used for data analysis with and without interaction terms. Results: High income positively associated with right and left parahippocampal cortical thickness in the fully adjusted models. Race showed a statistically significant interaction with parental education on children’s parahippocampal cortical thickness, suggesting that the correlations between parental education with the right and left parahippocampal cortical thickness were significantly larger for White than Black and other/mixed race pre-adolescents. No interaction was found for household income and race. Conclusions: The association between parental education and pre-adolescents parahippocampal cortical thickness may be weaker in Black than in White American children. Consistent with the findings of Marginalization-related Diminished Returns (MDRs), parental education shows weaker links for some brain indicators, such as parahippocampal cortical thickness, in Black and other racial and minority children when compared to White children.

scholarly journals Race, Family Conflict and Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors among 9–10-Year-Old American Children

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5399
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari ◽  
Shanika Boyce ◽  
Mohsen Bazargan ◽  
Cleopatra H. Caldwell
Keyword(s):  
Family Conflict ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Black Children ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
White Children ◽  
Black And White ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
American Children ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors

Family conflict is known to operate as a major risk factor for children’s suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs). However, it is unknown whether this effect is similar or different in Black and White children. Objectives: We compared Black and White children for the association between family conflict and STBs in a national sample of 9–10-year-old American children. Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. This study included 9918 White or Black children between the ages of 9 and 10 living in married households. The predictor variable was family conflict. Race was the moderator. The outcome variable was STBs, treated as a count variable, reflecting positive STB items that were endorsed. Covariates included ethnicity, sex, age, immigration status, family structure, parental education, and parental employment, and household income. Poisson regression was used for data analysis. Results: Of all participants, 7751 were Whites, and 2167 were Blacks. In the pooled sample and in the absence of interaction terms, high family conflict was associated with higher STBs. A statistically significant association was found between Black race and family conflict, suggesting that the association between family conflict and STBs is stronger in Black than White children. Conclusion: The association between family conflict and STBs is stronger in Black than White children. Black children with family conflict may be at a higher risk of STBs than White children with the same family conflict level. These findings align with the literature on the more significant salience of social relations as determinants of mental health of Black than White people. Reducing family conflict should be regarded a significant element of suicide prevention for Black children in the US.

scholarly journals Parental Education Ain’t Enough: A Study of Race (Racism), Parental Education, and Children’s Thalamus Volume

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. p1
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari ◽  
Tommy J. Curry
Keyword(s):  
Racial Differences ◽  
Social Stratification ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Economic Resources ◽  
Intracranial Volume ◽  
White Children ◽  
Left Thalamus ◽  
Independent Variable ◽  
American Children ◽  
Using Data

Introduction. The thalamus is the hub of the brain and has a significant role in various brain activities. Purpose. This study explored racial differences in the association between parental education and thalamus volume among American children. Methods. Using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD), we analyzed the structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (sMRI) data of 11141 9-10 years old children. The main outcome was the thalamus volume. The independent variable was parental education. Age, sex, ethnicity, family marital status, and intracranial volume were the covariates. Race was the moderator. To analyze the data, we used mixed-effects regression models. Results. In race-stratified models, high parental education was associated with smaller thalamus volume in White but not Black children. In the pooled sample, significant interactions were found between race and parental education suggesting that the effect of parental education on left thalamus volume is significantly smaller for Blacks and mixed/other race children than White children. Conclusions. The effect of parental education on children’s thalamus volume seems to be weaker for Black and other/mixed-race children than their White counterparts. This finding is in support of Minorites’ Diminished Returns (MDRs) that suggest due to social stratification and racism, economic resources have weaker than expected effects in minority populations.

Postpartum Depression and Its Associated Factors among Women in Bandar Abbas City

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arefeh Shahi
Keyword(s):  
Postpartum Depression ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Unwanted Pregnancy ◽  
Routine Care ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Bandar Abbas

Background: Postpartum depression with a different incidence of 40- 45% in different societies, which it has adverse effects on the health of mothers and their child, given the negative effects of maternal depression and its harmful effects on the baby and the quality of family life. So, this study was performed with the aim to determine postpartum depression and its associated factors in Bandar Abbas city. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015 after obtaining consent from mothers by the census. A total of 343 mothers was examined for depression who referred to Bandar Abbas health centers in the 2nd and 4th months after childbirth. The data collection tools included demographic information and Postpartum Depression Edinburgh questionnaires. Finally, the statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (version 22.0) software and data were analyzed using the Independent t-test, Mann Whitney, Chi-square, and Fisher exact tests.Result: Totally, 68 (19.8%) of samples were in the second month and 54 (15.7%) in the fourth month after delivery had postpartum depression. The incidence of depression in the four months was 6.6%. There was a significant difference between depression and income, parental education, father’s use of cigarette and abnormalities of the infant (P <0.001). There was no significant difference between other factors such as gestational age, infant sex, birth weight, unwanted pregnancy, and type of delivery. Conclusion: Regarding the prevalence of this disorder, it seems that postpartum depression screening planning should be considered during child routine care as an essential component, especially for vulnerable groups.

Patient Use of Dietary Supplements, Home Monitoring, or Genetic Testing for Nonneovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

2021 ◽  
pp. 247412642198922
Author(s):  
Brittany C. Tsou ◽  
T.Y. Alvin Liu ◽  
Jun Kong ◽  
Susan B. Bressler ◽  
J. Fernando Arevalo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Testing ◽  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Dietary Supplements ◽  
Home Monitoring ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Supplement Use ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Disease Study

Purpose: This work evaluated the use and type of dietary supplements and home monitoring for nonneovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), as well as the prevalence of genetic testing among patients with AMD. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted of 129 participants older than 50 years who completed self-administered questionnaires regarding usage and type of dietary supplements and home monitoring, as well as the participants’ use of genetic testing for AMD. Results: Of 91 participants with AMD, 83 (91.2%) took vitamins, including 55 (60.4%) who used an Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) or AREDS2 formulation. Of 38 without AMD, 31 (81.6%) took vitamins (difference from participants with AMD = 9.6% [95% CI, 0%-23.2%]), including 2 on an AREDS formulation. Among 82 participants with AMD who were AREDS candidates (intermediate or advanced AMD in 1 or both eyes), 51 (62.2%; 95% CI, 51.7%-72.7%) took an AREDS or AREDS2 formulation, and 31 (37.8%) did not (5 were unsure). Additionally, 50 (61.0%; 95% CI, 50.4%-71.6%) AREDS candidates did some type of home monitoring. Only 1 (1.2%; 95% CI, 0%-3.6%) underwent genetic testing for AMD. Among 9 with AMD who were not AREDS candidates, 4 (44.4%) used an AREDS formulation, 4 (44.4%) did not, and 1 (11.1%) was unsure; only 1 (11.1%) of these 9 performed home monitoring. Conclusions: Despite similar results from past surveys and AREDS2 data supporting supplement use in 2013 and home monitoring in 2014, these findings suggest about one-third of AREDS candidates do not do so, providing further support for improving education regarding appropriate supplement and home monitoring usage. Genetic testing for AMD also appears infrequent.

scholarly journals SAT0415 AGE RELATIONSHIP WITH ULTRASOUND ARTICULAR AND ENTHESEAL INVOLVEMENT IN PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS: CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1160.2-1161
Author(s):  
I. Fairushina ◽  
D. Abdulganieva ◽  
E. Kirillova ◽  
R. Abdrakipov
Keyword(s):  
Psoriatic Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Power Doppler ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Blood Biomarkers ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Hs Crp ◽  
Axial Involvement

Background:Detection of subclinical enthesitis and synovitis in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is prevalent and ultrasound (US) examination is informative tool for it diagnosing. Aging positively affects degenerative changes.Objectives:To study relationship between US articular and entheseal findings with age in patients with PsA.Methods:57 patients were enrolled to study with fulfilled PsA criteria (CASPAR, 2009). Data collection: demographical, clinical (current psoriasis, axial involvement, enthesitis, dactylitis), US (synovitis count (by Grey Scale), Power Doppler(PD)+ synovitis), thickening and hypoechogenicity at enthesis, PD+ enthesitis, entheses with structural components); biological (high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR).US examination included 798 joints and 3078 entheses (bilateral shoulders, acromioclavicular joints, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, ankles; entheses at the projection of these joints (total number - 54). US entheseal findings were fixed according to consensus-based US definition and scoring for enthesitis in spondyloarthritis and PsA (OMERACT US)1.Results:In all 57 patients: male - 25 (43.9%), mean age 43.4±10.3(SD) years (y), PsA duration was 7 (3;10) y, Ps duration 10 (8; 22) y; 53 (41.1%) had axial involvement, 42 (73.7%) dactylitis, 8 (14%) clinical enthesitis, and 56 (98.2 %) skin psoriasis, Psoriasis Activity and Severity Index score 6.4 (2;14.4), Disease Activity in PsA score 18.1 (10.2;26.1), hsCRP 10.1(2.4;21.4), ESR 20 (11.3;31.5).Synovitis count increased with age noticeably (r=0.508, p<0.01), and weak correlation of PD+ synovitis (r=0.262, p=0.049) and age was found. The entheseal thickening and hypoechogenicity and structural findings increased with age respectively (r=0.345, p=0.009; r=0.337, p=0.01). There was no correlation between PD+ enthesitis and age. The assosiation between PD+ enthesitis and blood biomarkers of inflammation (hs-CRP (r=0.364, p=0.008); ESR (p=0.358, p=0.008) was found.Conclusion:Our study found significant relationship between age and US synovitis. Association between age and US entheseal involvement was noted. Only PD+ enthesitis was not related with age in comparison with other US entheseal findings. The presence of PD US signal at enthesitis in association with increased inflammatory blood biomarkers can be evaluated as the sign of disease activity regardless of age and not as age-related lesion in PsA patients.References:[1]Balint PV, Terslev L, Aegerter P et al. Reliability of a consensus-based ultrasound definition and scoring for enthesitis in spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis: an OMERACT US initiative. Ann Rheum Dis.;2018;77(12):1730-1735.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals Time trends of socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent smoking in Okinawa, Japan, 2008–2016: a repeated cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Minoru Takakura ◽  
Masaya Miyagi ◽  
Akira Kyan
Keyword(s):  
Time Trends ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Socioeconomic Inequalities ◽  
School Type ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Japanese Adolescents ◽  
Index Of Inequality ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background Smoking among Japanese adolescents has decreased noticeably. However, little is known whether the decreasing trend in adolescent smoking can be seen across all socioeconomic status (SES) groups. This study aimed to examine trends in socioeconomic inequalities in smoking among Japanese adolescents between 2008 and 2016. Methods We conducted a repeated cross-sectional study using data from three surveys of high school students in Okinawa, Japan, in 2008, 2012, and 2016. The study participants consisted of 7902 students in grades 10 through 12 (15–18 years). Smoking was assessed as current cigarette use. SES indicators included familial SES (parental education and family structure) and student’s own SES (school type). To evaluate absolute and relative inequalities, prevalence differences (PDs) and ratios (PRs) between low and high SES groups were estimated. The slope index of inequality (SII) and relative index of inequality (RII) were also calculated. Results Smoking prevalence among boys and girls significantly declined from 11.5% and 6.2% in 2008 to 4.7% and 1.9% in 2016, respectively. Similar decreasing trends in smoking were found among most of the SES groups. The PDs and SII for parental education in boys and family structure in girls decreased over time while those for school type persisted among boys and girls. The PRs and RII for school type in boys increased while those for other SES indicators among both sexes remained stable over time. Conclusions Smoking among Japanese adolescents has been declining and time trends of socioeconomic inequalities in smoking varied by absolute and relative measures. Further policies and/or interventions to reduce smoking inequalities should focus on the context of schools, especially in vocational high schools.

scholarly journals Association of Human Plasma Metabolomics with Delayed Dark Adaptation in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Metabolites ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 183
Author(s):  
Kevin M Mendez ◽  
Janice Kim ◽  
Inês Laíns ◽  
Archana Nigalye ◽  
Raviv Katz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Dark Adaptation ◽  
Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Vitreoretinal Disease

The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between plasma metabolite levels and dark adaptation (DA) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This was a cross-sectional study including patients with AMD (early, intermediate, and late) and control subjects older than 50 years without any vitreoretinal disease. Fasting blood samples were collected and used for metabolomic profiling with ultra-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Patients were also tested with the AdaptDx (MacuLogix, Middletown, PA, USA) DA extended protocol (20 min). Two measures of dark adaptation were calculated and used: rod-intercept time (RIT) and area under the dark adaptation curve (AUDAC). Associations between dark adaption and metabolite levels were tested using multilevel mixed-effects linear modelling, adjusting for age, gender, body mass index (BMI), smoking, race, AMD stage, and Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) formulation supplementation. We included a total of 71 subjects: 53 with AMD (13 early AMD, 31 intermediate AMD, and 9 late AMD) and 18 controls. Our results revealed that fatty acid-related lipids and amino acids related to glutamate and leucine, isoleucine and valine metabolism were associated with RIT (p < 0.01). Similar results were found when AUDAC was used as the outcome. Fatty acid-related lipids and amino acids are associated with DA, thus suggesting that oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction likely play a role in AMD and visual impairment in this condition.

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