Background and Objectives: It is estimated that over 40% of children in Ecuador are anemic. Anemia in children can influence physical and cognitive development and have lasting effects on adulthood productivity and quality of life. The objectives of this study were to: (1) evaluate the relationship of anemia and cognitive function, and (2) determine the influence of demographic factors on cognitive function. Population and Setting: The sample consisted of 175 school-aged children between 5 to 11 years old attending a school in a poverty stricken area of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Methods: A descriptive correlational cross sectional design was used to study the relationship between the level of anemia and the level of cognitive function. Other demographic factors were evaluated to determine their influence on cognitive function. Data were collected at the school using the Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices to measure cognitive function and the STAT-Site MHgb Meter to measure hemoglobin levels. Results: No significant correlation was found between the level of anemia and cognitive function. Multiple regression analysis of demographic variables and cognitive function found age (Beta=0.56, t=8.6, p=0.000) and income (Beta=0.16, t=2.5, p=0.01) to be significant predictors of cognitive function. Interpretation and Conclusion: Many factors influence cognitive function and development. Additional research is needed to determine the effect of income level and related factors, such as parental time spent with the child doing homework, value placed on education in the home, education level of the parents, and quality of nutrition. Interventions to improve socioeconomic level, enhance parenting styles that foster cognitive development, and improve nutrition should be implemented.

It is becoming increasingly clear that infants’ and toddlers’ temperament may play a central role in their cognitive and linguistic functioning. Research has found, for example, that at 21 months of age, children’s “attentional focus” moderates the extent that environmental distractions prevent them from learning novel words or solving nonlinguistic problems. The purpose of the present investigation was to explore the extent that dimensions of temperament moderate the performance of 15-month-olds on two typical nonlinguistic problemsolving tasks in the presence of environmental distractions. Forty-two 15-month olds visited the lab and were presented two tasks: “feed bear” and “make a rattle.” Infants were familiarized with the two sets of props initially, and then were presented models of desired action sequences. Half the children experienced a distraction during the feed bear task, the remaining were distracted during make a rattle. For each task, four dependent variables were scored: number of target actions performed, variety of target actions performed, longest chain of target actions performed, and number of pairs of actions performed in order. Temperament was measured via maternal report using the Early Child Behavior Questionnaire. Multivariate analyses revealed that children’s performance varied as a function of task [F(5, 24) = 5.42, p = .001]. The distractions also attenuated the effects of the model for both feed bear [univariate Fs(1, 40) = 4.21 to 9.22, ps = .047 to .018] and make a rattle [univariate Fs (1, 40) = 4.08 to 6.08, ps = .050 to .018]. Interactions of these effects with temperament were many, but complex. For example, low intensity pleasure moderated distracter effects, but only for feed bear [Fs(1, 27) = 5.19 to 9.73, ps = .031 to .004]. In other analyses, toddlers low in perceptual sensitivity benefited more from the model than did children high on that dimension [F’s(1, 28) = 3.71 to 6.67, p’s = .064 to .015)]. A number of additional temperament related findings also obtained. There is considerable reason to continue explorations into potential roles that temperament may play in infants’ cognitive and language development. Results from the present study extend previous findings to the 15-month age period, which, to our knowledge, has not been investigated in previous research. The present results also suggest that roles played by temperament may be exceptionally complex, and highlight the multifaceted internal and external experiences through which children must navigate to become competent thinkers and communicators in an adult world.

Previous research has suggested that physical exercise can play a role in not only improving functional performance, but also cognitive function. In this study, adults age 60 and older participated in a health promotion intervention that included two groups: (a) a Bingocize® group, who exercised and learned about relevant health information while playing bingo, and (b) a control group who only learned about relevant health information while playing bingo. The intervention was completed over the course of 10- weeks at community senior centers. Cognitive function, functional fitness, and health knowledge were assessed before and after the intervention to test for improvements. Through the course of the intervention, both the experimental and control groups showed improvements in several areas of cognition as well as functional performance. However, on a few tasks the experimental group showed improvement while the control group did not; specifically, on an updating (cognition) task, and two functional performance tasks (repeated chair stands and arm curls). Both of the groups also showed improvement in knowledge of relevant health information and a measure of patient activation (how confident a person feels in maintaining their personal health). From this, it is suggested that the Bingocize® program may be a promising approach to improving select aspects of cognition and functional performance in older adulthood.

2.5 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) annually in the United States. Although there is potential for functional recovery following TBI, there is no definitive treatment to improve recovery after TBI. Our lab has shown that TBI enhances an endogenous neurogenic response in the subventricular zone and hippocampus. TBI-induced neural stem cells (NSCs) can integrate into regions such as the hippocampus and olfactory bulb. Although the mechanism behind TBI-enhanced neurogenesis remains unknown, the Notch signaling pathway has been implicated as a regulator in the maintenance and survival of NSCs. This thesis explores the effects of Notch pathway manipulation on functional recovery following TBI. We hypothesize that Notch signaling plays a critical role in recovery after TBI. Activation of this pathway via a Notch agonist (Notch1) will facilitate post-injury recovery while inhibition of this pathway via a Notch antagonist (recombinant Jagged-1 Fc) will deter post-injury recovery. Functional recovery was assessed within 30 days or 60 days post-injury in two different cohorts of animals. The behavior assays conducted in this study included motor, cognitive, and olfactory assessment. In the 30-day phase, Notch pathway manipulation following TBI did not affect functional performance. In the 60-day study, significant group differences were found. While the FPI+Vehicle animals exhibited a functional recovery in Morris water maze, injured animals with Notch inhibition failed to show this cognitive recovery, indicating the involvement of the Notch pathway in cognitive recovery at the chronic stage following TBI. Motor and olfaction were not significantly affected by Notch pathway manipulation.

<p>Då befolkningen blir allt äldre ökar andelen personer som drabbas av demenssjukdom. Att drabbas av demens innebär att kognitiva funktioner försämras. Kommunikationsproblem och problem med daglig livsföring, personlighetsförändringar, brister i empatisk förmåga och svårigheter att kontrollera känslor kännetecknar sjukdomsbilden. Det är av betydelse att finna icke-farmakologiska behandlingar då medicinering inte ger önskat resultat. Syftet med denna litteraturstudie var att få ökad kunskap om hur musik påverkar personer med demenssjukdom. Artiklar söktes i databaserna MedLine (via PubMed), Blackwell-synergy samt Cinahl. Detta resulterade i 21 artiklar varav 14 inkluderades efter granskning. Resultatet visade att musik används för att lugna, öka kognitiv förmåga samt öka välbefinnandet hos personer med demenssjukdom. Föreliggande studie påvisade att musik har en positiv inverkan oavsett kognitiv förmåga. Musik är en kostnadseffektiv, icke-farmakologisk behandling som är enkel att implementera.</p> / <p>As the population are getting older the number of people suffering from dementia is increasing. To be diagnosed with dementia means that cognitivie abilities are decreasing. Communication problems, problems with activities in daily living, changes in personality, lack of empathic ability and difficulties in controlling feelings are the characteristics of the disease. There is a need for non-pharmacological treatment when medication does not give the wanted effect.</p><p>The aim of this literature review was to get an increased knowledge about how music effects elderly persons with dementia. The search of scientific articles was carried out through the databases MedLine (via PubMed), Blackwell-Synergy and Cinahl. The search resulted in 21 articles of which 14 was included in the study result. The result showed that music was used to calm, increase cognitive ability and well-being in persons with dementia. This study showed that music has a positive influence regardless of cognitive ability. It is a costeffective, non-pharmacologic treatment which is easy to implement.</p>

Apathy is a debilitating non-motor symptom in Parkinson’s disease (PD) that is closely associated with cognitive dysfunction, depression, and caregiver burden. The proposed etiology and operational definition of apathy involves a tripartite model that includes cognitive, behavioral, and emotional manifestations. This theoretical model has not been statistically validated. We examined the tripartite structure of apathy in PD, and subsequent associations between apathy factors and demographic, disease, and neuropsychological measures. One hundred forty-one patients with idiopathic PD underwent neurological examination and comprehensive neuropsychological testing including the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES). Statistical analyses included correlation, means comparison, item analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis using SEM. The AES was found to be a valid and reliable measure of apathy. Although a tripartite model of apathy was not supported, a novel 3-factor structure of apathy (R-Apathy) emerged characterized by Cognitive/Emotional and Behavioral factors. Both education and depression were significantly associated with R-Apathy. When these were controlled, R-Apathy was associated with impairment in select executive function and visuospatial skills. Apathy remains an important dimension in understanding nonmotor changes in PD. As a whole, apathy correlated with specific areas of neuropsychological dysfunction apart from the influence of depression. Manifestations of apathy such as mental disengagement and behavioral withdrawal are key features of the disease presentation. The importance of evaluating apathy as a contributing factor to patients’ neurocognitive status, mood, and psychosocial functioning should not be underestimated. Furthermore, an apathy evaluation should be included as a standard part of a Parkinson’s evaluation.

Då befolkningen blir allt äldre ökar andelen personer som drabbas av demenssjukdom. Att drabbas av demens innebär att kognitiva funktioner försämras. Kommunikationsproblem och problem med daglig livsföring, personlighetsförändringar, brister i empatisk förmåga och svårigheter att kontrollera känslor kännetecknar sjukdomsbilden. Det är av betydelse att finna icke-farmakologiska behandlingar då medicinering inte ger önskat resultat. Syftet med denna litteraturstudie var att få ökad kunskap om hur musik påverkar personer med demenssjukdom. Artiklar söktes i databaserna MedLine (via PubMed), Blackwell-synergy samt Cinahl. Detta resulterade i 21 artiklar varav 14 inkluderades efter granskning. Resultatet visade att musik används för att lugna, öka kognitiv förmåga samt öka välbefinnandet hos personer med demenssjukdom. Föreliggande studie påvisade att musik har en positiv inverkan oavsett kognitiv förmåga. Musik är en kostnadseffektiv, icke-farmakologisk behandling som är enkel att implementera. / As the population are getting older the number of people suffering from dementia is increasing. To be diagnosed with dementia means that cognitivie abilities are decreasing. Communication problems, problems with activities in daily living, changes in personality, lack of empathic ability and difficulties in controlling feelings are the characteristics of the disease. There is a need for non-pharmacological treatment when medication does not give the wanted effect. The aim of this literature review was to get an increased knowledge about how music effects elderly persons with dementia. The search of scientific articles was carried out through the databases MedLine (via PubMed), Blackwell-Synergy and Cinahl. The search resulted in 21 articles of which 14 was included in the study result. The result showed that music was used to calm, increase cognitive ability and well-being in persons with dementia. This study showed that music has a positive influence regardless of cognitive ability. It is a costeffective, non-pharmacologic treatment which is easy to implement.

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) impairs executive functioning in children. Additionally, the study sought to identify the executive functions at risk in SDB and the contribution of daytime sleepiness. SDB represents a spectrum of upper airway conditions that can be mild, such as snoring, or severe, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Children with these problems may present with excessive sleepiness, failure to thrive, and a variety of cognitive and behavioral dysfunctions including impaired executive functioning. Beebe and Gozal (2002) developed a theoretical model to explain the impact of sleepiness and hypoxia on executive functioning. This model provided a framework to examine links between the medical disorder and the neuropsychological consequences. Twenty-seven children with suspected SDB were tested with polysomnography (PSG) and a neuropsychological battery. Parents completed subjective measures of cognitive function and sleep symptoms. The children were ages 8 to 18 and had no congenital or acquired brain damage. They were matched for age and gender with 21 healthy controls. The executive function protocol included subtests from the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS), the digit span subtest from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV), the Tower of London-II-Drexel University (TOL-II), the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning (BRIEF), and the Conners’ Continuous Performance Test (CPT-II). Statistical analysis was performed using 2 statistical software packages, SAS and NCSS. Regression analysis was used to evaluate all variables. Due to significant group differences in socio-economic status (SES), SES was included as a covariate, along with IQ. No group differences in IQ were found. Significantly less robust executive function in children with SDB was identified in the domains of cognitive flexibility and impulsivity. Additionally, poorer executive planning and overall inattentiveness was also associated with SDB. Level of significance was set at 0.05 and trends (0.05 < p < 0.10) were acknowledged. Other areas of executive function, including working memory, behavioral and emotional inhibition, and processing speed were not associated with SDB. Moreover, academic functioning was significantly lower in children with SDB, although the differences can be shared equally with SDB, SES and IQ.

Tikslas - įvertinti subjektyvių ir objektyvių kognityvinių funkcijų sąsajas su pasitenkinimu gyvenimu ir kompensacinių technikų naudojimu senyvame amžiuje. Tyrime dalyvavo 97 tiriamieji vyresni nei 63 metai. Tyrime dalyvavusių respondentų amžiaus vidurkis buvo 74,54 (stnd. n. 8,9). Dauguma tiriamųjų buvo moterys 65% (N=63), likusieji 35% (N=34) buvo vyrai. Tiriamojo buvo prašoma atsakyti į klausimus, susijusius su jo atmintimi, dėmesio koncentracija, apskritai pažintinėmis funkcijomis, naudojant CFQ metodiką. Pastaroji vertinimo metodika yra skirta įvertinti subjektyviai suvokiamas savo pažintines funkcijas. Naudojant Diener E. (1985) skalę, tiriamiesiems buvo užduodami penki klausimai, apie jų jaučiamą pasitenkinimą gyvenimu. Naudojant penkių žodžių testą ir Krepelino metodiką, buvo įvertinama tiriamųjų ilgalaikė ir trumpalaikė atmintis ir dėmesio išsekimas. Siekiant objektyviomis metodikomis įvertinti tiriamųjų bendrą pažintinių funkcijų lygį buvo naudojamas 6CIT klausimynas. Taip pat tiriamieji atsakė į papildomus klausimus apie išsilavinimą, šeimyninę padėti, sveikatą, kompensacinių technikų naudojimą. Tyrimo rezultatai parodė, kad tiriamųjų pažintinės funkcijos silpnėja su amžiumi. Seno amžiaus tiriamieji pasižymi silpnesnėmis pažintinėmis funkcijomis, nei senyvo amžiaus tiriamieji. Aukštesnio išsilavinimo tiriamųjų pažintinių funkcijų rodikliai buvo aukštesni, nei kito išsilavinimo tiriamųjų. Kita vertus, tiriamųjų pasitenkinimas gyvenimu nėra susijęs su jų... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of this study was to assess relationship between subjective and objective cognitive functions and satisfaction with life and using compensatory techniques in elderly. The subjects of the study were 97 men and women, elderly than 63 years old. Mean of the age was 74,54 ± 8,9. Mostly of the subjects were women (65%, N=63) and 35% (N=34) were men. There were individual talk with everyone subject of the study. The subjects had asked to answer in questions about their memory, attention, generally cognitive functions. CFQ was used for to assess subjective cognitive failures. Using Diener E. (1985) scale, subjetcs had to answer five questions about their satisfaction with life. Five – word test and Kreapaeaelin methodic were used to assess subject’s short – term memory, long – term memory and attention. 6CIT methodic was used to assess subject’s generally cognitive functions. Also there were questions about education, marital status, health and using compansatory techniques. The results of this study show that there are statistically significant differences between age cognitive functions. Cognitive functions are better in Young-Old age then in Old-old age. Also there are differences between education. But there are no statistically significant differences between cognitive functions, education, age, using compensatory techniques and satisfaction with life. But results show that satisfaction with life is relates with relations with family, also with long term memory and... [to full text]

Music is a powerful modality that can bring about changes in individuals of all ages. This research employed both an experimental and quasi-experimental design to identify the effects of music as it influenced psychological well-being, memory, and cognition among older adults. Specifically, it addressed three aims: (a) To determine to what extent learning to play a music instrument later in life influenced psychological well-being and cognitive function of non-institutionalized healthy seniors, (b) To determine the effects of the amount of music involvement on psychological well-being and cognitive function (c) To determine the benefit of music for those with limited/no music experience. For the first aim, it was hypothesized that individuals in the experimental music group would maintain and/or improve psychological well-being, memory, and cognitive function more than those assigned to the wait-list control group. For the second aim, it was hypothesized that participants with extensive music involvement would have higher scores on cognitive ability measures and experience greater psychological well-being than those who had not been actively involved in music throughout their life. For the third aim, it was hypothesized that the participants with limited/no music involvement throughout their life would have a larger change on the psychological well-being measures and cognitive assessments than those who had more music involvement. For the experimental portion (Aim 1), the study employed a 6-week music intervention with non-institutionalized older adults. The quasi-experimental portion (Aims 2 & 3) divided participants according to their amount of time involved in music and then looked at psychological well-being and cognitive function. This dissertation did not show a strong connection between music, memory, and cognition so it did not achieve the desired overall results. However, the findings did suggest that music may modify some areas of cognitive function (verbal learning, memory, and retention) and psychological well-being but did not influence other areas (playing a music instrument for any length of time). Therefore, the findings of this dissertation can be a basis upon which future research relating to music, cognitive functioning, psychological well-being and involvement in music can build.