scholarly journals Physical Activity, Sleep, and Nutrition Do Not Predict Cognitive Performance in Young and Middle-Aged Adults

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hieronymus J. M. Gijselaers ◽  
Barberà Elena ◽  
Paul A. Kirschner ◽  
Renate H. M. de Groot
Author(s):  
Maria M. Ekblom ◽  
Örjan B. Ekblom ◽  
Mats Börjesson ◽  
Göran Bergström ◽  
Christina Jern ◽  
...  

High aerobic fitness, more moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and less sedentary behavior (SED) have all been suggested to promote cognitive functions, but it is unclear whether they are independent predictors of specific cognitive domains. This study aimed to investigate to what extent aerobic fitness MVPA and SED are independently associated with cognitive performance among middle-aged Swedish adults. We acquired device-based measures of aerobic fitness, cognitive performance and percent daily time spent in MVPA and SED in Swedish adults (n = 216; 54–66 years old). Aerobic fitness was associated with better performance at one out of two tests of speed/attention and one out of four tests of executive attention, and with worse performance at one of seven tests of memory. Increasing %MVPA was associated with better performance at one out of seven tests of memory and two out of three tests of verbal ability, whereas increasing %SED was associated with better performance at all four tests of executive attention and four out of seven tests of memory. These findings suggest that aerobic fitness, %MVPA and %SED are partly independent correlates of cognitive performance. To fully understand the association between SED and performance at several tests of cognitive function, future investigations might attempt to investigate intellectually engaging SED (such as reading books) separately from mentally undemanding SED (such as watching TV).


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Breanne Michelle Laird ◽  
Megan Puzia ◽  
Linda Larkey ◽  
Diane Ehlers ◽  
Jennifer Huberty

BACKGROUND Middle-aged adults (40 to 65 years) report higher stress than most age groups. There is a need to test the feasibility of using a meditation app to reduce stress and improve stress-related outcomes in both middle-aged men and women. OBJECTIVE Therefore, the purpose of this study was to: (1) determine the feasibility (i.e., acceptability and demand) of a consumer-based meditation app (i.e., Calm) to reduce stress in middle-aged adults reporting elevated stress; and (2) explore the preliminary effects of Calm on perceived stress, psychological outcomes (i.e., anxiety, depressive symptoms, mindfulness, general coping), health behaviors (i.e., physical activity, eating habits), and perceptions of COVID-19. METHODS The current study is a double-blind randomized controlled feasibility study testing a brief app-based meditation (i.e., Calm) intervention in middle-aged adults (N=83) with elevated stress levels (i.e., score greater than or equal to 15 on the Perceived Stress Scale) and limited or no previous experience with meditation. Participants were randomized to an app-based meditation intervention (Calm) or app-based education control group (POD). Participants completed self-report assessments at baseline and post-intervention (Week 4). Feasibility was measured as acceptability and demand using Bowen’s framework. Feasibility and COVID-19 perceptions data were examined via descriptive statistics. Preliminary effects were examined using repeated-measures analysis of variance. RESULTS Participants were satisfied with the meditation intervention (96.4%; 27/28) and found it appropriate/useful (92.9%; 26/28). Most reported that they were likely to continue using Calm in the future (64.3%; 18/28). More participants in the Calm group reported satisfaction, appropriateness/usefulness, and intent to continue use compared to the control. Calm participants (n=33) averaged 20.0±31.1 minutes of meditation on the days they meditated and 103±109.1 minutes of meditation per week during the study. On average there was a 70.8% adherence rate to the prescribed meditation, compared to 62.2% in POD. Recruitment of men into the study was 34.9% (29/83). Of those randomized to Calm, 55.2% (15/29) were men. Retention among men was 93.3% (14/15) compared to 60% (12/20) for women. No significant within or between group differences in stress or psychological outcomes related to stress were observed nor were significant differences in health behaviors related to stress. CONCLUSIONS A four-week, app-based mindfulness meditation intervention (i.e., Calm) may be feasible in middle-aged adults. Calm participants expressed satisfaction with the intervention and felt it was appropriate and useful. However, significant improvements in perceived stress and psychological outcomes (i.e., anxiety, depressive symptoms, mindfulness and general coping) or health behaviors related to stress (i.e., physical activity, eating habits) were not observed. The majority of participants reported that COVID-19 negatively impacted their stress, mental health, and physical health. More research is needed for improving stress and stress related outcomes in middle-aged men and women using mindfulness meditation apps. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04272138; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04272138.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bart Dewulf ◽  
Tijs Neutens ◽  
Delfien Van Dyck ◽  
Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij ◽  
Steven Broekx ◽  
...  

Physical activity is an important facilitator for health and wellbeing, especially for late middle-aged adults, who are more susceptible to cardiovascular diseases. Physical activity performed in green areas is supposed to be particularly beneficial, so we studied whether late middle- aged adults are more active in green areas than in non-green areas and how this is influenced by individual characteristics and the level of neighbourhood greenness. We tracked 180 late middle-aged (58 to 65 years) adults using global positioning system and accelerometer data to know whether and where they were sedentary or active. These data were combined with information on land use to obtain information on the greenness of sedentary and active hotspots. We found that late middle-aged adults are more physically active when spending more time in green areas than in non-green areas. Spending more time at home and in non-green areas was found to be associated with more sedentary behaviour. Time spent in non-green areas was found to be related to more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for males and to less MVPA for females. The positive association between time spent in green areas and MVPA was the strongest for highly educated people and for those living in a green neighbourhood. This study shows that the combined use of global positioning system and accelerometer data facilitates understanding of where people are sedentary or physically active, which can help policy makers encourage activity in this age cohort.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (S10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca West ◽  
Ramit Ravona‐Springer ◽  
Inbal Sharvit‐Ginon ◽  
Sapir Golan ◽  
Anthony Heymann ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seungho Ryu ◽  
Yoosoo Chang ◽  
Jeonggyu Kang ◽  
Kyung Eun Yun ◽  
Hyun-Suk Jung ◽  
...  

Circulation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 143 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Minsuk Oh ◽  
Kelley Pettee Gabriel ◽  
David R Jacobs ◽  
James G Terry ◽  
Jingzhong Ding ◽  
...  

Introduction: Pericardial adipose tissue (PAT), an ectopic adipose depot surrounding the coronary arteries, is a pathogenic risk factor for cardiometabolic disease; however, the association of sedentary behavior with PAT is poorly understood. We examined the longitudinal association of 10-year change in TV viewing with concurrent change in PAT. Hypothesis: Increased h/day of TV viewing over 10 years are associated with larger mean increases in PAT during the same 10-year period. Methods: Middle-aged adults (N=1659, mean age=40.4, 912 females, 733 blacks) from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study at the exam years 15 (2000-2001) and 25 (2010-2011) were included. Both TV viewing (h/day) and the volume of PAT (mL) were measured at Years 15 and 25 using the CARDIA physical activity questionnaire and computed tomography, respectively. Covariates measured at year 15 included PAT, sociodemographic factors, cardiovascular disease risk factors, diet quality, TV viewing, moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), inflammatory cytokines, and waist circumference. Multivariable linear regression was used to estimate 10-year change in PAT across increasing tertiles (≤ -1, > -1 to < 1, ≥ 1 h/day) of 10-year changes in TV viewing. Results: On average, TV viewing and PAT increased between the two exam years by 0.2 h/day (8.7% increase, mean: 2.3 → 2.5 h/day) and 11.8 mL (25.9% increase, mean: 45.6 → 57.4 mL), respectively (all p < 0.01). In the fully adjusted model including MVPA and other major confounders, the highest tertile of 10-year change in TV viewing was associated with greater change in PAT (β = 2.97 mL, p < 0.01) when compared with the lowest tertile (see Figure 1 ), while mean PAT change was intermediate in the middle tertile. Conclusions: A greater 10-year increase in TV viewing is associated with a greater concurrent increase in PAT, independent of MVPA and other important confounders. Reducing TV viewing time may be associated with less PAT accumulation with age.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 929-944 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Spiteri ◽  
David Broom ◽  
Amira Hassan Bekhet ◽  
John Xerri de Caro ◽  
Bob Laventure ◽  
...  

Identifying the difference in the barriers and motivators between middle-aged and older adults could contribute toward the development of age-specific health promotion interventions. The aim of this review was to synthesize the literature on the barriers and motivators for physical activity in middle-aged (50–64 years) and older (65–70 years) adults. This review examined qualitative and quantitative studies using the theoretical domain framework as the guiding theory. The search generated 9,400 results from seven databases, and 55 articles meeting the inclusion criteria were included. The results indicate that the barriers are comparable across the two age groups, with environmental factors and resources being the most commonly identified barriers. In older adults, social influences, reinforcement, and assistance in managing change were the most identified motivators. In middle-aged adults, goal-setting, the belief that an activity will be beneficial, and social influences were identified as the most important motivators. These findings can be used by professionals to encourage engagement with and adherence to physical activity.


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