scholarly journals Objective assessment of nap as a method to improve cognitive performance using a bio-mathematical model

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 ◽  
pp. 43-50
Author(s):  
SS Mohapatra ◽  
D Ghosh ◽  
R Sarkar ◽  
K Anand
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Performance Enhancement ◽  
Objective Assessment ◽  
Improve Performance ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
Sleep Debt ◽  
Military Aviation ◽  
Optimal Efficiency ◽  
Scheduling Tool

Introduction: Strategic naps are considered as efficacious means of maintaining performance and reducing the individual’s sleep debt. It can reduce subjective feelings of fatigue and improve performance and alertness. However, literature is scant on assessment of naps and associated cognitive performance in the Indian military aviation scenario. This study is an attempt to assess the nap duration and its objective assessment on gain in performance, if any. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, sleep data were collected from 23 aviation personnel in a military flying base using actigraphy device. The actigraphic data were then fed into a software called fatigue avoidance scheduling tool. The nap duration and its effect on cognitive parameters were analyzed. Results: About 65.2% of the participant were found to be Day-Time Habitual Nappers. Of the 50 Naps logged by these participants, 11 (22%) naps were less than 30 min, 14 (28%) were between 30 and 60 min, 15 (30%) were between 60 and 120 min, and only 10 (20%) were above 120 min. Post-nap gain in the effectiveness and other cognitive parameters was found to be different in different cognitive domains. Conclusion: Naps more than 30 min had the optimal efficiency. The nap-induced gain in the task effectiveness and cognitive performance was confirmed. While the performance enhancement was significant for the naps more than 30 min, naps more than 60 min did not have any added advantages.

scholarly journals Aerobic Capacity Is Not Associated with Most Cognitive Domains in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis—A Cross-Sectional Investigation

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Langeskov-Christensen ◽  
Søren Eskildsen ◽  
Egon Stenager ◽  
Henrik Boye Jensen ◽  
Helle Hvilsted Nielsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Aerobic Capacity ◽  
Z Score ◽  
Vo2 Max ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
Impaired Group ◽  
Z Scores

(1) Background: Cognitive impairment is highly prevalent in multiple sclerosis (MS). Staying physically fit may be associated with preservation of cognitive performance in persons with MS (pwMS); (2) Objective: To investigate the association between aerobic capacity and the cognitive domains of information processing, learning and memory, and verbal fluency as well as single and composite z-scores of the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological tests (BRBNT) in pwMS; (3) Methods: All subjects first performed the BRBNT and then a maximal oxygen consumption (VO2-max) test on a bicycle ergometer as a measure of aerobic capacity. Simple and multiple (adjusting for age, sex, and education level) regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between aerobic capacity and cognitive performance in different domains. Published international norms were used to compute z-scores for each individual and composite BRBNT score. Furthermore, cognitive impairment was defined as one or more z-scores ≤−1.5 standard deviation (SD) of healthy controls; (4) Results: Eighty-four subjects were included (44.9 ± 9 years, 16.3 ± 2 education years, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS): 2.6 ± 1.4, MS-type (relapsing-remitting, primary progressive, or secondary progressive): 73/6/5, disease duration: 9.9 ± 7 years, VO2-max: 28.4 ± 7.0 mL O2/min/kg). No significant associations between aerobic capacity and cognitive performance in the individual BRBNT tests were found, except that a weak relationship was found between aerobic capacity and the composite processing speed z-score (R2 = 0.06, p = 0.02). The average global BRBNT z-score (−0.2 ± 0.66) was not associated with aerobic capacity. Comparison of the cognitively impaired group (34.5%) with the nonimpaired group (65.5%) showed lower aerobic capacity in the impaired group (25.9 ± 1 vs. 29.7 ± 1 mLO2/min/kg, p = 0.02); (5) Conclusions: Limited support was found for an association between performance in most cognitive domains and aerobic capacity in the present MS group with a third of patients showing signs of cognitive impairments.

scholarly journals Cognitive performance and engagement in physical, social and intellectual activities in older adults: The FIBRA study

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovana Sposito ◽  
Anita Liberalesso Neri ◽  
Mônica Sanches Yassuda
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Multivariate Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
Intellectual Activities

Cognitive decline in aging can negatively impact quality of life in the elderly. However, studies have shown that elderly engaged in advanced activities of daily living (AADLs) can maintain or enhance global cognitive function or specific domains. Objective: To investigate the relationship between engagement in AADLs and domains of cognition in elderly from seven different locations in Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 2,549 elderly without cognitive deficits suggestive of dementia was conducted. Data were collected on sociodemographic characteristics, health status, the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) by subdomain (orientation, memory, attention/calculus, language and constructional praxis), and engagement in AADL grouped under physical, social and intellectual activities. Results: Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed an association, albeit modest, between intellectual AADLs and the domains orientation, attention/calculus, language and constructional praxis (R2=0.005, 0.008, 0.021, and 0.021 respectively). Social AADLs were correlated with memory (R2=0.002) and language (R2=0.004) domains. No association was found between physical AADLs and MMSE domains. Schooling and family income were the sociodemographic variables exhibiting the strongest relationship with cognitive domains. Conclusion: The study found associations between intellectual and social AADLs with higher cognitive performance, suggesting that active aging can provide opportunities to attenuate cognitive decline in aging.

scholarly journals Gender differences in cognitive performance and health status in the Faroese Septuagenarians cohort

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Skaalum Petersen ◽  
Fróði Debes ◽  
Philippe Grandjean ◽  
Pál Weihe
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Gender Difference ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cardiovascular Events ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
And Gender

Abstract The aim was to determine cognitive performance and health status in the Faroese Septuagenarians cohort in relation to gender differences. In this cross-sectional study of 713 Faroese septuagenarians who underwent a clinical, neurophysiological and neuropsychological examinations and questionnaire, women performed better on tests covering the memory domain, while there was no gender difference in other cognitive domains. Men suffered more frequently from cardiovascular events while women more frequently suffered from arthrosis, hypothyroidism and muscle pain. We observed a considerable heterogeneity and gender difference in some cognitive domains and health in Faroese septuagenarians.

scholarly journals Effects of six weeks of chronic sleep restriction with weekend recovery on cognitive performance and wellbeing in high-performing adults

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael G Smith ◽  
Grace C Wusk ◽  
Jad Nasrini ◽  
Pamela Baskin ◽  
David F Dinges ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Sleep Loss ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Sleep Restriction ◽  
Spatial Learning And Memory ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
High Performing ◽  
Recovery Sleep ◽  
Sleep Debt ◽  
Chronic Sleep

Abstract Chronic sleep loss is associated with escalating declines in vigilant attention across days of sleep restriction. However, studies exceeding 2 weeks of chronic sleep loss are scarce, and the cognitive performance outcomes assessed are limited. We assessed the effects of 6 weeks of chronic sleep restriction on a range of cognitive domains in 15 high-performing individuals (38.5 ± 8.2 years, 6 women) confined to small space in groups of 4. Sleep opportunities were limited to 5 h on weekdays and 8 h on weekends. Individual sleep–wake patterns were recorded with actigraphy. Neurobehavioral performance was assessed in evenings with Cognition, a computerized battery of ten tests assessing a range of cognitive domains. There were some small to moderate effects of increasing sleep debt relative to pre-mission baseline, with decreases in accuracy across cognitive domains (standardized β = –0.121, p = 0.001), specifically on tests of spatial orientation (β = –0.289, p = 0.011) and vigilant attention (β = –0.688, p < 0.001), which were not restored by two nights of weekend recovery sleep. Cognitive and subjective decrements occurred despite occasional daytime napping in breach of study protocol, evening testing around the circadian peak, and access to caffeine before 14:00. Sensorimotor speed, spatial learning and memory, working memory, abstraction and mental flexibility, emotion identification, abstract reasoning, cognitive throughput, and risk decision making were not significantly affected by sleep debt. Taken together with modest lower subjective ratings of happiness and healthiness, these findings underline the importance of sufficient sleep, on both an acute and chronic basis, for performance in selected cognitive domains and subjective wellbeing in operationally relevant environments.

scholarly journals Cognitive Predictors of Social and Occupational Functioning in Early Psychosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Data

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Cowman ◽  
Laurena Holleran ◽  
Edgar Lonergan ◽  
Karen O’Connor ◽  
Max Birchwood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Social Cognition ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Early Psychosis ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Psychosocial Function ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
Cognitive Predictors

Abstract Many individuals with early psychosis experience impairments in social and occupational function. Identification of modifiable predictors of function such as cognitive performance has the potential to inform effective treatments. Our aim was to estimate the strength of the relationship between psychosocial function in early psychosis and different domains of cognitive and social cognitive performance. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of peer-reviewed, cross-sectional, and longitudinal studies examining cognitive predictors of psychosocial function. Literature searches were conducted in PsycINFO, PubMed, and reference lists of relevant articles to identify studies for inclusion. Of the 2565 identified, 46 studies comprising 3767 participants met inclusion criteria. Separate meta-analyses were conducted for 9 cognitive domains. Pearson correlation values between cognitive variables and function were extracted. All cognitive domains were related to psychosocial function both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Importantly, these associations remained significant even after the effects of symptom severity, duration of untreated psychosis, and length of illness were accounted for. Overall, general cognitive ability and social cognition were most strongly associated with both concurrent and long-term function. Associations demonstrated medium effect sizes. These findings suggest that treatments targeting cognitive deficits, in particular those focusing on social cognition, are likely to be important for improving functional outcomes in early psychosis.

scholarly journals Sex, diabetes status and cognition: findings from the study of longevity in diabetes

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. e001646
Author(s):  
Chris Moran ◽  
Paola Gilsanz ◽  
Michal S Beeri ◽  
Rachel A Whitmer ◽  
Mary E Lacy
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Cognitive Outcomes ◽  
Kaiser Permanente ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Dementia Risk ◽  
Diabetes Status

IntroductionWomen comprise two-thirds of people with dementia, making female sex a significant dementia risk factor. Both type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are known dementia risk factors with an increasing global incidence. Understanding whether subtle sex differences persist in cognitive function prior to dementia in the context of diabetes may help elucidate the magnitude of sex effects on dementia risk.Research design and methodsWe examined cross-sectional data from the Study of Longevity in Diabetes (SOLID), a prospective cohort study of members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California aged 60 years and older with T1D (n=758), T2D (n=232) and without either T1D or T2D (n=247). We used factor analysis to generate summary scores of cognitive domains and used regression analyses to examine the associations between sex and cognition adjusting for sociodemographic and cardiovascular confounders.ResultsWe included 1237 participants (630 women and 607 men) with mean age 68 years. By design, the distribution of men and women in T1D, T2D and no diabetes was similar. Women had better cognitive performance than men in global cognition (β=0.21, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.26), language (β=0.08, 95% CI 0.004 to 0.15), executive function (β=0.13, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.20), episodic verbal memory (β=0.68, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.77) and attention (β=0.20, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.28) but not in episodic visual memory (β=0.006, 95% CI −0.07 to 0.09) adjusting for age and education independent of diabetes status. We did not find an interaction between sex and diabetes status for any of the cognitive outcomes.ConclusionsWomen in late mid-life have better cognitive performance than men in many cognitive domains independent of the presence of T1D or T2D. Further work is required to understand whether these differences change over time or in older cohorts and to understand their relationship to subsequent dementia.

scholarly journals Cognitive Performance and Its Associations with Dental Caries: Results from the Dental, Oral, Medical Epidemiological (DOME) Records-Based Nationwide Study

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 178
Author(s):  
Itzhak Abramovitz ◽  
Avraham Zini ◽  
Matan Atzmoni ◽  
Ron Kedem ◽  
Dorit Zur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dental Caries ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Allocation Of Resources ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Intelligence Score ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Age Range

Relatively few studies have analyzed the association between cognitive performance and dental status. This study aimed to analyze the association between cognitive performance and dental caries. Included were data from the dental, oral, medical epidemiological (DOME) study; cross-sectional records-based research, which integrated large socio-demographic, medical, and dental databases of a nationally representative sample of young to middle-aged military personnel (N = 131,927, mean age: 21.8 ± 5.9 years, age range: 18–50). The cognitive function of draftees is routinely measured at age 17 years using a battery of psychometric tests termed general intelligence score (GIS). The mean number of decayed teeth exhibited a gradient trend from the lowest (3.14 ± 3.58) to the highest GIS category (1.45 ± 2.19) (odds ratio (OR) lowest versus highest = 5.36 (5.06–5.68), p < 0.001). A similar trend was noted for the other dental parameters. The associations between GIS and decayed teeth persisted even after adjusting for socio-demographic parameters and health-related habits. The adjustments attenuated the OR but did not eliminate it (OR lowest versus highest = 3.75 (3.38–4.16)). The study demonstrates an association between cognitive performance and caries, independent of the socio-demographic and health-related habits that were analyzed. Better allocation of resources is recommended, focusing on populations with impaired cognitive performance in need of dental care.

scholarly journals Cognitive dispersion and ApoEe4 genotype predict dementia diagnosis in 8-year follow-up of the oldest-old

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tam Watermeyer ◽  
Jantje Goerdten ◽  
Boo Johansson ◽  
Graciela Muniz-Terrera
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Carrier Status ◽  
Dementia Diagnosis ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
Dementia Incidence ◽  
Composite Scores

Abstract Background Cognitive dispersion, or inconsistencies in performance across cognitive domains, has been posited as a cost-effective tool to predict conversion to dementia in older adults. However, there is a dearth of studies exploring cognitive dispersion in the oldest-old (&gt;80 years) and its relationship to dementia incidence. Objective The main aim of this study was to examine whether higher cognitive dispersion at baseline was associated with dementia incidence within an 8-year follow-up of very old adults, while controlling for established risk factors and suggested protective factors for dementia. Methods Participants (n = 468) were from the Origins of Variance in the Old-Old: Octogenarian Twins study, based on the Swedish Twin Registry. Cox regression analyses were performed to assess the association between baseline cognitive dispersion scores and dementia incidence, while controlling for sociodemographic variables, ApoEe4 carrier status, co-morbidities, zygosity and lifestyle engagement scores. An additional model included a composite of average cognitive performance. Results Cognitive dispersion and ApoEe4 were significantly associated with dementia diagnosis. These variables remained statistically significant when global cognitive performance was entered into the model. Likelihood ratio tests revealed that cognitive dispersion and cognitive composite scores entered together in the same model was superior to either predictor alone in the full model. Conclusions The study underscores the usefulness of cognitive dispersion metrics for dementia prediction in the oldest-old and highlights the influence of ApoEe4 on cognition in very late age. Our findings concur with others suggesting that health and lifestyle factors pose little impact upon cognition in very advanced age.

scholarly journals Multimodal measurement approach to identify individuals with mild cognitive impairment: study protocol for a cross-sectional trial

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. e046879
Author(s):  
Bernhard Grässler ◽  
Fabian Herold ◽  
Milos Dordevic ◽  
Tariq Ali Gujar ◽  
Sabine Darius ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Classification Accuracy ◽  
Multimodal Approach ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Age Related Cognitive Decline

IntroductionThe diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), that is, the transitory phase between normal age-related cognitive decline and dementia, remains a challenging task. It was observed that a multimodal approach (simultaneous analysis of several complementary modalities) can improve the classification accuracy. We will combine three noninvasive measurement modalities: functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), electroencephalography and heart rate variability via ECG. Our aim is to explore neurophysiological correlates of cognitive performance and whether our multimodal approach can aid in early identification of individuals with MCI.Methods and analysisThis study will be a cross-sectional with patients with MCI and healthy controls (HC). The neurophysiological signals will be measured during rest and while performing cognitive tasks: (1) Stroop, (2) N-back and (3) verbal fluency test (VFT). Main aims of statistical analysis are to (1) determine the differences in neurophysiological responses of HC and MCI, (2) investigate relationships between measures of cognitive performance and neurophysiological responses and (3) investigate whether the classification accuracy can be improved by using our multimodal approach. To meet these targets, statistical analysis will include machine learning approaches.This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first study that applies simultaneously these three modalities in MCI and HC. We hypothesise that the multimodal approach improves the classification accuracy between HC and MCI as compared with a unimodal approach. If our hypothesis is verified, this study paves the way for additional research on multimodal approaches for dementia research and fosters the exploration of new biomarkers for an early detection of nonphysiological age-related cognitive decline.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval was obtained from the local Ethics Committee (reference: 83/19). Data will be shared with the scientific community no more than 1 year following completion of study and data assembly.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04427436, registered on 10 June 2020, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT04427436.

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