Examination of the cognitive function of Japanese community-dwelling older adults in a class for preventing cognitive decline during the COVID-19 pandemic

We examined the changes in cognitive function due to restrictions in daily life during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive decline. This was a retrospective, case-control study. The participants include 88 older adults with mild cognitive decline (mean age = 81.0 [standard deviation = 6.5] years) who participated in a class designed to help prevent cognitive decline. This class was suspended from early-March to end of May 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and resumed in June 2020. We collected demographic and cognitive function test data (Touch Panel-type Dementia Assessment Scale [TDAS]) before and after class suspension and questionnaire data on their lifestyle and thoughts during the suspension. Change in TDAS scores from before and after the suspension was used to divide the participants into decline (2 or more points worsening) and non-decline (all other participants) groups, with 16 (18.2%) and 72 (81.8%) participants in each group, respectively. A logistic regression model showed that the odds ratio (OR) for cognitive decline was lower in participants whose responses were “engaged in hobbies” (OR = 0.07, p = 0.015), “worked on a worksheet about cognitive training provided by the town hall” (OR = 0.19, p = 0.026), and “had conversations over the phone” (OR = 0.28, p = 0.0495). There was a significant improvement in TDAS scores after class was resumed (p < 0.01). A proactive approach to intellectual activities and social ties may be important for the prevention of cognitive decline during periods of restrictions due to COVID-19. We found that cognitive function test scores before class suspension significantly improved after resuming classes. We speculate that continued participation in this class led to positive behavioral changes in daily life during periods of restriction due to COVID-19.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cognitive function in Japanese community-dwelling older adults in a class for preventing cognitive decline

We examined the effects of lifestyle and thoughts on cognitive function and change in cognitive function due to restrictions in daily life during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive decline. This was a retrospective case-control study. The participants were 88 older adults with mild cognitive decline who participated in a class designed to help prevent cognitive decline. The class was suspended from early-March to end of May 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and resumed in June 2020. We collected demographic and cognitive function test data (Touch Panel-type Dementia Assessment Scale [TDAS]) before and after class suspension and questionnaire data on their lifestyle and thoughts during the suspension. Change in TDAS scores from before and after the suspension was used to divide the participants into decline (2 or more points worsening) and non-decline (all other participants) groups, with 16 (18.2%) and 72 (81.8%) participants in each group, respectively. A logistic regression model showed that the odds ratio (OR) for cognitive decline was lower in participants whose responses were "engaged in hobbies" (OR = 0.07, p = 0.015), "worked on a worksheet about cognitive training provided by the town hall" (OR = 0.19, p = 0.026), and "had conversations over the phone" (OR = 0.28, p = 0.0495). There was a significant improvement in TDAS scores after class was resumed (p < 0.01). A proactive approach to intellectual activities and social ties may be important for the prevention of cognitive decline during periods of restrictions due to COVID-19. We found that cognitive function test scores before class suspension significantly improved after resuming classes. We speculate that continued participation in the class led to positive behavioral changes in daily life during periods of restriction due to COVID-19.

Deterioration of spinal sagittal alignment exposes latent cognitive impairment in the general older population: A Japanese cohort survey randomly sampled from a basic resident registry

Background: This study investigated the impact of spinal sagittal alignment on cognitive function in the general older population using a Japanese population cohort constructed from random sampling of the basic resident registry of a rural town.Methods: Registered citizens of 50 to 89 years old were targeted for this survey. Participants were classified into 8 groups based on age (50's, 60's, 70's, or 80's) and sex (male or female) after random sampling from the resident registry of a cooperating town in 2014. A total of 413 subjects (203 male and 210 female) were enrolled. We analyzed the distribution of cognitive function test scores determined as by Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Mini-Mental State Examination in each age and sex group to assess the impact of radiographic parameters of spinal sagittal alignment on cognitive function tests.Results: Cognitive function test results tended to decrease with age. Among groups of the same age and sex, cognitive function worsened significantly with poorer spinal alignment. In particular, increases in sagittal vertical axis or global tilt by 1 degree of standard deviation were significantly related to mild cognitive impairment (odds ratio: both 1.4).Conclusions: Spinal alignment deterioration indicated cognitive function decline in Japanese older people of the same age and sex. Thus, a forward shift in sagittal spinal balance may be regarded as a visible indicator of latent mild cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older people.

Unravelling the concept of unconscious bias

The author warns against accepting the concept of unconscious bias (measured by a supposedly scientific cognitive function test) as the explanation for racism and the terrain on which it should be combatted. Using the writings of Sivanandan, in which he distinguished between attitude, action and state or institutional racism, she traces the different ways over time in which racism has been camouflaged by the use of words such as xenophobia or disadvantage, and hails the landmark acceptance of institutional racism in 1999. Returning racism to individual attitude (if unconscious) means not distinguishing between the ways in which racism affects classes and communities differentially, not distinguishing between ‘the racism that kills’ and ‘the racism that discriminates’, and suggests, wrongly, in a non-materialist way, that bias creates rather than reflects structured and institutional racism.