126 research outputs found
The paradox of overnutrition in aging and cognition
No full textPopulations of many countries are becoming increasingly overweight and obese, driven largely by excessive calorie intake and reduced physical activity; greater body mass is accompanied by epidemic levels of comorbid metabolic diseases. At the same time, individuals are living longer. The combination of aging and the increased prevalence of metabolic disease is associated with increases in aging-related comorbid diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, cerebrovascular dementia, and sarcopenia. Here, correlative and causal links between diseases of overnutrition and diseases of aging and cognition are explored.<br/
The Potential Mediation of the Effects of Physical Activity on Cognitive Function by the Gut Microbiome
No full textThe population of older adults is growing dramatically worldwide. As older adults are at greater risk of developing disorders associated with cognitive dysfunction (i.e., dementia), healthcare costs are expected to double by 2040. Evidence suggests dementia may be slowed or prevented by lifestyle interventions, including physical activity (PA). PA is associated with improved cognitive function and may reduce risk for dementia by mitigating known risk factors (i.e., cardiovascular diseases) and/or by enhancing neurochemical processes. An emerging area of research suggests the gut microbiome may have similar neuroprotective effects. Altering the gut microbiome has been found to target physiological processes associated with dementia risk, and it influences gut-brain-microbiome axis signaling, impacting cognitive functioning. The gut microbiome can be altered by several means (i.e., disease, diet, prebiotics, probiotics), including PA. As PA and the gut microbiome independently influence cognitive function and PA changes the composition of the gut microbiome, cognitive improvement due to PA may be partially mediated by the gut microbiome. The present article provides an overview of the literature regarding the complex associations among PA, cognitive function, and the gut microbiome, as well as their underlying biological mechanisms. A comprehensive, theoretical model integrating evidence for the potential mediation is proposed
The Kent State Student Life Study, Phase 1: Leveraging remote research technology and institutional resources to model dynamical shifts in health, social behavior, and academic performance in 10,000 U.S. college students
No full textIntroduction: College students in the U.S. are reporting increased stress and clinically significant psychological symptoms at much higher rates than prior decades. Current students represent a unique generation, the first raised entirely within the broader context of social media. Presently, U.S. colleges and universities do not have adequate resources to address this increased demand and existing surveillance and broad-scope interventional tools are limited. The Kent State Student Life Study (SLS) is designed to investigate complex and dynamical developmental shifts in psychological health and functioning in this generation of college students.
Methods & Analysis: The SLS is a longitudinal cohort investigation that will enroll 10,000 Kent State University (Kent, Ohio, USA) undergraduate students, with N=1,500 being enrolled and assessed even prior to arrival on campus. The research design integrates remote questionnaire assessments at specific, timed intervals, with in-vivo intensive measurement that includes biosensing via ambulatory tools, and annual in-person, cognitive and biological/health assessments. Moreover, the design leverages existing university infrastructure and data already collected by university systems (e.g., health care utilization) to capture a detailed footprint of each student-participant’s experiences and daily life. When participants transition off campus (Phase 2) the project will continue to assess throughout the lifetime.
Ethics & Dissemination: The protocol for this study has already been approved by the Institutional Review Board at Kent State University (#803, 2023) which will continue to review and monitor the project on an ongoing basis. Data will be deidentified and shared via a secure portal for internal and external investigators. Research results will be disseminated though conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications, and the media
Collegiate Student Athletes With History of ADHD or Academic Difficulties Are More Likely to Produce an Invalid Protocol on Baseline ImPACT Testing
No full textHigher BMI Is Associated with Reduced Cognitive Performance in Division I Athletes
No full textObjective: Poor cardiovascular fitness has been implicated as a possible mechanism for obesity-related cognitive decline, though no study has examined whether BMI is associated with poorer cognitive function in persons with excellent fitness levels. The current study examined the relationship between BMI and cognitive function by the Immediate Post Concussion and Cognitive Test (ImPACT) in Division I collegiate athletes. Methods: Participants had an average age of 20.14 ± 1.78 years, were 31.3% female, and 53.9% football players. BMI ranged from 19.04 to 41.14 and averaged 26.72 ± 4.62. Results: Regression analyses revealed that BMI incrementally predicted performance on visual memory (R2 change = 0.015, p = 0.026) beyond control variables. Follow-up partial correlation analyses revealed small but significant negative correlations between BMI and verbal memory (r = -0.17), visual memory (r = -0.16), and visual motor speed (r = -0.12). Conclusions: These results suggest that higher BMI is associated with reduced cognitive function, even in a sample expected to have excellent levels of cardiovascular fitness. Further work is needed to better understand mechanisms for these associations
Early life stress and morphometry of the adult anterior cingulate cortex and caudate nuclei
No full textCopyright © 2006 Society of Biological Psychiatry Published by Elsevier Inc.Background Early life stress (ELS) is linked to adult psychopathology and may contribute to long-term brain alterations, as suggested by studies of women who suffered childhood sexual abuse. We examine whether reported adverse ELS defined as stressful and/or traumatic adverse childhood events (ACEs) is associated with smaller limbic and basal ganglia volumes. Method 265 healthy Australian men and women without psychopathology or brain disorders were studied. ACEs were assessed by the ELSQ and current emotional state by the DASS. Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), hippocampus, amygdala, and caudate nucleus volumes were measured from T1-weighted MRI. Analyses examined ROI volumetric associations with reported ACEs and DASS scores. Results Participants with greater than two ACEs had smaller ACC and caudate nuclei than those without ACEs. A significant association between total ACEs and ROI volumes for these structures was observed. Regression analysis also revealed that ELS was more strongly associated than current emotional state (DASS) with these ROI volumes. Conclusions Reported ELS is associated with smaller ACC and caudate volumes, but not the hippocampal or amygdala volumes. The reasons for these brain effects are not entirely clear, but may reflect the influence of early stress and traumatic events on the developing brain.Ronald A. Cohen, Stuart Grieve, Karin F. Hoth, Robert H. Paul, Lawrence Sweet, David Tate, John Gunstad, Laura Stroud, Jeanne McCaffery, Brian Hitsman, Raymond Niaura, C. Richard Clark, Alexander MacFarlane, Richard Bryant, Evian Gordon, and Leanne M. Williamshttp://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/505750/description#descriptio
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