ABSTRACT
Twenty-three percent to 50% of heart failure (HF) patients have memory loss. Objectives were to (a) characterize major allelic frequency of 2 variants in apolipoprotein ( APOE) gene in HF patients, (b) evaluate differences in memory and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels based on APOE ε4 allele(s), and (c) estimate effect sizes (ESs) and confidence intervals (CIs). In this pilot, 29 HF patients were enrolled and 26 completed. Recall and delayed recall memory were measured at baseline and 12 weeks. Serum was collected at baseline and 8 weeks. Seven (24.1%) patients had APOE ε4 allele. No significant differences were found in recall and delayed recall memory or serum BDNF levels based on APOE ε4 allele. ESs were small to medium; CIs indicated ES precision was small. Future studies are needed to fully understand how genotypic and neuropsychological phenotypic variables influence response to computerized cognitive training.
Subject(s)
Apolipoprotein E4/genetics , Genotype , Heart Failure/genetics , Memory/physiology , Alleles , Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/blood , Cognition/physiology , Female , Humans , Male , Mental Recall/physiology , Middle Aged , Neuropsychological TestsABSTRACT
Measures of body dissatisfaction have not been validated for Mexican American (MA) women, who evaluate their bodies differently than Caucasian women. In this study, the psychometric properties of the EDI-III, Body Dissatisfaction Subscale (BDS) were examined in a sample of college-enrolled MA women using the Rasch Rating Scale Model. Criterion validity was also addressed. BDS evidenced good item fit, person and item reliability, once poorly correlated items were removed. Two qualitatively distinct dimensions of body dissatisfaction were identified: (1) overall body shape and stomach, and (2) the lower body. Validity of the scales was supported. Results suggest: MA women's satisfaction with overall body shape is not synonymous with attitudes toward their lower body.
Subject(s)
Body Image/psychology , Mexican Americans/psychology , Personal Satisfaction , Surveys and Questionnaires , Adolescent , Female , Humans , Mexican Americans/statistics & numerical data , Psychometrics , Reproducibility of Results , Universities , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Memory loss is common in heart failure (HF) patients, but few interventions have been tested to treat it. The objective of this study was to evaluate efficacy of a cognitive training intervention, Brain Fitness, to improve memory, serum brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) levels, working memory, processing speed, executive function, instrumental activities of daily living, mobility, depressive symptoms, and health-related quality of life. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-seven HF patients were randomly assigned to Brain Fitness and health education active control interventions. Data were collected at baseline and 8 and 12 weeks. Linear mixed models analyses were completed. Patients in the Brain Fitness group were older with lower ejection fraction. At 12 weeks, a group by time interaction effect was found for serum BDNF levels (P = .011): serum BDNF levels increased among patients who completed Brain Fitness and decreased among patients who completed health education. No differences were found in memory, but a group by time interaction (P = .046) effect was found for working memory. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support efficacy of Brain Fitness in improving working memory and serum BDNF levels as a biomarker of intervention response. A randomized controlled study is needed among a larger more diverse group of HF patients.
