Prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), relies heavily on self-care behaviours such as dietary modification, physical activity, and medication adherence. Ability to perform these self-care behaviours depends, at least in part, on executive function (EF). Recent evidence suggests a correlation between T2DM and impaired cognitive function, including EF. Given the importance of EF for regulation of behaviours, and the importance of self-care in diabetes management, attenuated EF would represent a potential barrier to proper disease management. Thus the objective of Study 1 was to examine the association between T2DM and EF through meta-analytic techniques. Medline, PsychoInfo, and Scopus, as well as article references, were used to identify studies comparing individuals with T2DM to a control population. Effect size was calculated using cohen’s d and random effects modeling, and the potential impact of moderators (age, sex, and T2DM duration) were examined. Review of 60 studies (59 articles), revealed a significant, small-to-moderate effect size (d=-0.249, p<0.001) such that those with T2DM have lower EF. This finding was consistent across all aspects of EF examined (verbal fluency, mental flexibility, inhibition, working memory, and attention), and the association was stronger for those with shorter disease duration. The findings of study 1 illustrate that although individuals with T2DM have a great need for EF, as evidenced by the reliance of self-care behaviours on EF, this population has lower EF upon which to draw to perform these behaviours. Thus, strategies that improve EF, such as aerobic exercise, may be particularly relevant to this population. Acute aerobic exercise has been shown to improve EF in young and older adults; however this effect had not yet been examined in individuals with T2DM. Thus the objective of Study 2 was to examine the effects of acute aerobic exercise on EF in adults with T2DM. A within-subject design was used to compare the change in EF task performance following moderate and minimal intensity aerobic exercise, using Stroop and GNG to measure EF. Analysis revealed a significant effect of moderate exercise in women (but not men) and recently active (but not inactive) individuals, such that moderate exercise mitigated the self-regulatory fatigue effect observed following exercise. This study provides preliminary evidence of a significant beneficial effect of moderate aerobic exercise on EF in female and recently active adults with T2DM.

The proposed thesis will examine three areas of research: (1) the effects of hypoglycaemia on cognitive function in adults with and without T1DM, (2) the symptoms and awareness of hypoglycaemia in children and adolescents with T1DM and (3) hypoglycaemia and driving in people with insulin-treated diabetes: self-treatment and adherence to recommendations for avoidance. (1) Executive cognitive function governs organisation of thoughts, prioritisation of tasks, and time management. This study examined the effect of acute hypoglycaemia on executive function in adults with and without diabetes. Thirty-two adults with and without type 1 diabetes were studied. Two hyperinsulinaemic glucose clamps were performed at least 2 weeks apart in a single-blind, counterbalanced order. Executive functions were assessed with a validated test suite (Delis-Kaplan Executive Function). A general linear model (repeated-measures ANOVA) was used. Compared with euglycaemia, executive functions (with one exception) were significantly impaired during hypoglycaemia; lower test scores were recorded with more time required for completion. Large Cohen d values (>0.8) suggest that hypoglycaemia induces decrements in aspects of executive function with large effect sizes. In some tests, the performance of participants with diabetes was more impaired than those without diabetes. Executive cognitive function, which is necessary to carry out many everyday activities, is impaired during hypoglycaemia in adults with and without type 1 diabetes. (2) In children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) the prevalence of impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia (IAH) is uncertain. Questionnaires were completed by 98 children with T1DM (mean age 10.6 years) and their parent(s); hospital admission data for the previous year were collected. Awareness of hypoglycaemia was assessed using two questionnaire-based methods that have been validated in adults. For 4 weeks, participants performed routine blood glucose measurements and completed questionnaires after each episode of hypoglycaemia. The ‘Gold’ questionnaire classified a greater proportion of the participants as having IAH than the ‘Clarke’ questionnaire (68.4 vs. 22.4%). Using the ‘Clarke’ method, but not the ‘Gold’ method, children with IAH were younger and more likely to require external assistance or hospital admission. In contrast to adults, behavioural symptoms were the best predictors of awareness status. IAH affects a substantial minority of children and impending hypoglycaemia may be heralded by behavioural symptoms. The ‘Clarke’ method was more effective at identifying those at increased risk. (3) A clinical survey of an outpatient clinic population to ascertain current knowledge and practice among drivers with insulin-treated diabetes. A representative sample of 202 current drivers with insulin-treated diabetes completed a structured questionnaire. A minimum blood glucose level of 4.0 mmol/L or higher was considered necessary for driving by 74.8%, and 87.1% reported always keeping carbohydrate in their vehicle. However, 38.1% reported never carrying a glucose meter when driving, and 59.9% that they never test blood glucose before driving, or test only if symptomatic of hypoglycaemia. Most participants 89% would stop driving to treat hypoglycaemia although only 13.9% would wait longer than 30 min. Compliance with statutory requirements to inform the licensing authority and motor insurer is good.

Delirium is a severe neuropsychiatric syndrome, characterised by the acute onset of inattention, altered level of arousal, and other mental status abnormalities. Delirium is extremely common in acute stroke, affecting at least 1 in 5 such patients admitted to hospital. It is a serious complication of stroke, being associated with higher mortality, longer length of hospital stay and higher dependency at discharge. The pathophysiology of delirium is not completely understood, and there are no specific treatments. This thesis investigated the role of cortisol in the development of delirium after stroke and also investigated the role of delirium and of cortisol in the development of cognitive impairment in the 12 months after stroke. The thesis specifically investigated whether levels of cortisol in saliva are elevated in delirium and also whether there is a loss of the normal diurnal rhythm in delirium, evidenced by elevated afternoon salivary cortisol levels and reduced morning level to afternoon level ratio. The thesis also investigated whether cortisol levels are persistently elevated in the year after stroke in those who developed delirium and whether cortisol levels are associated with cognitive decline. Finally it investigated whether acute and/or chronic changes seen on Computed Tomography (CT) brain scans taken around the time of stroke onset are associated with the development of delirium after stroke A longitudinal cohort study was conducted in 95 participants aged 60 years or over, who were admitted to hospital with a clinically confirmed stroke. Participants gave informed consent, or proxy consent was obtained if they lacked capacity to consent. At baseline participants underwent brief cognitive testing and were then assessed for the presence of delirium, using DSM IV criteria, at regular intervals during the first two weeks after stroke. At each assessment a saliva sample was collected in the morning and in the afternoon, to measure cortisol. Participants were then visited at 1 month, 4 months and 12 months after stroke onset, at which point they were assessed for the presence of delirium, further saliva samples were taken and a cognitive test battery was completed. 26 (27%) participants developed delirium during the course of the study period. The study found elevated salivary cortisol levels in those with delirium at up to 4 months after stroke, but at 12 months there was no difference between the delirium and no delirium group. A loss of the diurnal rhythm was seen in those who developed delirium at 5 days after stroke, but the diurnal variation had returned to a normal pattern at follow-up. However, in a multivariate analysis, controlling for age, sex, stroke severity (NIHSS), current illness burden (APACHE II), chronic illness burden (CCI) and prior cognitive impairment (IQCODE), neither median salivary cortisol levels in the first two weeks after stroke, nor the ratio of morning to afternoon cortisol levels were independent predictors of delirium diagnosis, although median 9am cortisol approached significance (OR=0.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.89-1.01, p=0.08). In a random effects logistic regression analysis, the probability of developing delirium decreased over time from stroke onset and increased per unit increase in salivary cortisol (nmol/L), however this effect was not statistically significant (OR 1.02, CI 0.84-1.19 P=0.70 for morning cortisol and OR 1.05, CI 0.82-1.25 p=0.46 for afternoon cortisol). Global cognition, measured by the MoCA, was significantly poorer in the delirium group at each time point throughout the 12 months after stroke. However, there was a trend towards improvement in MoCA scores in the whole cohort throughout the 12 month follow-up, with the exception of those who developed the most severe delirium. The presence of delirium at any point during the 12 month follow-up did not affect the rate of change of the MoCA scores over the 12 months after stroke. The presence of brain atrophy identified on admission CT brain scans was independently associated with delirium (OR 3.7, CI 1.15-11.88, p=0.02), however the presence of a visible acute or chronic stroke lesion and the presence of white matter lesions were not. Finally, those who developed delirium had a worse functional outcome, longer length of hospital stay and were more likely to require institutional care or a package of care at home, compared with those who did not develop delirium. This thesis has contributed to our understanding of the mechanisms and phenomenology of delirium after stroke, and has also highlighted areas for further research which will be required to unpick the complex pathophysiology of delirium.

The possibility that lifestyle factors may delay or accelerate cognitive decline in aging has garnered significant attention and a considerable body of research has formed. However, investigating the relations between social engagement and cognitive function in aging have been somewhat equivocal in their findings and there is a lack of understanding of the mechanisms by which social engagement may impact cognitive function and the role of factors limiting social engagement. The aim of this dissertation was to build on current understanding of how specific aspects of social relationships relate to cognitive functioning in older adulthood and how these aspects are affected by challenges and barriers to social participation. This dissertation is comprised of three studies addressing several specific research questions. Study one (Chapter 2) examined whether relations with cognitive performance over time differ for structural aspects of social relationships (social network and social contact) versus functional/subjective aspects of social relationships (loneliness and social support) and whether the associations are between cognitive performance and stable, “trait-like” components of social relationships or fluctuating “state-like” components of these constructs, using autoregressive latent trajectory modeling of data from the Health and Retirement Study. Study two (Chapter 3) used a multilevel modeling approach to examine whether the spouses/partners of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia experience a within person decline in cognitive performance and whether changes in structural and functional/subjective aspects of social relationships interacted with a spouses’ diagnosis of memory disease to predict within person change in cognitive performance. Study three (Chapter 4) investigated whether rejection sensitivity, social avoidance, and fears of negative social evaluations were predictive of lack of social participation and loneliness in a sample of Vancouver Island older adults. These factors have previously been investigated in younger adults as risk factors for loneliness and social withdrawal, but social isolation in older adulthood is often attributed to lack of social opportunities. This dissertation demonstrates the importance of considering precise aspects of social relationships, including barriers to social participation, and their relations to cognitive functioning. / Graduate / 2019-12-12

Submitted by GIOVANA DAMASCENO E SOUZA null (giovana.damasceno@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-04-11T06:57:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Final Mestrado_Giovana.pdf: 1529341 bytes, checksum: e2b3a1523ad9204bc0d34020b15705ef (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Paula Grisoto (grisotoana@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-04-13T14:29:07Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 souza_gd_me_bot.pdf: 1529341 bytes, checksum: e2b3a1523ad9204bc0d34020b15705ef (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-13T14:29:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 souza_gd_me_bot.pdf: 1529341 bytes, checksum: e2b3a1523ad9204bc0d34020b15705ef (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-29 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Pacientes com doença renal crônica (DRC) em hemodiálise têm baixo nível de atividade física, e podem apresentar declínio cognitivo. Evidencias mostram benefícios de exercícios físicos nesses pacientes, no entanto poucos estudos buscaram avaliar tais benefícios sobre a função cognitiva. Objetivo. Avaliar o efeito do treinamento físico resistido e aeróbio intradialítico em indivíduos com DRC em hemodiálise sobre a função cognitiva e a capacidade funcional. Materiais e Método. Foram realizados dois estudos em paralelo. Estudo 1: experimental, aberto, controlado, randomizado que comparou dois grupos: grupo resistido (GR) e grupo controle (GC). Os pacientes do GR foram submetidos a exercícios resistidos e os pacientes do GC foram submetidos a exercícios placebo, da primeira à 12a semana. As avaliações foram realizadas antes da primeira semana da sessão de exercício e na semana imediatamente após a última sessão. Nesse estudo o comportamento das variáveis avaliadas foram compradas entre os grupos. Estudo 2: experimental, aberto, controlado, sequencial. Nove dos pacientes do GC, após a reavaliação do período controle, foram subsequentemente submetidos a exercícios aeróbios, sendo analisados após 12 semanas adicionais como grupo aeróbio (GA). Nesse estudo o comportamento das variáveis avaliadas desses nove pacientes após o período controle foi comparado após o período de intervenção. Os exercícios foram realizados nas primeiras duas horas de hemodiálise, três vezes por semana por aproximadamente 50 min. O GA utilizou ciclo ergômetro e o GR realizou onze exercícios (2 séries de 15-20 repetições), dos quais para membros superiores foram realizados antes do início da hemodiálise. A intensidade do esforço para ambos os grupos foi de 12 a 16 na escala BORG. O GC realizou exercícios metabólicos à guisa de placebo. Variáveis avaliadas: nível de atividade física (questionário IPAQ versão curta), função cognitiva (mini-exame do estado mental - MEEM) e capacidade funcional (teste de caminhada de 6 minutos - TC6M). Resultados. A amostra final do Estudo 1 foi composta por 28 pacientes, 13 no GC e 15 no GR, os grupos eram homogênios quanto aos dados demográficos e clínicos. A função cognitiva avaliada pelo MEEM apresentou um aumento da pontuação estatisticamente significante após a intervenção no GR (23,5±4,0 para 25±3,3 pontos) e no GC (21,5±3,5 para 23±3,0 pontos) (p = 0,03). A capacidade funcional, avaliada pelo TC6 apresentou aumento significante da distância percorrida no GR (529±137,8 para 554,5±137,5 metros) e no GC (507±155,5 para 545±121,2 metros) (p = 0,02). No comportamento do IPAQ houve deslocamento numérico dos pacientes para categorias de maior nível de atividade física nos dois grupos, ainda que sem atingir significância estatística. No Estudo 2, quanto ao MEEM, houve tendência a aumento da pontuação paralelo no momento 2 e no momento 3, porém sem significância estatística (p = 0,05). No TC6, não houve aumento significante da distância percorrida pelos pacientes após a intervenção em nenhum dos momentos. No comportamento do IPAQ houve deslocamento numérico dos pacientes para categorias de maior nível de atividade física comparando os três momentos, sem atingir significância estatística. Conclusão. Os pacientes com DRC em hemodiálise submetidos a protocolo de exercício resistido apresentaram melhora funcional e cognitiva. Porém, o protocolo de exercício metabólico (exercício placebo), realizado no GC, também trouxe repercussão. Já os pacientes submetidos a protocolo de exercício aeróbio não apresentaram a mesma melhora. O efeito de exercícios placebo observado no corrente trabalho abre a possibilidade de intervenções subliminares no sentido de melhorar o perfil de atividade física dos pacientes em hemodiálise. Sugerindo que um profissional no centro de terapia renal substitutiva, orientando e incentivando os pacientes com DRC a realizarem exercício físico, poderia mudar seus hábitos do dia a dia que possam levá-los a melhor disposição e função motora, além de melhora na função cognitiva com possível consequente melhora na qualidade de vida. Apoio CNPq, processo 13288/2015-2. / Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on hemodialysis, have low levels of physical activity, and cognitive decline. Evidence of the benefits of physical exercise in these patients have gained ground, however few studies have sought to evaluate such benefits on cognitive function. Objectives: Evaluate the effect of strengthening and aerobic intradialitic exercise training in individuals with CKD on hemodialysis on cognitive function and functional capacity. Methods: Two studies were performed at the same time. Study 1: experimental, open, controlled, randomized trial comparing two groups: Strengthening group (SG) and control group (CG). SG patients underwent resistance training and CG patients underwent placebo exercise, from the first to the 12th week of intervention. The evaluations were performed before the first week of the exercise session and the week immediately after the last exercise session. In this study the behavior of the variables evaluated in the CG patients was compared to the behavior of those variables in the SG. Study 2: experimental, open, controlled, sequential. Nine of the CG patients, after a reassessment of the control period, were subsequently subjected to aerobic exercise and they were assessed after 12 additional weeks as aerobic group (AG). In this study the behavior of these variables evaluated nine patients during the control period was compared to the behavior of those variables after the intervention period. The exercises were conducted in the first two hours of dialysis, three times a week, for about 50 min. The AG used cycle ergometer and the SG did eleven types of exercises (2 sets of 15-20 reps), The training for upper limbs were carried out before the start of the hemodialysis session. The intensity of the effort for both groups was 12 to 16 on the Borg scale. The CG kept doing metabolic exercises to placebo guise. Variables assessed: physical activity (IPAQ short version), cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination - MMSE) and functional capacity (6-minute walk test - 6MWT). Results: The Study 1 consisted of 28 patients, 13 in the CG and 15 in the SG. The groups were homogeneous regarding the demographic and clinical data. Cognitive function by the MMSE showed a statistically significant increase in scores after the intervention in the GR (23.5 ± 4.0 to 25 ± 3.3 points) and CG (21.5 ± 3.5 to 23 ± 3 0 points) (p = 0.03). Functional capacity by 6MWT showed a significant increase in the distance walked by patients after intervention in the SG (529 ± 137.8 to 554.5 ± 137.5 meters) and CG (507 ± 155.5 to 545 ± 121, 2 meters) (p = 0.02). The IPAQ behavior showed numerical shift to a higher level of physical activity in both groups, although without reaching statistical significance. In Study 2, nine patients made up the AG. The MMSE showed a tendency to increase in score at moment 2 and moment 3, but without statistical significance (p = 0.05). In the 6MWT, there wasn't significant increase in the distance walked by patients after the intervention in any of the moments. The IPAQ behavior showed numerical shift to a higher level of physical activity in both groups, although without reaching statistical significance. Conclusion: Patients with CKD on hemodialysis undergoing resistance exercise protocol showed functional and cognitive improvement. However, the metabolic exercise protocol (placebo exercise) performed in the CG also brought repercussions. Yet patients undergoing aerobic exercise protocol did not show the same improvement. The effect of placebo exercises obsereved in the present research brings the possibility of subliminal interventions to improve the profile of physical activity among hemodialysis patients. Suggesting that a professional in the center of renal replacement therapy, guiding and encouraging patients with CKD to carry out physical activity, could change their habits in everyday life. It can give them more liveliness and motor function, as well as improvement in cognitive function with possible consequent improvement in quality of life. CNPq support, process 13288 / 2015-2. / CNPq: 13288/2015-2

abstract: Background and purpose: Regular physical activity (PA) provides benefits for cognitive health and helps to improve or maintain quality of life among older adults. Objective PA measures have been increasingly used to overcome limitations of self-report measures. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of objectively measured PA and sedentary time with cognitive function among older adults. Methods: Participants were recruited from the parent REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study. ActicalTM accelerometers provided estimates of PA variables, including moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), high light PA (HLPA), low light PA (LLPA) and sedentary time, for 4-7 consecutive days. Prevalence and incidence of cognitive impairment were defined by the Six-Item Screener. Letter fluency, animal fluency, word list learning and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (orientation and recall) were conducted to assess executive function and memory. Results: Of the 7,339 participants who provided accelerometer wear data > 4 days (70.1 ± 8.6 yr, 54.2% women, 31.7% African American), 320 participants exhibited impaired cognition. In cross-sectional analysis, participants in the highest MVPA% quartile had 39% lower odds of cognitive impairment than those in the lowest quartile (OR: 0.61, 95% C.I.: 0.39-0.95) after full adjustment. Further analysis shows most quartiles of MVPA% and HLPA% were significantly associated with executive function and memory (P<0.01). During 2.7 ± 0.5 years of follow-up, 3,385 participants were included in the longitudinal analysis, with 157 incident cases of cognitive impairment. After adjustments, participants in the highest MVPA% quartile had 51% lower hazards of cognitive impairment (HR: 0.49, 95% C.I.: 0.28-0.86). Additionally, MVPA% was inversely associated with change in memory z-scores (P<0.01), while the highest quartile of HLPA% was inversely associated with change in executive function and memory z-scores (P<0.01). Conclusion: Higher levels of objectively measured MVPA% were independently associated with lower prevalence and incidence of cognitive impairment, and better memory and executive function in older adults. Higher levels of HLPA% were also independently associated with better memory and executive function. The amount of MVPA associated with lower risk of cognitive impairment (259 min/week) is >70% higher than the minimal amount of MVPA recommended by PA guidelines. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Physical Activity, Nutrition and Wellness 2015

abstract: Latino youth have substantially higher rates of obesity and T2D than their white peers. The higher prevalence of obesity and T2D among Latino youth places them at greater risk for cognitive dysfunction, an urgent and serious health threat to the United States. Exercise has been the cornerstone to combat the negative effects of obesity, diabetes and recent research also supports this effects for preventing cognitive dysfunction. A wealth of evidence suggests that a mediating mechanism linking exercise with brain health is BDNF, a cognitive biomarker that increases in the brain with exercise. BDNF is the most abundant neurotrophic factor that supports growth, survival and synaptic plasticity of neurons, all vital for cognitive function and brain health. The present study sought to investigate the effects of a 12-week lifestyle intervention of physical activity and lifestyle education on serum BDNF, in obese pre diabetic Latino youth. A total of twelve obese pre diabetic Latino youth were selected from a larger RCT sample to be the focus for this analysis. After an overnight fast, a serum concentration was collected from all youth to be used for the BDNF analysis. In addition, the following cardio metabolic measures were also at taken at baseline and post intervention: Submaximal VO2max, medical and family history questionnaire, anthropometric, fasting glucose and a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). A 12-weeks Lifestyle Intervention that involved a progressive moderate to high intensity exercise component and lifestyle education program did not significantly change serum BDNF levels in obese pre diabetic Latino youth. In conclusion, the variation of our serum BDNF results are highly speculative at this time, therefore the need for future investigations is crucial. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Exercise and Wellness 2016

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:49:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Thais Buriani neves.pdf: 1539791 bytes, checksum: 51d67ab42ca0036ea9b91f7ac75a308a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-03-07 / The literature about human cognitive function has demonstrated that physical activity (PA) and aerobic fitness affect brain and cognition during whole life. Studies suggest a positive influence of PA and fitness on human brain structure and function. Research with old people shows that PA promotes brain structure growth, better cognitive performance and memory. Research with adults made up the conclusion that as great as fitness is, better is the cognitive tests performances. Strong evidence about research with children is that related to the practice of PA and cognitive function markers like IQ and academic performance and weak evidence about research with children is related to the mechanisms in which cognitive changes occur like executive function, memory, fats thoughts and attention. Besides that, there are biologic important reasons to hypothesize cognitive benefits generated by PA during childhood. In this period, the central nervous system structures are being developed and the subject becomes vulnerable to stresses due to the enormous brain plasticity and flexibility. Moreover, there are evidences about physical inactivity and lowest levels of aerobic fitness which can causes executive function injuries. The objective of the present project is to verify through a longitudinal study the association between different physical activity intensities and cognitive function in 6 to 13 years old children aiming to contribute with the literature about PA and cognition in preadolescent children / A literatura sobre função cognitiva humana tem demonstrado que a atividade física (AF) e aptidão aeróbia afetam o cérebro e a cognição durante a vida. Estudos sugerem uma influência positiva da AF e do condicionamento físico na estrutura e na função do cérebro humano. Pesquisas com idosos mostram que a AF promove ampliação da estrutura cerebral, melhora do desempenho cognitivo e da memória. Pesquisas com adultos mostram que aqueles alta aptidão física desempenham melhor tarefas relacionadas a diferentes funções cognitivas. Em crianças, a prática de AF apresenta evidências fortes em relação aos indicadores de função cognitiva, como desempenho acadêmico e QI e evidências menos consistentes a respeito dos mecanismos pelos quais ocorrem as mudanças na cognição como a função executiva, memória, raciocínio e atenção. Além disso, existem razões biológicas importantes para hipotetizar benefícios cognitivos advindos do exercício durante a infância, pois nesse período as estruturas do sistema nervoso central estão se desenvolvendo e o indivíduo se torna vulnerável a estresses devido à enorme plasticidade e flexibilidade do cérebro. Há, também, evidências relacionadas à inatividade física e baixos níveis de aptidão aeróbia indicando prejuízo às funções executivas. Assim, o objetivo do presente projeto é verificar, através de um estudo longitudinal, a associação entre diferentes intensidades de atividade física e a função cognitiva em crianças de 6 a 13 anos de idade visando contribuir com a literatura relacionada a AF e cognição em crianças e pré-adolescentes

The current study employed next-generation RNA sequencing to examine gene expression differences related to brain aging, cognitive decline, and hippocampal subfields. Young and aged rats were trained on a spatial episodic memory task. Hippocampal regions CA1, CA3, and the dentate gyrus were isolated. Poly-A mRNA was examined using two different sequencing platforms, Illumina, and Ion Proton. The Illumina platform was used to generate seed lists of genes that were statistically differentially expressed across regions, ages, or in association with cognitive function. The gene lists were then retested using the data from the Ion Proton platform. The results indicate hippocampal subfield differences in gene expression and point to regional differences in vulnerability to aging. Aging was associated with increased expression of immune response-related genes, particularly in the dentate gyrus. For the memory task, impaired performance of aged animals was linked to the regulation of Ca2+ and synaptic function in region CA1. Finally, we provide a transcriptomic characterization of the three subfields regardless of age or cognitive status, highlighting and confirming a correspondence between cytoarchitectural boundaries and molecular profiling.

The Options of Working Memory Training Abstract: The theme of this diploma thesis is the possibilities of working memory training. From the analysis of nowadays literature we found out that the field of stimulus material (witch is contained in training programs) has not been researched much. The aim of this work is to find out whether there is a connection between the type of stimulus material (within the abstraction and modality level), performance and memory strategies. For this purpose we selected the N-Back Campaign training program. And provide it with visual and verbal tasks in a differen king of abstraction level. These tasks were conducted by fifty respondents. After that, several semi-structured interviews were conducted, which helped us to understand the processes associated with N-back tasks. Using statistical analysis, we came to the conclusion that the type of stimulus material is significantly related to the performance in n-back tasks: with increasing rate of abstraction the performance decreases and that visual N-back task achives with higher scores. Furthermore, it has been found that there are specific strategies that correspond to a certain degree of stimulus abstraction or modalities (vision, hearing). Therefore, we think that stimulus material in N-back tasks can have a significant...