The Impact of Bilingualism on Executive Functions in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review Based on the PRISMA Method

School closures during pandemics raise important concerns for children and adolescents. Our aim is synthesizing available data on the impact of school closure during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on child and adolescent health globally. We conducted a rapid systematic review by searching PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar for any study published between January and September 2020. We included a total of ten primary studies. COVID-19-related school closure was associated with a significant decline in the number of hospital admissions and pediatric emergency department visits. However, a number of children and adolescents lost access to school-based healthcare services, special services for children with disabilities, and nutrition programs. A greater risk of widening educational disparities due to lack of support and resources for remote learning were also reported among poorer families and children with disabilities. School closure also contributed to increased anxiety and loneliness in young people and child stress, sadness, frustration, indiscipline, and hyperactivity. The longer the duration of school closure and reduction of daily physical activity, the higher was the predicted increase of Body Mass Index and childhood obesity prevalence. There is a need to identify children and adolescents at higher risk of learning and mental health impairments and support them during school closures.

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Rapid Systematic Review: The Impact of Social Isolation and Loneliness on the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents in the Context of COVID-19

Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.jaac.2020.05.009 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 59 (11) ◽

pp. 1218-1239.e3 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

Maria Elizabeth Loades ◽

Eleanor Chatburn ◽

Nina Higson-Sweeney ◽

Shirley Reynolds ◽

Roz Shafran ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Social Isolation ◽

The Impact

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How Executive Functions Are Evaluated in Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy? A Systematic Review

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00021 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Armanda Pereira ◽

Sílvia Lopes ◽

Paula Magalhães ◽

Adriana Sampaio ◽

Elisa Chaleta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Executive Functions ◽

Children And Adolescents

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Does mental fatigue affect skilled performance in athletes? A systematic review

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0258307 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (10) ◽

pp. e0258307

Author(s):

He Sun ◽

Kim Geok Soh ◽

Samsilah Roslan ◽

Mohd Rozilee Wazir Norjali Wazir ◽

Kim Lam Soh

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Executive Functions ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Relevant Literature ◽

Mental Fatigue ◽

Cognitive Tasks ◽

Table Tennis ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Skilled Performance ◽

The Impact

Background Mental fatigue is a psychobiological state induced by a prolonged duration of demanding cognitive tasks. The effects of mental fatigue on physical performance have been well investigated in the literature. However, the effect of mental fatigue on skilled performance in sports remains unclear. Objective This study aimed to report a comprehensive systematic review investigating the carryover effects of mental fatigue on skilled performance among athletes. Methods A thorough search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCOhost (CENTRAL, SPORTDicus), and Scopus to select relevant literature, as well as on Google Scholar and sources of reference for grey literature. The selected literatures are centred on a mental fatigue protocol in which cognitive tasks are performed prior to athletic tasks. Only studies that used an experimental design to test two conditions, namely mental fatigue and non-mental fatigue, were selected. Results Eleven articles were chosen based on the selection criteria. Mental fatigue affects skilled performance in three sports: soccer, basketball, and table tennis. A decline in skilled performance (decreased accuracy, increased performing time etc) is relevant to impaired executive functions. Seven studies focus on offensive skills, whereas only two studies are associated with defensive skills. Conclusion Mental fatigue has a negative effect on various sports skills of high-level athletes, including their technical and decision-making skills; however, the impact is greater on offensive skills than that of defensive skills in terms of the role of athletes. Impaired executive functions may be responsible for the negative effects of mental fatigue on skilled performance.

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Parent mediated intervention programmes for children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders in South Asia: A systematic review

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0247432 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. e0247432

Author(s):

Kamrun Nahar Koly ◽

Susanne P. Martin-Herz ◽

Md. Saimul Islam ◽

Nusrat Sharmin ◽

Hannah Blencowe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

South Asia ◽

Neurodevelopmental Disorders ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Learning Ability ◽

Child Interaction ◽

Parent Child Interaction ◽

The Impact ◽

Parent Child

Objective Parent-mediated programmes have been found to be cost effective for addressing the needs of the children and adolescents with Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDD) in high-income countries. We explored the impact of parent-mediated intervention programmes in South Asia, where the burden of NDD is high. Methods A systematic review was conducted using the following databases; PUBMED, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Google Scholar and Web of Science. Predefined MeSH terms were used, and articles were included if published prior to January 2020. Two independent researchers screened the articles and reviewed data. Outcomes measures The review included studies that targeted children and adolescents between 1 and 18 years of age diagnosed with any of four specific NDDs that are commonly reported in South Asia; Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Intellectual Disability (ID), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Cerebral Palsy (CP). Studies that reported on parent or child outcomes, parent-child interaction, parent knowledge of NDDs, or child activities of daily living were included for full text review. Results A total of 1585 research articles were retrieved and 23 studies met inclusion criteria, including 9 Randomized Controlled Trials and 14 pre-post intervention studies. Of these, seventeen studies reported effectiveness, and six studies reported feasibility and acceptability of the parent-mediated interventions. Three studies demonstrated improved parent-child interaction, three studies demonstrated improved child communication initiations, five studies reported improved social and communication skills in children, four studies demonstrated improved parental knowledge about how to teach their children, and four studies reported improved motor and cognitive skills, social skills, language development, learning ability, or academic performance in children. Conclusion This systematic review of 23 studies demonstrated improvements in parent and child skills following parent-mediated intervention in South Asia. Additional evaluations of locally customized parent-mediated programmes are needed to support development of feasible interventions for South Asian countries.

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Fish intake, n-3 fatty acid body status, and risk of cognitive decline: a systematic review and a dose–response meta-analysis of observational and experimental studies

Nutrition Reviews ◽

10.1093/nutrit/nuab078 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Rena I Kosti ◽

Maria I Kasdagli ◽

Andreas Kyrozis ◽

Nicola Orsini ◽

Pagona Lagiou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Fatty Acid ◽

Executive Functions ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Dose Response ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Fish Intake ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

The Impact

Abstract Context Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) testing supplementation with eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) fatty acids have failed to provide evidence supporting a suggested inverse association between fish intake and dementia risk. Objective Dose–response analyses were conducted to evaluate associations between fish intake, all-cause dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), and the effect of EPA/DHA supplementation on cognitive performance. Data Sources PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases were searched for original research evaluating either associations between fish intake and dementia or AD, or the impact of EPA and/or DHA supplementation on the risk of cognitive decline. Data Extraction Data were collected on study characteristics and methods; number of cases/deaths (for observational studies); categories of exposure; model covariates; risk estimates from the most-adjusted model; type and dosage of supplementation (from RCTs); fatty acid levels in blood; and differences in cognition test results before and after supplementation. Risk of bias was assessed through the ROBINS-E and RoB2.0 tools for observational and experimental studies, respectively. Data Analysis Weighted mixed-effects models were applied, allowing for the inclusion of studies with 2 levels of exposure. Based on findings with low/moderate risk of bias, fish intake of up to 2 portions (250 g) per week was associated with a 10% reduction (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.79, 1.02, Ν = 5) in all-cause dementia and a 30% reduction (95% CI: 0.54, 0.89, Ν = 3) in AD risk. Changes in EPA and DHA body status had a positive impact on participants’ executive functions, but not on their overall cognitive performance. Conclusion The protection offered by fish intake against cognitive decline levels off at intakes higher than 2 portions/week and likely relates to the impact of EPA and DHA on the individual’s executive functions, although there remain questions about the mechanisms linking the short- and long-term effects. Systematic Review Registration PROSPERO registration no. CRD42019139528.

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