Cognitive Reserve and Frontotemporal Disorders: Exploring the Relationship Between Education, Physical Activity, and Cognitive Dysfunction in Older Adults.

In this study we investigated the relationship between cognitive reserve (CR) proxies, such as education, physical activity (PA), and cognitive dysfunction (CD) in the presence or absence of frontotemporal disorders (FTD). Previous research has suggested that education and PA may delay the onset of CD and reduce the risk of developing dementia. However, it remains unclear whether these CR proxies can protect against CD when FTD is present. We aimed to explore this relationship and determine whether sustained CR may be evident regardless of FTD. We recruited 149 older adults (aged 65-99 years) from community centers where they were voluntarily participating in leisure activities. We used bioelectrical impedance to measure their body composition, and we administered the International PA Questionnaire and the Mini-Mental State Examination to measure their PA and cognitive function, respectively. We used the Frontal Assessment Battery to screen for frontotemporal dementia. Our results showed that people with FTD were older, had lower education, and engaged in less PA, relative to other participants. Regression models revealed that age, education, and PA were significant predictors of FTD. More specifically, FTD was negatively associated with cognitive functioning, and there were significant interaction effects between FTD and education and PA. PA and education were significant predictors of cognitive functioning, and, when values for PA and education were high, they offset the effects of FTD on cognitive function. These findings support impressions that PA and years of education provide an insulating or compensatory effect on cognitive functioning in older adults with executive dysfunction or frontotemporal dementia, highlighting the importance of encouraging both pursuits.

Efectos psicológicos del confinamiento por la COVID-19 en competidores de remo / Psychological effects of confinement by COVID-19 in rowing competitors

El periodo de confinamiento por el virus de la Covid-19 no sólo ha afectado a la población general, sino también al deporte en general. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar sobre las consecuencias emocionales y adaptativas de remeros que compiten a nivel nacional e internacional. Se realizó un estudio cuantitativo de corte descriptivo con una muestra no probabilística, a partir de un muestreo por conveniencia, conocido como bola de nieve. En el estudio participaron ciento noventa y tres remeros que competían a nivel nacional e internacional, con una media de edad de 19.49 años. Los resultados mostraron que las remeras reaccionaron con más estados de ánimo displacenteros que los remeros. Igualmente se obtuvo que los pensamientos estresantes estaban asociados a estados de mayor ansiedad, la ira o los sentimientos depresivos, mientras que las mejores condiciones de entrenamiento y la aceptación de las reglas de confinamiento se asociaban inversamente con los estados de ánimo negativos. El análisis de regresión lineal mostró que los pensamientos estresantes, junto a los problemas de comportamiento y motivación durante el confinamiento predecían el nivel de perturbación total del estado de ánimo.(AU)