scholarly journals Long-lasting effects of insufficient sleep on neurocognitive development in early adolescence

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fan Nils Yang ◽  
Weizhen Xie ◽  
Ze Wang
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Insufficient Sleep ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Temporal Pole ◽  
Cohen's D ◽  
Health Cognition ◽  
The U.S

Importance: Adolescents nowadays often get insufficient sleep. Yet, the long-term adverse effects of sleep loss on developing brain and behavior remains unknown. Objective: To determine whether insufficient sleep leads to long-lasting impacts on mental health, cognition, and brain development in adolescents across two years. Design: This longitudinal study utilized a public dataset, the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, which is an ongoing study starting from 2016. Setting: Data were collected from 21 research sites in the U.S. Participants: 11,875 9-10-year-olds were recruited using stratified sampling in order to reflect the diversity of the U.S. population. Intervention: Individuals with sufficient versus insufficient sleep (< 9 hours per day for adolescents) were compared after controlling for age (months), sex, race, puberty status, and other 7 covariates based on propensity score matching. Main Outcomes and Measures: Behavior problems, cognition, mental health assessments, resting-state functional connectivity, gray matter volume, cortical area, cortical thickness, and structural connectivity (Fractional anisotropy) were collected and preprocessed by the ABCD study. Independent-sample t-tests and meditation analysis were performed to investigate the effects of insufficient sleep. Results: 3021 matched pairs (50.7% male) were identified based on baseline assessment, with mean (SD) age of 119.5 (7.5) months. In baseline, sufficient sleep is associated less behavioral problems on 18 of 20 assessments, e.g. depress (95% CI of mean difference: -0.28 to -0.47, false discovery rate (FDR)-corrected p < .001, Cohen's d = -0.20), better cognitive performance on 7 of 10 assessments, such as crystal cognition (95% CI: 0.81 to 1.50, FDR-corrected p < .001, Cohen's d = 0.17), better functional connection between cortical regions and basal ganglia (all FDR-corrected p < .05, Cohen's d >0.15), and large structure in ACC and temporal pole (all FDR-corrected p < .05, Cohen's d >0.09). Similar patterns of effect of sufficient sleep were found in FL2 (749 pairs remained) e.g. Cohen's d of function connectivity at baseline was correlated with Cohen's d of that at FL2 (r = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.45 to 0.61, p < 1e-10). Mediation and longitudinal mediation analysis revealed that identified brain measures (e.g. gray matter volume of left temporal pole) at baseline mediated the effect of sufficient sleep on behavioral assessments (e.g. crystal cognition) at baseline and at FL2 (95% CI did not encompass 0, p < 0.05 on 100,000 random-generated bootstrapped samples). Conclusions and Relevance: These results provide strong population-level evidence for the long-lasting detrimental effects of insufficient sleep on mental health, cognition, and brain function and structure in adolescents. The current study identified potential neural mechanisms of adverse effect of insufficient sleep in adolescents, which might provide a theoretical grounding for sleep intervention programs to improve the long-term developmental outcomes in adolescents.

scholarly journals Preliminary Evaluation of the Engagement and Effectiveness of a Mental Health Chatbot

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Daley
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Preliminary Evaluation ◽  
Real World Data ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Cohen's D ◽  
Human Support

Background: Mental health difficulties are highly prevalent yet access to support is impeded by barriers of stigma, cost and availability. These issues are even more prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, and use of digital technology is one way to overcome these barriers. Digital health interventions have been shown to be effective but often struggle with low engagement rates, particularly in the absence of any human support. Chatbots could offer a scalable solution, simulating human support at a lower cost. Objective: To complete a preliminary evaluation of engagement and effectiveness of Vitalk, a mental health chatbot, at reducing anxiety, depression and stress. Methods: Real world data was analysed from 3629 Vitalk users who had completed the first phase of a Vitalk program (‘less anxiety’, ‘less stress’ or ‘better mood’). Programs were delivered through written conversation with the chatbot. Engagement was calculated from the number of responses sent to the chatbot divided by days in the program. Results: Users sent an average of 8.17 responses / day. For all three programs, target outcome scores reduced between baseline and follow up with large effect sizes for anxiety (Cohen's d = -0.85), depression (Cohen's d = -0.91) and stress (Cohen's d =-0.81). Increased engagement resulted in improved post-intervention values for anxiety and depression. Conclusion: This study highlights the potential of a chatbot to reduce mental health symptoms in the general population within Brazil. Whilst findings show promise, further research is required.

scholarly journals Differences and Similarities in Insular and Temporal Pole MRI Gray Matter Volume Abnormalities in First-Episode Schizophrenia and Affective Psychosis

2003 ◽  
Vol 60 (11) ◽  
pp. 1069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiyoto Kasai ◽  
Martha E. Shenton ◽  
Dean F. Salisbury ◽  
Toshiaki Onitsuka ◽  
Sarah K. Toner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gray Matter ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Affective Psychosis ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
Temporal Pole ◽  
First Episode Schizophrenia

scholarly journals Differential effects of COVID-19 and containment measures on mental health: Evidence from ITA.LI—Italian Lives, the Italian household panel

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0259989
Author(s):  
Mario Lucchini ◽  
Tiziano Gerosa ◽  
Marta Pancheva ◽  
Maurizio Pisati ◽  
Chiara Respi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Composite Index ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
The One ◽  
Cohen's D ◽  
Short Form Health

This study used a subsample of a household panel study in Italy to track changes in mental health before the onset of COVID-19 and into the first lockdown period, from late April to early September 2020. The results of the random-effects regression analyses fitted on a sample of respondents aged 16 years and older (N = 897) proved that there was a substantial and statistically significant short-term deterioration in mental health (from 78,5 to 67,9; β = -10.5, p < .001; Cohen’s d -.445), as measured by a composite index derived from the mental component of the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12). The findings also showed heterogeneity in the COVID-related effects. On the one hand, evidence has emerged that the pandemic acted as a great leveller of pre-existing differences in mental health across people of different ages: the decrease was most pronounced among those aged 16–34 (from 84,2 to 66,5; β = -17.7, p < .001; Cohen’s d -.744); however, the magnitude of change reduced as age increased and turned to be non-significant among individuals aged 70 and over. On the other hand, the COVID-19 emergency widened the mental health gender gap and created new inequalities, based on the age of the youngest child being taken care of within the household.

scholarly journals Long-term association of pregnancy and maternal brain structure: the Rotterdam Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jurate Aleknaviciute ◽  
Tavia E. Evans ◽  
Elif Aribas ◽  
Merel W. de Vries ◽  
Eric A.P. Steegers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Human Brain ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Brain Structure ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Rotterdam Study ◽  
Pregnancy And Childbirth ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
Maternal Brain

ABSTRACTThe peripartum period is the highest risk interval for the onset or exacerbation of psychiatric illness in women’s lives. Notably, pregnancy and childbirth have been associated with short-term structural and functional changes in the maternal human brain. Yet the long-term effects of parity on maternal brain structure remain unknown. Therefore, we utilized a large population-based cohort to examine the association between parity and brain structure. In total, 2,835 women (mean age 65.2 years; all free from dementia, stroke, and cortical brain infarcts) from the Rotterdam Study underwent magnetic resonance imaging (1.5 T) between 2005 and 2015. Associations of parity with global and lobar brain tissue volumes, white matter microstructure, and markers of vascular brain disease were examined using regression models. We found that parity was associated with a larger global gray matter volume (β= 0.14, 95% CI = 0.09-0.19), a finding that persisted following adjustment for sociodemographic factors. A non-significant dose-dependent relationship was observed between a higher number of childbirths and larger gray matter volume. The gray matter volume association with parity was globally proportional across lobes. No associations were found regarding white matter volume or integrity, nor with markers of cerebral small vessel disease. The current findings indicate that pregnancy and childbirth are associated with robust long-term changes in brain structure involving larger global gray matter volume that persists for decades. Taken together, these data provide novel insight into the impact of motherhood on the human brain.

scholarly journals Effects of Meditation on Structural Changes of the Brain in Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment or Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madhukar Dwivedi ◽  
Neha Dubey ◽  
Aditya Jain Pansari ◽  
Raju Surampudi Bapi ◽  
Meghoranjani Das ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Hippocampal Subfields ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Brain

Previous cross-sectional studies reported positive effects of meditation on the brain areas related to attention and executive function in the healthy elderly population. Effects of long-term regular meditation in persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease dementia (AD) have rarely been studied. In this study, we explored changes in cortical thickness and gray matter volume in meditation-naïve persons with MCI or mild AD after long-term meditation intervention. MCI or mild AD patients underwent detailed clinical and neuropsychological assessment and were assigned into meditation or non-meditation groups. High resolution T1-weighted magnetic resonance images (MRI) were acquired at baseline and after 6 months. Longitudinal symmetrized percentage changes (SPC) in cortical thickness and gray matter volume were estimated. Left caudal middle frontal, left rostral middle frontal, left superior parietal, right lateral orbitofrontal, and right superior frontal cortices showed changes in both cortical thickness and gray matter volume; the left paracentral cortex showed changes in cortical thickness; the left lateral occipital, left superior frontal, left banks of the superior temporal sulcus (bankssts), and left medial orbitofrontal cortices showed changes in gray matter volume. All these areas exhibited significantly higher SPC values in meditators as compared to non-meditators. Conversely, the left lateral occipital, and right posterior cingulate cortices showed significantly lower SPC values for cortical thickness in the meditators. In hippocampal subfields analysis, we observed significantly higher SPC in gray matter volume of the left CA1, molecular layer HP, and CA3 with a trend for increased gray matter volume in most other areas. No significant changes were found for the hippocampal subfields in the right hemisphere. Analysis of the subcortical structures revealed significantly increased volume in the right thalamus in the meditation group. The results of the study point out that long-term meditation practice in persons with MCI or mild AD leads to salutary changes in cortical thickness and gray matter volumes. Most of these changes were observed in the brain areas related to executive control and memory that are prominently at risk in neurodegenerative diseases.

scholarly journals Preliminary Evaluation of the Engagement and Effectiveness of a Mental Health Chatbot

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Daley ◽  
Ines Hungerbuehler ◽  
Kate Cavanagh ◽  
Heloísa Garcia Claro ◽  
Paul Alan Swinton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Preliminary Evaluation ◽  
Real World Data ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Mental Health Interventions ◽  
Cohen's D ◽  
Human Support

Background: Mental health difficulties are highly prevalent, yet access to support is limited by barriers of stigma, cost, and availability. These issues are even more prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, and digital technology is one potential way to overcome these barriers. Digital mental health interventions are effective but often struggle with low engagement rates, particularly in the absence of human support. Chatbots could offer a scalable solution, simulating human support at a lower cost.Objective: To complete a preliminary evaluation of engagement and effectiveness of Vitalk, a mental health chatbot, at reducing anxiety, depression and stress.Methods: Real world data was analyzed from 3,629 Vitalk users who had completed the first phase of a Vitalk program (“less anxiety,” “less stress” or “better mood”). Programs were delivered through written conversation with a chatbot. Engagement was calculated from the number of responses sent to the chatbot divided by days in the program.Results: Users sent an average of 8.17 responses per day. For all three programs, target outcome scores reduced between baseline and follow up with large effect sizes for anxiety (Cohen's d = −0.85), depression (Cohen's d = −0.91) and stress (Cohen's d = −0.81). Increased engagement resulted in improved post-intervention values for anxiety and depression.Conclusion: This study highlights a chatbot's potential to reduce mental health symptoms in the general population within Brazil. While findings show promise, further research is required.

scholarly journals Hippocampal gray matter volume in the long-term course after transient global amnesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 102586
Author(s):  
Mandy Pirlich ◽  
Cathleen Höfer ◽  
Christopher M. Weise ◽  
Anika Stockert ◽  
Angelika Thöne-Otto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gray Matter ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Transient Global Amnesia ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
Global Amnesia

scholarly journals Using Mobile Apps to Assess and Treat Depression in Hispanics and Latinos: A Fully Remote, Randomized Clinical Trial (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhishek Pratap ◽  
Brenna N. Renn ◽  
Joshua Volponi ◽  
Sean D. Mooney ◽  
Adam Gazzaley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Treatment Outcomes ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Moderate Depression ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Hispanic Latinos ◽  
The U.S

BACKGROUND Most people with mental health disorders fail to receive timely access to adequate care. In the U.S., Hispanic/Latino individuals are particularly underrepresented in mental health care and are historically a very difficult population to recruit into clinical trials. However, U.S. Hispanic/Latinos have increasing access to mobile technology, with over 75% owning a smartphone. This technology has the potential to overcome known barriers to accessing and utilizing traditional assessment and treatment approaches. OBJECTIVE This is a feasibility clinical trial comparing three different types of mental health apps for the treatment of mild to moderate depression in Hispanic/Latino adults in the U.S. The primary aim of this study was to to compare recruitment and engagement in a fully remote trial of individuals with depression who either self-identify as Hispanic/Latino or not. A secondary aim was to assess treatment outcomes from three different self-guided mobile apps (iPST (based on evidence-based therapeutic principles from problem-solving therapy [PST])); Project: Evolution™ (EVO; a cognitive training app based on cognitive neuroscience principles); and Health Tips (health information app that served as an information control). METHODS Spanish- and English-speaking participants were recruited through social media platforms, internet-based advertisements, and traditional fliers in select locations in each state across the United States. Assessment and self-guided treatment was conducted on each participant's smartphone or tablet. We enrolled 389 Hispanic/Latino and 637 non-Hispanic/Latino adults (≥18 years old) with mild to moderate depression as determined by a 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score ≥5 or an endorsement of impaired functioning. Participants were first asked their preferences among the three apps available to them, and then randomized to their top two choices. Outcomes were depressive symptom severity (measured using PHQ-9) and functional impairment (assessed with Sheehan Disability Scale) and collected over 3 months. Engagement in the study was assessed based on the number of times participants completed active surveys RESULTS We screened 4,502 participants and enrolled 1,040 participants from throughout the U.S. over 6 months, yielding a sample of 348 active users. The majority of the participants were recruited via posts on craigslist.org, with significant acquisition costs for recruiting Spanish-speaking Hispanic/Latinos participants ($31/ participant) compared to their English-speaking non-Hispanic/Latino counterparts ($1.49/participant). Long-term engagement surfaced as a key issue among Hispanic/Latino participants, who dropped from the study two weeks earlier than their non-Hispanic/Latino counterparts ( p<0.016). There were no significant differences observed for treatment outcomes between those identifying as Hispanic/Latino or not. Although depressive symptoms improved over the course of treatment, outcomes did not vary by type of treatment app. CONCLUSIONS The findings from this study suggest that fully remote mobile-based studies can attract a diverse participant pool including people from traditionally underserved communities in mental health care and research (in this case, Hispanic/Latino individuals). However, keeping participants engaged in this type of ‘low-touch’ research study remains challenging. Hispanic/Latino populations may be less willing to use mobile apps for assessing and managing depression. We recommend that future research endeavors include the use of user-centered design to determine the role of mobile apps in assessment and treatment of depression for this population, app features they would be interested in using, and strategies for long-term engagement. CLINICALTRIAL Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01808976

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document