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Are reports of cognitive testing among older electroconvulsive therapy recipients clinically valid?

Plakiotis C, Chin LF, O'Connor DW

J ECT, 2014 Mar;30(1):26-9.
PMID: 24487645 DOI: 10.1097/YCT.0000000000000082

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) administration rises in frequency with age, with older depressed adults often showing clinical features predictive of good response. Recent reviews suggest that older people experience few if any long-term cognitive adverse effects after contemporary ECT, despite their increased vulnerability to these. However, the broader clinical validity of research findings is not assured as most studies of ECT-related cognitive effects do not discuss cognitive test nonparticipants. This study examines whether cognitive test participants and nonparticipants are comparable.

Matched MeSH terms: Cognition/physiology*
Ethnic variations in dementia: the contributions of cardiovascular, psychosocial and neuropsychological factors

Ng TP, Leong T, Chiam PC, Kua EH

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord, 2010;29(2):131-8.
PMID: 20145399 DOI: 10.1159/000275668

Ethnic variations in dementia rate have been reported worldwide. Understanding these differences is vital for aetiological research, clinical care and health service planning. While age and gender have been consistently implicated, the reasons behind interethnic variation remain unclear.

Matched MeSH terms: Cognition/physiology
Fulltext In Silico and In Vitro Analysis of Bacoside A Aglycones and Its Derivatives as the Constituents Responsible for the Cognitive Effects of Bacopa monnieri

Ramasamy S, Chin SP, Sukumaran SD, Buckle MJ, Kiew LV, Chung LY

PLoS One, 2015;10(5):e0126565.
PMID: 25965066 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126565

Bacopa monnieri has been used in Ayurvedic medicine to improve memory and cognition. The active constituent responsible for its pharmacological effects is bacoside A, a mixture of dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins containing sugar chains linked to a steroid aglycone skeleton. Triterpenoid saponins have been reported to be transformed in vivo to metabolites that give better biological activity and pharmacokinetic characteristics. Thus, the activities of the parent compounds (bacosides), aglycones (jujubogenin and pseudojujubogenin) and their derivatives (ebelin lactone and bacogenin A1) were compared using a combination of in silico and in vitro screening methods. The compounds were docked into 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, D1, D2, M1 receptors and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) using AutoDock and their central nervous system (CNS) drug-like properties were determined using Discovery Studio molecular properties and ADMET descriptors. The compounds were screened in vitro using radioligand receptor binding and AChE inhibition assays. In silico studies showed that the parent bacosides were not able to dock into the chosen CNS targets and had poor molecular properties as a CNS drug. In contrast, the aglycones and their derivatives showed better binding affinity and good CNS drug-like properties, were well absorbed through the intestines and had good blood brain barrier (BBB) penetration. Among the compounds tested in vitro, ebelin lactone showed binding affinity towards M1 (Ki = 0.45 μM) and 5-HT2A (4.21 μM) receptors. Bacoside A and bacopaside X (9.06 μM) showed binding affinity towards the D1 receptor. None of the compounds showed any inhibitory activity against AChE. Since the stimulation of M1 and 5-HT2A receptors has been implicated in memory and cognition and ebelin lactone was shown to have the strongest binding energy, highest BBB penetration and binding affinity towards M1 and 5-HT2A receptors, we suggest that B. monnieri constituents may be transformed in vivo to the active form before exerting their pharmacological activity.

Matched MeSH terms: Cognition/physiology
Fulltext The Association Between Diabetes and Cognitive Function in Later Life

Momtaz YA, Hamid TA, Bagat MF, Hazrati M

Curr Aging Sci, 2019;12(1):62-66.
PMID: 31589113 DOI: 10.2174/1874609812666190614104328

INTRODUCTION: Although diabetes through several possible mechanisms such as increased microvascular pathology and inefficiency of glucose utilization during cognitive tasks can be associated with cognitive impairment, there is inconclusive evidence that shows elderly diabetic patients under therapy have higher cognitive function compared to their non-diabetics counterparts. The present study was conducted to elucidate the association between diabetes and cognitive function in later life.
METHODS: Data for this study, consisting of 2202 older adults aged 60 years and above, were taken from a population-based survey entitled "Identifying Psychosocial and Identifying Economic Risk Factor of Cognitive Impairment among Elderly. Data analysis was conducted using the IBM SPSS Version 23.0.
RESULTS: The mean of MMSE was found to be 22.67 (SD = 4.93). The overall prevalence of selfreported diabetes was found to be 23.6% (CI95%: 21.8% - 25.4%). The result of independent t-test showed diabetic subjects had a higher mean score of MMSE (M = 23.05, SD =4 .55) than their counterparts without diabetes (M = 22.55, SD = 5.04) (t = -2.13 p

Matched MeSH terms: Cognition/physiology
Lactobacillus plantarum DR7 improved brain health in aging rats via the serotonin, inflammatory and apoptosis pathways

Zaydi AI, Lew LC, Hor YY, Jaafar MH, Chuah LO, Yap KP, et al.

Benef Microbes, 2020 Dec 02;11(8):753-766.
PMID: 33245015 DOI: 10.3920/BM2019.0200

Aging processes affect the brain in many ways, ranging from cellular to functional levels which lead to cognitive decline and increased oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the potentials of Lactobacillus plantarum DR7 on brain health including cognitive and memory functions during aging and the impacts of high fat diet during a 12-week period. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into six groups: (1) young animals on normal diet (ND, (2) young animals on a high fat diet (HFD), (3) aged animals on ND, (4) aged animals on HFD, (5) aged animals on HFD and L. plantarum DR7 (109 cfu/day) and (6) aged animals receiving HFD and lovastatin. To induce ageing, all rats in group 3 to 6 were injected sub-cutaneously at 600 mg/kg/day of D-galactose daily. The administration of DR7 has reduced anxiety accompanied by enhanced memory during behavioural assessments in aged-HFD rats (P<0.05). Hippocampal concentration of all three pro-inflammatory cytokines were increased during aging but reduced upon administration of both statin and DR7. Expressions of hippocampal neurotransmitters and apoptosis genes showed reduced expressions of indoleamine dioxygenase and P53 accompanied by increased expression of TPH1 in aged- HFD rats administered with DR7, indicating potential effects of DR7 along the pathways of serotonin and oxidative senescence. This study provided an insight into potentials of L. plantarum DR7 as a prospective dietary strategy to improve cognitive functions during aging. This study provided an insight into potentials of L. plantarum DR7 as a prospective dietary strategy to improve cognitive functions during aging.

Matched MeSH terms: Cognition/physiology
How Can We Best Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Malaysia? A Pilot of the IDEA Cognitive Screen and Picture-Based Memory Impairment Scale and Comparison of Criterion Validity with the Mini Mental State Examination

Rosli R, Tan MP, Gray WK, Subramanian P, Mohd Hairi NN, Chin AV

Clin Gerontol, 2017 03 29;40(4):249-257.
PMID: 28459304 DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2017.1311978

OBJECTIVES: To pilot two new cognitive screening tools for use in an urban Malaysian population and to compare their criterion validity against a gold standard, the well-established Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).

METHODS: The IDEA cognitive screen, Picture-based Memory Impairment Scale (PMIS), and MMSE were administered to a convenience sample of elderly (≥ 65 years) from the community and outpatient clinics at an urban teaching hospital. Consensus diagnosis was performed by two geriatricians blinded to PMIS and IDEA cognitive screen scores using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V) clinical criteria. The MMSE performance was used as a reference.

RESULTS: The study enrolled 66 participants, with a median age of 78.5 years (interquartile range [IQR], 72.5-83.0) years and 11.0 median years of education (IQR, 9.0-13.0). Forty-three (65.2%) were female, and 32 (48.4%) were Chinese. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve values were .962 (IDEA cognitive screen), .970 (PMIS), and .935 (MMSE). The optimal cutoff values for sensitivity and specificity were: IDEA cognitive screen: ≤ 11, 90.9% and 89.7%; PMIS: ≤ 6, 97.3% and 69.0%; and MMSE: ≤ 23, 84.6% and 76.0%. Although the sample size was small, multivariable logistic regression modelling suggested that all three screen scores did not appear to be educationally biased.

CONCLUSION: The IDEA and PMIS tools are potentially valid screening tools for dementia in urban Malaysia, and perform at least as well as the MMSE. Further work on larger representative, cohorts is needed to further assess the psychometric properties.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Study provides alternative screening tools for dementia for both non-specialists and specialists.

Matched MeSH terms: Cognition/physiology
Relationship between anthropometric indicators and cognitive performance in Southeast Asian school-aged children

Sandjaja, Poh BK, Rojroonwasinkul N, Le Nyugen BK, Budiman B, Ng LO, et al.

Br J Nutr, 2013 Sep;110 Suppl 3:S57-64.
PMID: 24016767 DOI: 10.1017/S0007114513002079

Nutrition is an important factor in mental development and, as a consequence, in cognitive performance. Malnutrition is reflected in children's weight, height and BMI curves. The present cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the association between anthropometric indices and cognitive performance in 6746 school-aged children (aged 6-12 years) of four Southeast Asian countries: Indonesia; Malaysia; Thailand; Vietnam. Cognitive performance (non-verbal intelligence quotient (IQ)) was measured using Raven's Progressive Matrices test or Test of Non-Verbal Intelligence, third edition (TONI-3). Height-for-age z-scores (HAZ), weight-for-age z-scores (WAZ) and BMI-for-age z-scores (BAZ) were used as anthropometric nutritional status indices. Data were weighted using age, sex and urban/rural weight factors to resemble the total primary school-aged population per country. Overall, 21% of the children in the four countries were underweight and 19% were stunted. Children with low WAZ were 3·5 times more likely to have a non-verbal IQ < 89 (OR 3·53 and 95% CI 3·52, 3·54). The chance of having a non-verbal IQ < 89 was also doubled with low BAZ and HAZ. In contrast, except for severe obesity, the relationship between high BAZ and IQ was less clear and differed per country. The odds of having non-verbal IQ levels < 89 also increased with severe obesity. In conclusion, undernourishment and non-verbal IQ are significantly associated in 6-12-year-old children. Effective strategies to improve nutrition in preschoolers and school-aged children can have a pronounced effect on cognition and, in the longer term, help in positively contributing to individual and national development.

Matched MeSH terms: Cognition/physiology*
Child feeding practices, food habits, anthropometric indicators and cognitive performance among preschoolers in Peninsular Malaysia

Mohd Nasir MT, Norimah AK, Hazizi AS, Nurliyana AR, Loh SH, Suraya I

Appetite, 2012 Apr;58(2):525-30.
PMID: 22265752 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2012.01.007

This study aimed to determine the relationship between child feeding practices, food habits, and anthropometric indicators with cognitive performance of preschoolers aged 4-6 years in Peninsular Malaysia (n=1933). Parents were interviewed on socio-demographic background, nutrition knowledge, child feeding practices and food habits. Height and weight of the preschoolers were measured; BMI-for-age, weight-for-age and height-for-age were determined. Cognitive performance was assessed using Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices. The mean monthly household income was RM3610 and 59.6% of parents attained secondary education. Thirty-three percent of parents had good knowledge on nutrition, 39% satisfactory and 28% poor. For child feeding practices, perceived responsibility had the highest mean score (M=3.99, SD=0.72), while perceived child weight had the lowest (M=2.94, SD=0.38). The prevalence of possible risk of overweight, being overweight, and obesity were 3.9%, 7.9% and 8.1%, respectively, whereas the prevalence of underweight and stunting were 8.0% and 8.4%, respectively. Breakfast was the second most frequently skipped meal (16.8%) after dinner (18.1%). The mean cognitive score was 103.5 (SD=14.4). Height-for-age and consumption of dinner were found to contribute significantly towards cognitive performance after controlling for socio-demographic background and parent's nutrition knowledge.

Matched MeSH terms: Cognition/physiology*
Fulltext Functional status of acute stroke patients in University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Rameezan BAR, Zaliha O

Med J Malaysia, 2005 Dec;60(5):548-59.
PMID: 16515104

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in most developed countries and developing nations. Majority of the stroke survivors are left with significant physical and cognitive impairments. In addition to the improved acute stroke care, they often benefit from rehabilitation in improving their function. This was the first study done to document function for post stroke patients in Malaysia. It was prospective study conducted to document functional status of acute stroke patients upon admission, discharge and at 3 months post stroke. Assessment of functional status for these patients are based on their activities of daily living and ambulation i.e. self-care, sphincter control, mobility, locomotion, communication and social cognition. It is also aimed to describe their demographic and clinical characteristics. Correlation of functional status at 3 months post stroke with the initial severity of stroke was also explored. A total of fifty-one patients with acute stroke in University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) were recruited. The patient's age ranged from 38 to 83 years with a mean of 60.2 years. Thirty-six patients (71%) were first stroke sufferers and fifteen patients (29%) had recurrent stroke. At discharge from acute stay, 13% of patients were able to ambulate with aids and 87% needed assistance for ambulation in varying degrees. Eighty-two percent of patients showed improvement in overall function (both motor and cognition) at 3 months post stroke. Sixty percent of patients were independent in ambulation and 40% required assistance. Significant correlation was seen between the initial severity of stroke and functional status at 3 months post stroke. Functional status of patients with stroke has improved at 3 months post stroke. A comprehensive rehabilitation medicine programme should be incorporated into management of stroke patients to expedite functional recovery and improve patient's independence.

Matched MeSH terms: Cognition/physiology
Neural network classification of autoregressive features from electroencephalogram signals for brain-computer interface design

Huan NJ, Palaniappan R

J Neural Eng, 2004 Sep;1(3):142-50.
PMID: 15876633

In this paper, we have designed a two-state brain-computer interface (BCI) using neural network (NN) classification of autoregressive (AR) features from electroencephalogram (EEG) signals extracted during mental tasks. The main purpose of the study is to use Keirn and Aunon's data to investigate the performance of different mental task combinations and different AR features for BCI design for individual subjects. In the experimental study, EEG signals from five mental tasks were recorded from four subjects. Different combinations of two mental tasks were studied for each subject. Six different feature extraction methods were used to extract the features from the EEG signals: AR coefficients computed with Burg's algorithm, AR coefficients computed with a least-squares (LS) algorithm and adaptive autoregressive (AAR) coefficients computed with a least-mean-square (LMS) algorithm. All the methods used order six applied to 125 data points and these three methods were repeated with the same data but with segmentation into five segments in increments of 25 data points. The multilayer perceptron NN trained by the back-propagation algorithm (MLP-BP) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were used to classify the computed features into different categories that represent the mental tasks. We compared the classification performances among the six different feature extraction methods. The results showed that sixth-order AR coefficients with the LS algorithm without segmentation gave the best performance (93.10%) using MLP-BP and (97.00%) using LDA. The results also showed that the segmentation and AAR methods are not suitable for this set of EEG signals. We conclude that, for different subjects, the best mental task combinations are different and proper selection of mental tasks and feature extraction methods are essential for the BCI design.

Matched MeSH terms: Cognition/physiology*
Frail Elders in an Urban District Setting in Malaysia: Multidimensional Frailty and Its Correlates

Sathasivam J, Kamaruzzaman SB, Hairi F, Ng CW, Chinna K

Asia Pac J Public Health, 2015 Nov;27(8 Suppl):52S-61S.
PMID: 25902935 DOI: 10.1177/1010539515583332

In the past decade, the population in Malaysia has been rapidly ageing. This poses new challenges and issues that threaten the ability of the elderly to independently age in place. A multistage cross-sectional study on 789 community-dwelling elderly individuals aged 60 years and above was conducted in an urban district in Malaysia to assess the geriatric syndrome of frailty. Using a multidimensional frailty index, we detected 67.7% prefrail and 5.7% frail elders. Cognitive status was a significant correlate for frailty status among the respondents as well as those who perceived their health status as very poor or quite poor; but self-rated health was no longer significant when controlled for sociodemographic variables. Lower-body weakness and history of falls were associated with increasing frailty levels, and this association persisted in the multivariate model. This study offers support that physical disability, falls, and cognition are important determinants for frailty. This initial work on frailty among urban elders in Malaysia provides important correlations and identifies potential risk factors that can form the basis of information for targeted preventive measures for this vulnerable group in their prefrail state.

Matched MeSH terms: Cognition/physiology
Fulltext Dietary Supplement Intake and Its Association with Cognitive Function, Physical Fitness, Depressive Symptoms, Nutritional Status and Biochemical Indices in a 3-Year Follow-Up Among Community Dwelling Older Adults: A Longitudinal Study

Vanoh D, Shahar S, Yahya HM, Che Din N, Mat Ludin AF, Ajit Singh DK, et al.

Clin Interv Aging, 2021;16:161-175.
PMID: 33531799 DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S266587

Purpose: Use of dietary supplements by older adults has been increasing for improving micronutrient deficiencies, cognitive function, and overall health status. Thus, the objective of this secondary investigation is to explore the longitudinal association of baseline supplement intake in improving cognitive function, biochemical parameters, anthropometric variables and physical fitness among older adults.
Methods: Towards Useful Aging (TUA) is a three-year longitudinal study conducted at baseline (2013-2014) and at follow-up (2015-2017) surveys. The number of participants dropped from 2322 during baseline study to 1787 and 1560 during the 18th and 36th month follow-up, respectively. Data on socio-demography, use of dietary supplement, biochemical indices, anthropometry, cognitive function, physical fitness and depressive symptoms were obtained. Longitudinal associations were done using the linear mixed model analysis among 1285 subjects with complete data.
Results: The most common vitamin and mineral supplementations consumed were multivitamin, B-complex, and calcium. Meanwhile, the herbal supplements consumed by participants were Eurycoma longifolia, Morinda citrifolia and Orthosiphon aristatus. Longitudinal analysis adjusted for multiple covariates showed improvement in both supplement users and non-users for global cognitive function, working memory, visual memory, 2-minute step test, chair stand test, chair sit and reach and time up and go test, waist circumference and hip circumference in both the supplement users and non-users.
Conclusion: Our findings indicated that dietary supplement intake is not associated with cognitive function, physical fitness, nutritional status, depressive symptoms or biochemical indices since improvement in the parameters was observed among both supplement users and non-users.

Matched MeSH terms: Cognition/physiology*
Orthostatic blood pressure changes and physical, functional and cognitive performance: the MELoR study

Saedon NI, Frith J, Goh CH, Ahmad WAW, Khor HM, Tan KM, et al.

Clin Auton Res, 2020 04;30(2):129-137.
PMID: 31696333 DOI: 10.1007/s10286-019-00647-3

PURPOSE: Consensus definitions currently define initial orthostatic hypotension (IOH) as ≥ 40 mmHg systolic (SBP) or ≥ 20 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) reductions within 15 s of standing, while classical orthostatic hypotension (COH) is defined as a sustained reduction ≥ 20 mmHg SBP or ≥ 10 mmHg SBP within 3 min of standing. The clinical relevance of the aforementioned criteria remains unclear. The present study aimed to determine factors influencing postural blood pressure changes and their relationship with physical, functional and cognitive performance in older adults.
METHODS: Individuals aged ≥ 55 years were recruited through the Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research (MELoR) study and continuous non-invasive BP was monitored over 5 min of supine rest and 3 min of standing. Physical performance was measured using the timed-up-and-go test, functional reach, handgrip and Lawton's functional ability scale. Cognition was measured with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Participants were categorized according to BP responses into four categories according to changes in SBP/DBP reductions from supine to standing:

Matched MeSH terms: Cognition/physiology*
Assessment of cognitive bias in decision-making and leadership styles among critical care nurses: a mixed methods study

Lean Keng S, AlQudah HN

J Adv Nurs, 2017 Feb;73(2):465-481.
PMID: 27601180 DOI: 10.1111/jan.13142

AIMS: To raise awareness of critical care nurses' cognitive bias in decision-making, its relationship with leadership styles and its impact on care delivery.
BACKGROUND: The relationship between critical care nurses' decision-making and leadership styles in hospitals has been widely studied, but the influence of cognitive bias on decision-making and leadership styles in critical care environments remains poorly understood, particularly in Jordan.
DESIGN: Two-phase mixed methods sequential explanatory design and grounded theory.
SETTING: critical care unit, Prince Hamza Hospital, Jordan. Participant sampling: convenience sampling Phase 1 (quantitative, n = 96), purposive sampling Phase 2 (qualitative, n = 20).
METHODS: Pilot tested quantitative survey of 96 critical care nurses in 2012. Qualitative in-depth interviews, informed by quantitative results, with 20 critical care nurses in 2013. Descriptive and simple linear regression quantitative data analyses. Thematic (constant comparative) qualitative data analysis.
RESULTS: Quantitative - correlations found between rationality and cognitive bias, rationality and task-oriented leadership styles, cognitive bias and democratic communication styles and cognitive bias and task-oriented leadership styles. Qualitative - 'being competent', 'organizational structures', 'feeling self-confident' and 'being supported' in the work environment identified as key factors influencing critical care nurses' cognitive bias in decision-making and leadership styles. Two-way impact (strengthening and weakening) of cognitive bias in decision-making and leadership styles on critical care nurses' practice performance.
CONCLUSION: There is a need to heighten critical care nurses' consciousness of cognitive bias in decision-making and leadership styles and its impact and to develop organization-level strategies to increase non-biased decision-making.

Matched MeSH terms: Cognition/physiology
Social Participation Determines Quality of Life Among Urban-Dwelling Older Adults With Stroke in a Developing Country

Goh HT, Tan MP, Mazlan M, Abdul-Latif L, Subramaniam P

J Geriatr Phys Ther, 2018 6 1;42(4):E77-E84.
PMID: 29851747 DOI: 10.1519/JPT.0000000000000196

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Poor quality of life (QoL) is a well-recognized consequence after stroke. Quality of life is influenced by a complex interaction between personal and environmental factors. Most previous investigations of the QoL after stroke have focused on personal factors, for example, physical deficits directly resulting from stroke. The influence of environmental factors, including social participation, is relatively understudied partly due to its high variation across different sociocultural contexts. The purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants of QoL among older adults with stroke living in an urban area of a developing country.
METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study included 75 older adults who were at least 3 months poststroke and 50 age-matched healthy controls. Depressive symptoms were quantified using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief version (WHOQoL-BREF). Physical function was examined using Functional Ambulation Category, grip strength, 5 times Sit-to-Stand test, and Box and Block tests. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment and visual-manual reaction time were used to index cognitive function. Depressive symptom was quantified using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The Barthel Index and Fatigue Severity Scale were used to quantify activity limitation. Social participation and environmental participation were assessed using the Assessment of Life Habit and Craig Hospital Inventory of Environment Factors, respectively. Linear stepwise regression models were used to determine explanators for WHOQoL-BREF domain scores.
RESULTS: Individuals with stroke demonstrated significantly worse QoL on all WHOQoL-BREF domains compared with healthy controls. Stroke was a strong determinant for QoL and explained 16% to 43% of variances. Adding other outcome measures significantly improved the robustness of the models (R change = 12%-32%). The physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains of WHOQoL-BREF were all explained by the LIFE-H scores (β = -10.58, -3.37, 4.24, -5.35, respectively), while psychological, social, and environmental domains were explained by Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores (β = .47, 0.78, 0.54, respectively).
CONCLUSION: Social participation and cognition were strong determinants of QoL among urban-dwelling older adults with stroke. Social and recreational activities and cognitive rehabilitation should therefore be evaluated as potential strategies to improve the well-being of older adults affected by stroke.

Matched MeSH terms: Cognition/physiology
Psychological Factors and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors as Mediators of the Relationship between Overweight/Obesity and Cognitive Function among School Children in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Tung SEH, Mohd Nasir MT, Chin YS, Zalilah MS, Zubaidah JO, Yim HS

Child Obes, 2019 01;15(1):56-62.
PMID: 30339034 DOI: 10.1089/chi.2018.0066

BACKGROUND: Recent research suggests that a negative relationship exists between adiposity and cognitive function in children. However, limited information is known on how they are related. This study aimed to examine the mediators of the relationship between overweight/obesity and cognitive function among school children in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
METHODS: This is a cross-sectional comparison study whereby 225 overweight/obese children matched for age, sex, and ethnicity with 225 normal weight children participated in this study. Body image dissatisfaction, disordered eating, and depressive symptoms were assessed through a self-administered questionnaire. Blood pressure was measured, whereas blood was drawn to determine insulin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), glucose, and lipid profiles. Homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated using glucose and insulin levels. Wechsler's Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) was used to assess cognitive function in children. Ordinary least square regression analysis was conducted to determine the direct and indirect relationships between weight status and cognitive function.
RESULTS: A negative relationship was found between overweight/obesity with cognitive function. Overweight/obese children were on average 4.075 units lower in cognitive function scores compared to normal weight children. Such difference was found through mediators, such as body image dissatisfaction, disordered eating, depression, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, HOMA-IR, and hs-CRP, contributing 22.2% of the variances in cognitive function in children.
CONCLUSION: Results highlight the important mediators of the relationship between overweight/obesity and cognitive function. Consequently, future interventions should target to improve psychological well-being and reduce cardiovascular disease risk for the prevention of poorer cognitive performance in overweight/obese children.

Matched MeSH terms: Cognition/physiology*
The impact of sensory impairment on cognitive performance, quality of life, depression, and loneliness in older adults

Harithasan D, Mukari SZS, Ishak WS, Shahar S, Yeong WL

Int J Geriatr Psychiatry, 2020 04;35(4):358-364.
PMID: 31736109 DOI: 10.1002/gps.5237

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between sensory impairment (hearing loss only, vision loss only, and dual sensory impairment [DSI]) and depression, loneliness, quality of life, and cognitive performance in older adults.
METHODS: A total of 229 community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years or older participated in this study. Variables were measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), Revised University of California at Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (R-UCLA), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).
RESULTS: There was an independent association between DSI and quality of life (P < .05) and between DSI and hearing loss alone and cognitive function (P < .05) in older adults. In addition, higher education was associated with better quality of life and cognitive function.
CONCLUSIONS: DSI is a significant factor affecting the quality of life and cognitive function in older adults. Sociodemographic factors such as education play an important role in improving quality of life and cognitive function. Thus, increasing the awareness of this disability is important to ensure that older adults receive the necessary support services and rehabilitation to improve their level of independence.

Matched MeSH terms: Cognition/physiology*
Fulltext Effects of Daily Probiotics Supplementation on Anxiety Induced Physiological Parameters among Competitive Football Players

Adikari AMGCP, Appukutty M, Kuan G

Nutrients, 2020 Jun 29;12(7).
PMID: 32610465 DOI: 10.3390/nu12071920

Competitive football players who undergo strenuous training and frequent competitions are more vulnerable to psychological disorders. Probiotics are capable of reducing these psychological disorders. The present study aimed to determine the effect of daily probiotics supplementation on anxiety induced physiological parameters among competitive football players. The randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 20 male footballers who received either probiotics (Lactobacillus Casei Shirota strain 3 × 1010 colony forming units (CFU) or a placebo drink over eight weeks. Portable biofeedback devices were used to measure the electroencephalography, heart rate, and electrodermal responses along with cognitive tests at the baseline, week 4, and week 8. Data were statistically analyzed using mixed factorial ANOVA and results revealed that there is no significant difference between the probiotic and placebo groups for heart rate (61.90 bpm ± 5.84 vs. 67.67 bpm ± 8.42, p = 0.09) and electrodermal responses (0.27 µS ± 0.19 vs. 0.41 µS ± 0.12, p = 0.07) after eight weeks. Similarly, brain waves showed no significant changes during the study period except for the theta wave and delta wave at week 4 (p < 0.05). The cognitive test reaction time (digit vigilance test) showed significant improvement in the probiotic group compared to the placebo (p < 0.05). In conclusion, these findings suggest that daily probiotics supplementation may have the potential to modulate the brain waves namely, theta (relaxation) and delta (attention) for better training, brain function, and psychological improvement to exercise. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanism of current findings.

Matched MeSH terms: Cognition/physiology*
Genomic instantiation of consciousness in neurons through a biophoton field theory

Cacha LA, Poznanski RR

J Integr Neurosci, 2014 Jun;13(2):253-92.
PMID: 25012712 DOI: 10.1142/S0219635214400081

A theoretical framework is developed based on the premise that brains evolved into sufficiently complex adaptive systems capable of instantiating genomic consciousness through self-awareness and complex interactions that recognize qualitatively the controlling factors of biological processes. Furthermore, our hypothesis assumes that the collective interactions in neurons yield macroergic effects, which can produce sufficiently strong electric energy fields for electronic excitations to take place on the surface of endogenous structures via alpha-helical integral proteins as electro-solitons. Specifically the process of radiative relaxation of the electro-solitons allows for the transfer of energy via interactions with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules to induce conformational changes in DNA molecules producing an ultra weak non-thermal spontaneous emission of coherent biophotons through a quantum effect. The instantiation of coherent biophotons confined in spaces of DNA molecules guides the biophoton field to be instantaneously conducted along the axonal and neuronal arbors and in-between neurons and throughout the cerebral cortex (cortico-thalamic system) and subcortical areas (e.g., midbrain and hindbrain). Thus providing an informational character of the electric coherence of the brain - referred to as quantum coherence. The biophoton field is realized as a conscious field upon the re-absorption of biophotons by exciplex states of DNA molecules. Such quantum phenomenon brings about self-awareness and enables objectivity to have access to subjectivity in the unconscious. As such, subjective experiences can be recalled to consciousness as subjective conscious experiences or qualia through co-operative interactions between exciplex states of DNA molecules and biophotons leading to metabolic activity and energy transfer across proteins as a result of protein-ligand binding during protein-protein communication. The biophoton field as a conscious field is attributable to the resultant effect of specifying qualia from the metabolic energy field that is transported in macromolecular proteins throughout specific networks of neurons that are constantly transforming into more stable associable representations as molecular solitons. The metastability of subjective experiences based on resonant dynamics occurs when bottom-up patterns of neocortical excitatory activity are matched with top-down expectations as adaptive dynamic pressures. These dynamics of on-going activity patterns influenced by the environment and selected as the preferred subjective experience in terms of a functional field through functional interactions and biological laws are realized as subjectivity and actualized through functional integration as qualia. It is concluded that interactionism and not information processing is the key in understanding how consciousness bridges the explanatory gap between subjective experiences and their neural correlates in the transcendental brain.

Matched MeSH terms: Cognition/physiology
A Bahasa Malaysia version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment: validation in stroke

Sahathevan R, Mohd Ali K, Ellery F, Mohamad NF, Hamdan N, Mohd Ibrahim N, et al.

Int Psychogeriatr, 2014 May;26(5):781-6.
PMID: 24472343 DOI: 10.1017/S1041610213002615

Many stroke research trials do not include assessment of cognitive function. A Very Early Rehabilitation Trial (AVERT) is an international multicenter study that includes the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) as an outcome. At the Malaysian AVERT site, completion of the MoCA has been limited by low English proficiency in some participants. We aimed to develop a Bahasa Malaysia (BM) version of the MoCA and to validate it in a stroke population.

Matched MeSH terms: Cognition/physiology

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