The effect of a stability and coordination training programme on balance in older adults with cardiovascular disease: a randomised exploratory study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases are considered a leading factor in mortality and morbidity. The older adult population with cardiovascular diseases has a higher risk of falls as compared to a matched age healthy population. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of stability and coordination training within a cardiac rehabilitation programme on fall risk in older adults with cardiovascular diseases enrolled in cardiac rehabilitation. METHODS: Twenty-six people with cardiovascular diseases (age 74±8) were divided randomly into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received 20 min of stability and coordination exercises as part of their 80 min cardiac rehabilitation programme, while the control group performed the traditional cardiac rehabilitation programme, twice a week, for 12 weeks. Balance assessment was based on three tests: the Timed Up and Go, Functional Reach and Balance Error Scoring System, which were measured twice before the intervention, once following the intervention and once four weeks after the termination of the intervention. A two-way analysis of variance (group × time) with repeated measures was performed to examine differences between groups and between assessments. RESULTS: Seventy per cent of participants in the intervention group adhered to the programme, with significant improvement post-intervention in the Timed Up and Go (p < .01) and the Balance Error Scoring System (p < .05) with no changes among the control group. DISCUSSION: Stability and coordination training alongside a traditional cardiac rehabilitation programme may improve static and dynamic balance, and muscle strength, skills that are considered major components in postural control. Clinicians who work in cardiac rehabilitation centres should consider including this training alongside the routine cardiac rehabilitation programme.

The Acute Effect of Exercise on Executive Function and Attention: Resistance Versus Aerobic Exercise.

Acute aerobic exercise was shown to enhance such cognitive functions as executive function (EF) and attention. Acute resistance exercise was also shown to enhance cognitive functions, however, only few studies directly compared these two exercise modalities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute effect of a typical moderate intensity resistance exercise session as compared to a typical moderate intensity aerobic session, on executive function and attention. A counterbalanced repeated measures experimental design was applied. Forty physical education students (21 women; 19 men, age = 25.7±2.84 years) were tested before and after three sessions: aerobic, resistance, and control. Each session consisted of 30 minutes of exercise or a rest. Executive function and attention were assessed by components of the computerized Stroop Catch game and Go-NoGo cognitive tests. A two-way ANOVA showed a greater increase in attention scores after the resistance sessions (p < .05) compared to the control condition. Attention scores in the aerobic sessions showed a trend toward improvement but did not reach statistical significance. Scores of EF significantly increased, both after the resistance session and the aerobic session (p < .05), but not after rest in the control condition. Our findings show that an acute session of resistance exercise increased both Attention and EF test scores, while an aerobic exercise session improved only the EF scores.

Clinical Effects of a Commercial Supplement of Ophiocordyceps sinensis and Ganoderma lucidum on Cognitive Function of Healthy Young Volunteers.

Ophiocordyceps sinensis (= Cordyceps sinensis) and Ganoderma lucidum are medicinal mushrooms used in traditional Chinese medicine. The effects of O. sinensis and G. lucidum on cognitive function have been evaluated through the use of animal models and in vitro studies, which indicated beneficial effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of treatment with a commercially available supplement of O. sinensis and G. lucidum on cognitive function in young, healthy human participants. Physical education students (n = 96 [53 men, 43 women]; mean ± standard deviation age, 26.3 ± 3.21 years) were randomly divided into 3 treatment groups: highdose supplement (HD) group, low-dose supplement (LD) group, and a placebo (PL) group. Each group received the treatment, administered by a technician blinded to supplements/placebo, for 30 days. Participants were evaluated for various cognitive functions before and immediately after treatment. Evaluation of cognitive function domains-global cognitive score, memory, executive function, attention, information processing speed, visuospatial ability, verbal function, and motor skills-showed no significant differences between groups. These results indicate that a combination of O. sinensis and G. lucidum supplements for 30 days did not enhance cognitive function domains in young healthy participants.

Correction: The effects of a resistance vs. an aerobic single session on attention and executive functioning in adults.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176092.].

The effects of a resistance vs. an aerobic single session on attention and executive functioning in adults.

Evidence from recent studies showed that acute aerobic exercise results in improvements in different cognitive functions. The goal of this study was to assess the influence of acute bouts of aerobic versus resistance exercise on attention and executive function in adults. Thirty-nine physically active adults (age = 52±8 yr) served as participants. Each participant visited the laboratory four times: on the first visit participants performed a cognitive test (NeuroTrax) followed by an aerobic fitness assessment, as well as maximal strength test composed of six exercises. During visits 2-4, participants completed the cognitive test before and after the experimental condition, which consisted of either 25 min of aerobic exercise or resistance exercise, or watching a recorded interview show in a seated position (control condition). Findings indicated significantly higher changes in scores of attention after acute aerobic exercise (mean change 3.46, 95% CI -0.32, 7.27) than following the control condition (mean change -0.64, 95% CI -2.23, 0.96). The changes following resistance exercise (mean change -0.67, 95% CI -4.47, 3.13) were not significantly different from the changes following the control condition. Executive function scores showed a marginally significant improvement following acute aerobic (mean change 4.06, 95% CI 1.68, 6.44) and resistance exercise (mean change 3.69, 95% CI 0.78, 6.60), but not after control (mean change 0.91, 95% CI -1.21, 3.02). We suggest that adults should consider augmenting both modalities into their training routines, which may improve their cognition in addition to providing other physical benefits.

REM sleep deprivation in rats results in inflammation and interleukin-17 elevation.

Sleep deprivation is a major health problem in modern society. Deprivation of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is particularly damaging to cognition and to spatial memory; however, the mechanisms that mediate these deteriorations in function are not known. We explored the possibility that REM sleep deprivation may provoke major changes in the immune system by inducing inflammation. Rats were subjected to 72 h of REM sleep deprivation, and the plasma levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-17A, and TNF-alpha), an anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10), the inflammatory markers homocysteine, corticosterone, and hyperthermia were measured immediately after the deprivation period, and 7 days later. The results indicate that REM sleep deprivation induced an inflammatory response. The levels of the proinflammatory cytokines and markers were significantly elevated in sleep-deprived rats as compared to control rats. After 7 days of recovery, the levels of some markers, including hyperthermia, remained higher in sleep-deprived rats versus the control animals. IL-17A appears to play a pivotal role in coordinating the inflammation. These data shed new light on the mechanism of sleep deprivation-induced inflammation.