scholarly journals You can’t fix what isn’t broken: eight weeks of exercise do not substantially change cognitive function and biochemical markers in young and healthy adults

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Gourgouvelis ◽  
Paul Yielder ◽  
Sandra T. Clarke ◽  
Hushyar Behbahani ◽  
Bernadette Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Biochemical Markers ◽  
Exercise Prescription ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Healthy Adults ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Cognitive Assessments ◽  
Habitual Exercise ◽  
The Relationship

Objective The benefits of exercise on brain health is well known in aging and psychiatric populations. However, the relationship between habitual exercise in young and healthy adults remains unclear. This study explored the effects an eight-week exercise prescription on cognitive function, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cathepsin B (CTHB) in young and healthy adults. Methods A total of 22 low-active, young and healthy adults were recruited from a local university. A total of 12 participants performed an eight-week exercise prescription and 12 participants served as controls. Cognitive assessments, cardiorespiratory fitness and plasma BDNF and CTHB concentrations were measured at baseline and eight weeks. Results Results showed exercise improved cardiorespiratory fitness (p = 0.044, d = 1.48) with no improvements in cognitive function or no changes in plasma BDNF and CTHB concentrations. Conclusion We provide evidence that a short-term course of moderate exercise does not improve cognitive function or change plasma biochemical markers concentrations in young and healthy adults, despite mild improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness. These results suggest that cognitive health may peak during early adulthood leaving little room for improvement throughout this period of the lifespan.

scholarly journals Gender Differences in Plasma Vitamin C Concentrations and Cognitive Function: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study in Healthy Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolaj Travica ◽  
Karin Ried ◽  
Irene Hudson ◽  
Avni Sali ◽  
Andrew Scholey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Vitamin C ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Healthy Adults ◽  
Plasma Vitamin ◽  
Motor Speed ◽  
Cognitive Assessments ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
And Gender

ABSTRACT Background A number of investigations have highlighted the importance of vitamin C in maintaining brain health. Biologically, vitamin C has exhibited roles in neuromodulation, neurodevelopment, vascular support, and neuroprotection. Vitamin C's contribution to cognitive function in both cognitively intact and impaired cohorts has previously been assessed, with little focus on gender variability. Objective The present study explored the interaction between gender and plasma vitamin C on cognitive performance, and the effect of different amounts of plasma vitamin C (adequate/inadequate) on various cognitive tasks by gender. Methods This retrospective analysis was conducted in healthy adults (n = 80, female = 52, male = 28, 24–96 y) with a range of blood plasma vitamin C concentrations. Cognitive assessments included the Swinburne University Computerized Cognitive Assessment Battery (SUCCAB) and 2 pen-and-paper tests, the Symbol Digits Modalities Test (SDMT) and the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test–Revised (HVLT-R). Food-frequency questionnaires were used to elucidate dietary consumption. Results After adjusting for a number of potential covariates such as age, number of prescribed medications and dose of vitamin C supplementation, results indicated a significant interaction (P < 0.001) between plasma vitamin C and gender on cognitive function, on both the computerized and pen-and-paper assessments. A novel finding was that the performance of males with inadequate plasma vitamin C was poorer on tasks involving components of memory (short/delayed), inhibition, and visual perception, whereas females presenting with inadequate vitamin C were more compromised on tasks involving psychomotor performance/motor speed. Additionally, females with adequate vitamin C concentrations exhibited higher performance than males on tasks involving recall, recognition, attention, and focus. Conclusions Further larger-scale investigations are required to establish a cause-and-effect relation and to elucidate whether differences in cognitive function between genders may be attributed to plasma vitamin C status. This trial was registered at https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=369440&isReview=true as ACTRN12615001140549.

scholarly journals Wearable Technology for High-Frequency Cognitive and Mood Assessment in Major Depressive Disorder: Longitudinal Observational Study

10.2196/12814 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. e12814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Cormack ◽  
Maggie McCue ◽  
Nick Taptiklis ◽  
Caroline Skirrow ◽  
Emilie Glazer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Depression Symptom ◽  
Cognitive Assessments ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Adequate Treatment ◽  
The Relationship

Background Cognitive symptoms are common in major depressive disorder and may help to identify patients who need treatment or who are not experiencing adequate treatment response. Digital tools providing real-time data assessing cognitive function could help support patient treatment and remediation of cognitive and mood symptoms. Objective The aim of this study was to examine feasibility and validity of a wearable high-frequency cognitive and mood assessment app over 6 weeks, corresponding to when antidepressant pharmacotherapy begins to show efficacy. Methods A total of 30 patients (aged 19-63 years; 19 women) with mild-to-moderate depression participated in the study. The new Cognition Kit app was delivered via the Apple Watch, providing a high-resolution touch screen display for task presentation and logging responses. Cognition was assessed by the n-back task up to 3 times daily and depressed mood by 3 short questions once daily. Adherence was defined as participants completing at least 1 assessment daily. Selected tests sensitive to depression from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery and validated questionnaires of depression symptom severity were administered on 3 occasions (weeks 1, 3, and 6). Exploratory analyses examined the relationship between mood and cognitive measures acquired in low- and high-frequency assessment. Results Adherence was excellent for mood and cognitive assessments (95% and 96%, respectively), did not deteriorate over time, and was not influenced by depression symptom severity or cognitive function at study onset. Analyses examining the relationship between high-frequency cognitive and mood assessment and validated measures showed good correspondence. Daily mood assessments correlated moderately with validated depression questionnaires (r=0.45-0.69 for total daily mood score), and daily cognitive assessments correlated moderately with validated cognitive tests sensitive to depression (r=0.37-0.50 for mean n-back). Conclusions This study supports the feasibility and validity of high-frequency assessment of cognition and mood using wearable devices over an extended period in patients with major depressive disorder.

The Relationship between Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scores in Older Adults

Gerontology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 440-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen W. Farrell ◽  
Aidin R. Abramowitz ◽  
Benjamin L. Willis ◽  
Carolyn E. Barlow ◽  
Myron Weiner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Cognitive Assessment ◽  
Montreal Cognitive Assessment ◽  
Categorical Variable ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Relationship

Background: Relatively little is known regarding the association between objective measures of physical function such as cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and cognitive function tests in healthy older adults. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between CRF and cognitive function in adults aged 55 and older. Methods: Between 2008 and 2017, 4,931 men and women underwent a comprehensive preventive physical exam at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas. CRF was determined by duration of a maximal treadmill exercise test. Cognitive function was evaluated with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). In a multivariate model, adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals for MoCA scores < 26 (i.e., cognitive impairment) were determined by using CRF as both a continuous and a categorical variable. Results: The mean age of the sample was 61.0 ± 6.0 years; mean maximal MET values were 10.0 ± 2.2. Mean MoCA scores were 26.9 ± 2.2; 23.4% of the sample had MoCA scores indicative of cognitive impairment. The odds ratio for cognitive impairment was 0.93 (0.88–0.97) per 1-MET increment in CRF. When examined as a categorical variable, and using the lowest CRF quintile as the referent, there was a significantly reduced likelihood for cognitive impairment across the remaining ordered CRF categories (p trend = 0.004). Conclusion: The association between CRF and MoCA score in older adults suggests that meeting or exceeding public health guidelines for physical activity is likely to increase CRF in low fit individuals, maintain CRF in those with a moderate to high level of CRF, and thereby help to maintain cognitive function in healthy older adults.

scholarly journals REGARDS Cognitive Assessment and Approaches to Defining Cognitive Impairment and Change in Cognitive Function

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 856-856
Author(s):  
Jennifer Manly ◽  
Frederick Unverzagt ◽  
Leslie McClure ◽  
Suzanne Judd ◽  
J David Rhodes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Word List ◽  
Cognitive Change ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Cognitive Assessments ◽  
Methodological Considerations ◽  
Estimate Prevalence

Abstract Since 2003, REGARDS participants have taken part in telephone-based cognitive assessments. Global cognitive status is assessed annually with the Six-item Screener. Between 2006 and 2009, measures of learning and memory (CERAD Word List) and language/executive function (Animal and Letter Fluency) were implemented, and are administered biennially. A Brain Health Substudy, conducting in-home clinical examinations of neuropsychological, neurological, and functional status among 1000 participants, is underway to validate telephone assessments and estimate prevalence of VCID in REGARDS. Approaches to defining incident cognitive impairment and cognitive change, including definitions employed for case/cohort studies using stored blood samples, will be described. We will discuss psychometric and methodological considerations for characterization of risks for cognitive impairment across race and region, as well as longitudinal trajectories of cognitive function.

scholarly journals Associations Between Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Cardiovascular Risk, and Cognition Are Mediated by Structural Brain Health in Midlife

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Goretti España‐Irla ◽  
Joyce Gomes‐Osman ◽  
Gabriele Cattaneo ◽  
Sergiu Albu ◽  
María Cabello‐Toscano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Visuospatial Abilities ◽  
Mechanistic Pathway ◽  
Cortical Regions ◽  
The Relationship

Background Evidence in older adults suggests that higher cardiorespiratory fitness and lower cardiovascular risk are associated with greater cognition. However, given that changes in the brain that lead to cognitive decline begin decades before the onset of symptoms, understanding the mechanisms by which modifiable cardiovascular factors are associated with brain health in midlife is critical and can lead to the development of strategies to promote and maintain brain health as we age. Methods and Results In 501 middle‐aged (aged 40–65 years) adult participants of the BBHI (Barcelona Brain Health Initiative), we found differential associations among cardiorespiratory fitness, cardiovascular risk, and cognition and cortical thickness. Higher cardiorespiratory fitness was significantly associated with better visuospatial abilities and frontal loading abstract problem solving (β=3.16, P =0.049) in the older middle‐aged group (aged 55–65 years). In contrast, cardiovascular risk was negatively associated with better visuospatial reasoning and problem‐solving abilities (β=−0.046, P =0.002), flexibility (β=−0.054, P <0.001), processing speed (β=−0.115, P <0.001), and memory (β=−0.120, P <0.001). Cortical thickness in frontal regions mediated the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and cognition, whereas cortical thickness in a disperse network spanning multiple cortical regions across both hemispheres mediated the relationship between cardiovascular risk and cognition. Conclusions The relationships between modifiable cardiovascular factors, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cardiovascular risk, and cognition are present in healthy middle‐aged adults. These relationships are also mediated by brain structure highlighting a potential mechanistic pathway through which higher cardiorespiratory fitness and lower cardiovascular risk can positively impact cognitive function in midlife.

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