scholarly journals Effects of Exercise on Cognitive Performance in Children and Adolescents with ADHD: Potential Mechanisms and Evidence-based Recommendations

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lasse Christiansen ◽  
Mikkel M. Beck ◽  
Niels Bilenberg ◽  
Jacob Wienecke ◽  
Arne Astrup ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Positive Effects

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a complex symptomatology, and core symptoms as well as functional impairment often persist into adulthood. Recent investigations estimate the worldwide prevalence of ADHD in children and adolescents to be ~7%, which is a substantial increase compared to a decade ago. Conventional treatment most often includes pharmacotherapy with central nervous stimulants, but the number of non-responders and adverse effects call for treatment alternatives. Exercise has been suggested as a safe and low-cost adjunctive therapy for ADHD and is reported to be accompanied by positive effects on several aspects of cognitive functions in the general child population. Here we review existing evidence that exercise affects cognitive functions in children with and without ADHD and present likely neurophysiological mechanisms of action. We find well-described associations between physical activity and ADHD, as well as causal evidence in the form of small to moderate beneficial effects following acute aerobic exercise on executive functions in children with ADHD. Despite large heterogeneity, meta-analyses find small positive effects of exercise in population-based control (PBC) children, and our extracted effect sizes from long-term interventions suggest consistent positive effects in children and adolescents with ADHD. Paucity of studies probing the effect of different exercise parameters impedes finite conclusions in this regard. Large-scale clinical trials with appropriately timed exercise are needed. In summary, the existing preliminary evidence suggests that exercise can improve cognitive performance intimately linked to ADHD presentations in children with and without an ADHD diagnosis. Based on the findings from both PBC and ADHD children, we cautiously provide recommendations for parameters of exercise.

Caffeine and Placebo Expectation

2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunfeng Sun ◽  
Yinling Zhang ◽  
Ning He ◽  
Xufeng Liu ◽  
Danmin Miao
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Sleep Deprivation ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Cardiovascular Regulation ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Pressure Tests ◽  
Healthy Males

Abstract. Caffeine placebo expectation seems to improve vigilance and cognitive performance. This study investigated the effect of caffeine and placebo expectation on vigilance and cognitive performance during 28 h sleep deprivation. Ten healthy males volunteered to take part in the double-blind, cross-over study, which required participants to complete five treatment periods of 28 h separated by 1-week wash-out intervals. The treatments were no substance (Control); caffeine 200 mg at 00:00 (C200); placebo 200 mg at 00:00 (P200); twice caffeine 200 mg at 00:00 and 04:00 (C200-C200); caffeine 200 mg at 00:00 and placebo 200 mg at 04:00 (C200-P200). Participants were told that all capsules were caffeine and given information about the effects of caffeine to increase expectation. Vigilance was assessed by a three-letter cancellation test, cognitive functions by the continuous addition test and Stroop test, and cardiovascular regulation by heart rate and blood pressure. Tests were performed bihourly from 00:00 to 10:00 of the second day. Results indicated that C200-P200 and C200-C200 were more alert (p < .05) than Control and P200. Their cognitive functions were higher (p < .05) than Control and P200. Also, C200-P200 scored higher than C200 in the letter cancellation task (p < .05). No test showed any significant differences between C200-P200 and C200-C200. The results demonstrated that the combination of caffeine 200 mg and placebo 200 mg expectation exerted prolonged positive effects on vigilance and cognitive performance.

scholarly journals Time for a general approval of growth hormone treatment in adults with Prader–Willi syndrome

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Höybye ◽  
◽  
Anthony J. Holland ◽  
Daniel J. Driscoll
Keyword(s):  
Growth Hormone ◽  
Body Composition ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Hormone Treatment ◽  
Psychomotor Development ◽  
Prader Willi Syndrome ◽  
Gh Treatment ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Positive Effects

AbstractPrader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex, multi-system, neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by neonatal muscular hypotonia, short stature, high risk of obesity, hypogonadism, intellectual disabilities, distinct behavioural/psychiatric problems and abnormal body composition with increased body fat and a deficit of lean body mass. Growth hormone (GH) deficiency and other hormone deficiencies are common due to hypothalamic dysfunction. In children with PWS GH treatment has been widely demonstrated to improve body composition, normalise height and improve psychomotor development. In adults with PWS, GH’s main effects are to maintain normal body structure and metabolism. The positive effects of GH treatment on body composition, physical fitness and beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk markers, behaviour and quality of life in adults with PWS are also well established from several studies. GH treatment is approved for treatment of children with PWS in many countries, but until recently not as a treatment in young adults in the transition period or for adults in general. In this commentary we want to draw attention to the uneven global use of GH treatment, specifically in adults with PWS, and advocate for GH treatment to be approved internationally, not just for children, but also for adults with PWS and based only on the diagnosis of genetically confirmed PWS.

scholarly journals Impact of television on children and adolescents: A research review

2016 ◽  
pp. 917-929
Author(s):  
Ana Pesikan
Keyword(s):  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Violent Behavior ◽  
Research Review ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Elevated Cholesterol ◽  
The Impact

Media has one of the most important and under-recognized influence on health, development and behavior of children and adolescents. Television is still the most popular form of media among children and adolescents. In the last 50 years, more than a thousand researches have been carried out in the world showing the great impact of television on children and adolescents. Television shapes the attitudes, beliefs and behaviors of children and adolescents and strongly influences their perception of reality. The high impact of television is neither recognized by children nor adults; they estimate that the media affect all others except themselves. Television can positively influence a child?s prosocial behavior and acquisition of certain types of knowledge. However, the positive effects have been much less common and usually obtained at a younger age (3-5 years). Most of the studies provide a persistent and robust findings indicating the correlation between exposure to television and a variety of health problems (such as obesity, low physical activity, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.) and an increased risk of certain types of behavior (like poor dietary habits, less sleep, smoking, violent behavior, alcoholism, drug addiction, etc.). The research results show that the potentials of television with beneficial effects on children have not been realized; the list of negative effects is much longer and much more diverse; and strategies to reduce the negative effects of television do not apply. The documented findings on the impact of television should elicit serious concern, not just from parents and educators but from many others such as physicians, public health advocates, entertainment industry, politicians, and government.

scholarly journals Effects of silicon in plants with particular reference to horticultural crops - Review article

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Bat-Erdene ◽  
A. Szegő ◽  
M. Gyöngyik ◽  
I. Mirmazloum ◽  
I. Papp
Keyword(s):  
Abiotic Stresses ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Biotic And Abiotic Stresses ◽  
Horticultural Crops ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Induced Tolerance

Silicon (Si) has long been considered as non-essential element for plant’s growth and production. Numerous efforts are being made for the discovery of its beneficial effects with large scale studies laying foundation for new findings and hypotheses. Therefore, Si has been suggested to be a quasi-essential element due to its positive effects against biotic and abiotic stresses alike. Though Si is the second most abundant element in the soil profile, its availability to plants is limited to the form of monosilicic acid only. Besides, plants’ ability to take-up Si and use it in their physiological processes also depends on the available transporters associated with it. Thus, the present review covers uptake and transport of silicon in plants as well as Si mediated physiological processes, including mechanisms underlying induced tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses with a particular emphasis on horticultural species.

scholarly journals The use of probiotics in depression

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus W. Lange ◽  
Yukiko Nakamura ◽  
Katharina M. Lange
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Probiotic Strain ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Single Strain ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Antidepressant Effects ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Meta Analyses

Probiotics are thought to play a role in the extensive bidirectional communication between gut microbiota and the brain. A growing body of preclinical data suggests that probiotics may be effective in alleviating low mood and improving depressive symptoms. Preliminary evidence derived from studies in rodent models supports the view that single-strain or multi-strain preparations of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus are able to improve behaviors related to depression. The extent of antidepressant effects in humans with a clinical diagnosis of depression is less clear. While some support for the efficacy of probiotic supplementation has been found, the pooled effects in meta-analyses have generally been small. The positive effects reported for probiotics in major depression should be regarded as preliminary. Large, randomized trials assessing the efficacy of specific probiotic strain combinations over various time spans in individuals with clinically significant presentations of depression are needed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of probiotics. In light of accumulating evidence showing that probiotics may have beneficial effects in reducing depressive symptoms and may be useful as an adjunct intervention in major depressive disorder, the efficacy of probiotic foods in the prevention of depression should be investigated.

scholarly journals Biochar as a Stimulator for Germination Capacity in Seeds of Virginia Mallow (Sida hermaphrodita (L.) Rusby)

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (16) ◽  
pp. 3213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bogdan Saletnik ◽  
Marcin Bajcar ◽  
Grzegorz Zaguła ◽  
Aneta Saletnik ◽  
Maria Tarapatskyy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Study ◽  
Plant Material ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Control Sample ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Germination Capacity ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Large Scale Production

This article presents the findings of a laboratory study investigating the stimulation and conditioning of seeds with biochar and the effects observed in the germination and emergence of Virginia mallow (Sida hermaphrodita (L.) Rusby) seedlings. The study shows that biochar, applied as a conditioner added to water in the process of seed hydration, improves their germination capacity. When the processed plant material was added to water at a rate of 5 g (approx. 1250 seeds) per 100 mL, the rate of germination increased to 45.3%, and was 23.3% higher when compared to the control group, and 7.3% higher than in the seeds hydrated without biochar. The beneficial effects of biochar application were also reflected in the increased mass of Virginia mallow seedlings. The mass of seedlings increased by 73.5% compared to the control sample and by 25.9% compared to the seeds hydrated without biochar. Given the low cost of charcoal applied during the hydro-conditioning process, the material can be recommended as a conditioner in large-scale production of Virginia mallow.

Neuropsychological rehabilitation does not improve cognitive performance but reduces perceived cognitive deficits in patients with multiple sclerosis: a randomised, controlled, multi-centre trial

2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anu Mäntynen ◽  
Eija Rosti-Otajärvi ◽  
Keijo Koivisto ◽  
Arja Lilja ◽  
Heini Huhtala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Deficits ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Neuropsychological Rehabilitation ◽  
Attentional Deficits ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Randomised Controlled

Background: There is preliminary evidence on the positive effects of neuropsychological rehabilitation on cognition in multiple sclerosis (MS), but the generalisability of the findings is limited by methodological problems. Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of strategy-oriented neuropsychological rehabilitation on MS. Methods: A total of 102 relapsing–remitting MS patients with subjective and objective attentional deficits were randomised into an intervention and a control group. Neuropsychological assessments were performed at baseline, at three months immediately after the intervention, and at six months. Patients in the intervention group received neuropsychological rehabilitation once a week in 60-minute sessions for 13 consecutive weeks. The control group received no intervention. Results: Neuropsychological rehabilitation including computer-based attention and working memory retraining, psychoeducation, strategy learning and psychological support did not improve cognitive performance but had a positive effect on perceived cognitive deficits. The intervention group perceived significantly fewer deficits than the control group both immediately after the intervention and at six months. The personal rehabilitation goals were also well achieved. Conclusions: Strategy-oriented neuropsychological rehabilitation did not improve cognitive performance but reduced perceived cognitive deficits in MS.

scholarly journals Trained Cohorts of University Students are a Useful Resource for Conducting Dietary Surveys in Mongolia

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabri Bromage ◽  
Holly Ya-Fan Chung ◽  
Hannah Bonville ◽  
Jeannie Choi Sprenger ◽  
Rebecca Lander ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
University Students ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Dietary Assessment ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Diet Records ◽  
Dietary Surveys

Background: Population-based dietary assessment is important for informing national nutrition policy. The developing country setting presents challenges for robust implementation of dietary surveys, yet effective nutrition interventions are often urgently required. Objective: To develop and evaluate a low-cost approach to epidemiologic dietary assessment in Mongolia, involving the use of large cohorts of local public health and medical students as research assistants for collecting diet records. Methods: From 2011 to 2016, over 200 Mongolian medical and public health university students were trained to collect paired summer and winter 3-day weighed diet records from urban and rural study populations across the geographic expanse of Mongolia. Students were supervised during data collection, and their performance and experience during training and data collection were qualitatively evaluated from their own perspectives as well as those of the investigators. Results: Students collected detailed and thorough diet records and generally reported positive feedback regarding training and data collection. Frequent supervision of students during data collection proved to be extremely worthwhile. While rural participants were amenable to having students follow them, students faced several challenges in assessing the diets of urban participants. These challenges may best be addressed by separately training these participants beforehand. Conclusions: With adequate training and supervision, university students may be a useful and cost-effective resource for large-scale dietary surveys in regions where their use would be practical and culturally appropriate. Further research is warranted to study how well this approach may be adapted outside Mongolia and to other dietary assessment methods and technologies.

Supporting Healthy Relationships in Low-Income Couples: Lessons Learned and Policy Implications

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin R. Karney ◽  
Thomas N. Bradbury ◽  
Justin A. Lavner
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
New Policies ◽  
Antipoverty Programs

For the past two decades, policymakers have invested heavily in promoting the quality and stability of intimate relationships in low-income communities. To date, these efforts have emphasized relationship-skills education, but large-scale evaluations of these programs indicate that they have produced negligible benefits. Current policies are limited by their unfounded assumption that low-income couples have needs similar to more affluent couples. In contrast, recent research finds that financially disadvantaged environments confront low-income couples with unique challenges in maintaining intimacy. Rather than skills training, these couples need policies that address the real circumstances that affect their day-to-day well-being. Preliminary evidence from military families and antipoverty programs suggests that providing couples with financial security may have indirect positive effects on their relationships. New policies that promote financial well-being may be more effective at supporting low-income couples than interventions targeting relationships directly.

scholarly journals Secular Trends in Physical Fitness of Children and Adolescents: A Review of Large-Scale Epidemiological Studies Published after 2006

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (16) ◽  
pp. 5671 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanja Eberhardt ◽  
Claudia Niessner ◽  
Doris Oriwol ◽  
Lydia Buchal ◽  
Annette Worth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Secular Trends ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Endurance Strength ◽  
Over Time

Physical fitness (PF) of children and adolescents is an important resource for their future health. Population-based studies, however, rarely report secular changes of PF, although monitoring of these is crucial to deriving information for adequate interventions. This review aims to report trends in PF of children and adolescents. A literature search was conducted in PubMed in July 2019. Cohort studies published in English allowing statements to be made on trends in PF by comparing youth between the ages of four and 18 years were included. The review identified 24 studies from 16 countries meeting the inclusion criteria, with an overall sample size of more than 860,000 children and adolescents. Through a standardized quality assessment tool, we classified two studies as strong, 21 as moderate, and only one as weak. We analyzed specific secular trends separately for the five different dimensions: endurance, strength, speed, flexibility, and coordination. The majority of studies report a decline of PF over time; however, a few studies report conflicting results. Performance in endurance, strength, and flexibility decreased over time, whereas there was no consistent trend reported for speed and coordination. Overall, there is no international standard on examining and reporting changes or secular trends in PF of children and adolescents, and comparability of studies is limited due to heterogeneous conditions of conducting and analyzing PF tests. Consequently, standardized and consistent international monitoring should be implemented.

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