Unexpected cognitive similarities between older adults and young people: Scores variability and cognitive performances.

BACKGROUND: Increased interindividual variability in cognitive performance during aging has been proposed as an indicator of cognitive reserve. OBJECTIVE: To determine if interindividual variability performance in episodic memory (PAL), working memory (SWM), reaction time (RTI), and sustained attention (RVP) could differentiate clusters of differential cognitive performance in healthy young and older adults and search for cognitive tests that most contribute to these differential performances. METHODS: We employed hierarchical cluster and canonical discriminant function analyses of cognitive scores using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) to identify cognitive variability in older and young adults using the coefficient of variability of cognitive performances between and within groups. We also analyzed potential influences of age, education, and physical activity. RESULTS: Cluster analysis distinguished groups with differential cognitive performance and correlation analysis revealed coefficient of variability and cognitive performance associations. The greater the coefficient of variability the poorer was cognitive performance in RTI but not in PAL and SWM. Older adults showed diverse trajectories of cognitive decline, and better education or higher percentage of physically active individuals exhibited better cognitive performance in both older and young adults. CONCLUSION: PAL and SWM are the most sensitive tests to investigate the wide age range encompassing older and young adults. In older adults' intragroup analysis PAL showed greater discriminatory capacity, indicating its potential for clinical applications late in life. Our data underscore the importance of studying variability as a tool for early detection of subtle cognitive declines and for interpreting results that deviate from normality.

Risk Polymorphisms of FNDC5, BDNF, and NTRK2 and Poor Education Interact and Aggravate Age-Related Cognitive Decline.

Cognitive abilities tend to decline with aging, with variation between individuals, and many studies seek to identify genetic biomarkers that more accurately anticipate risks related to pathological aging. We investigated the influence of BDNF, NTRK2, and FNDC5 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the cognitive performance of young and older adults with contrasting educational backgrounds. We addressed three questions: (1) Is education associated with reduced age-related cognitive decline? (2) Does the presence of SNPs explain the variation in cognitive performance observed late in life? (3) Is education differentially associated with cognition based on the presence of BDNF, NTRK2, or FNDC5 polymorphisms? We measured the cognitive functions of young and older participants, with lower and higher education, using specific and sensitive tests of the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Assessment Battery. A three-way ANOVA revealed that SNPs were associated with differential performances in executive functions, episodic memory, sustained attention, mental and motor response speed, and visual recognition memory and that higher educational levels improved the affected cognitive functions. The results revealed that distinct SNPs affect cognition late in life differentially, suggesting their utility as potential biomarkers and emphasizing the importance of cognitive stimulation that advanced education early in life provides.

O uso de vídeos para a implementação de protocolos de reabilitação entre a equipe multiprofissional durante o manejo de pacientes com doença de Parkinson: uma revisão integrativa / The use of videos for the implementation of rehabilitation protocols between the multiprofessional team during the management of patients with Parkinson's disease: an integrative review / El uso de videos para la aplicación de protocolos de rehabilitación entre el equipo multiprofesional durante el manejo de pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson: una revisión integrativa

Objetivo: Avaliar a efetividade do uso de vídeos para a implementação de protocolos de reabilitação entre a equipe multiprofissional durante o manejo dos pacientes com Doença de Parkinson. Métodos: Foi conduzida uma revisão integrativa da literatura a partir da pergunta norteadora, usando os elementos do PICO para identificar os descritores de assunto e sinônimos para as bases de dados Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), LILACS, PubMed, Education Resources Information Center (ERIC). Foi planejado incluir estudos que avaliaram a ferramenta de vídeo como estratégia de desenvolvimento da equipe multiprofissional que atua na reabilitação do paciente com Doença de Parkinson, independentemente do ano e do idioma de publicação. A avaliação crítica da literatura também foi planejada para todos os estudos incluídos. Resultados: Nenhum estudo atendeu ao critério de inclusão desta revisão e por isso os autores decidiram discutir e relatar uma síntese dos estudos semelhantes, com potencial para a inclusão, do tema abordado na pergunta norteadora. Assim, um total de dez estudos foram sintetizados em quadros. Conclusão: Não foi possível identificar a efetividade da intervenção estudada devido à ausência de estudos clínicos com essa finalidade. Entretanto, foram avaliados estudos semelhantes para aprimorar o delineamento de um possível estudo clínico.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of using videos for the implementation of rehabilitation protocols among the multidisciplinary team during the management of patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods: An integrative literature review was conducted based on the guiding question, using PICO elements to identify subject descriptors and synonyms for the Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), LILACS, PubMed, Education Resources Information Center) databases. It was planned to include studies that evaluated the video tool as a development strategy for the multidisciplinary team that works in the rehabilitation of patients with Parkinson's disease, regardless of the year and language of publication. Critical literature review was also planned for all included studies. Results: No study met the inclusion criteria of this review and therefore the authors decided to discuss and report a synthesis of similar studies, with potential for inclusion, of the topic addressed in the guiding question. Thus, a total of ten studies were summarized in tables. Conclusion: It was not possible to identify the effectiveness of the intervention studied due to the lack of clinical studies with this purpose. However, similar studies were evaluated to improve the design of a possible clinical study.

Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad del uso de videos para la implementación de protocolos de rehabilitación entre el equipo multidisciplinario durante el manejo de pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión integrativa de la literatura basada en la pregunta guía, utilizando elementos PICO para identificar descriptores para las bases de datos Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), LILACS, PubMed, Education Resources Information Center (ERIC). Se planeó incluir estudios que evaluaran la herramienta de video como estrategia de desarrollo para el equipo multidisciplinario que trabaja en la rehabilitación de pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson, independientemente del año e idioma de publicación. También se planeó una revisión crítica de la literatura para todos los estudios incluidos. Resultados: Ningún estudio cumplió con los criterios de inclusión de esta revisión y, por lo tanto, los autores decidieron discutir e informar una síntesis de estudios similares, con potencial de inclusión, del tema abordado en la pregunta guía. Por lo tanto, un total de diez estudios se resumieron en tablas. Conclusión: No fue posible identificar la efectividad de la intervención estudiada debido a la falta de estudios clínicos con este fin. Sin embargo, se evaluaron estudios similares para mejorar el diseño de un posible estudio clínico.

Pilates and Cognitive Stimulation in Dual Task an Intervention Protocol to Improve Functional Abilities and Minimize the Rate of Age-Related Cognitive Decline in Postmenopausal Women.

It is already known the effectiveness of Pilates training on cognitive and functional abilities. It is also known that dual-task exercise and cognitive stimuli improve cognition and functional capacity. However, no previous report combined cognitive stimuli and Pilates in dual task and measured its effects on the cognitive and physical performances of postmenopausal women. OBJECTIVE: To apply an interventional dual-task (PILATES-COG) protocol and to evaluate its influence on memory, language, and functional physical performances on healthy, community-dwelling postmenopausal older women. METHODS: 47 women with amenorrhea for at least 12 months participated in this study. Those allocated on the PILATES-COG group underwent a 12-week, twice a week regimen of 50 min sessions of simultaneous mat Pilates exercise program and cognitive tasks. Cognitive and physical functional performance were assessed. Two-way mixed ANOVA was used for data analysis, and Bonferroni post hoc tests were used for within- and between-group comparisons. RESULTS: The PILATES-COG group showed significant improvement after the intervention in semantic verbal fluency (p < 0.001; ηρ² = 0.268), phonological verbal fluency (p < 0.019; ηρ² = 0.143), immediate memory (p < 0.001; ηρ² = 0.258), evocation memory (p < 0.001 ηρ² = 0.282), lower-limb muscle strength (p < 0.001; ηρ² = 0.447), balance (p < 0.001; ηρ² = 0.398), and dual-ask cost (p < 0.05; ηρ² = 0.111) assessments on healthy, community-dwelling postmenopausal older women. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of a feasible and effective approach using Pilates and cognitive stimulation in dual task for the reduction of age-related cognitive decline and the improvement of physical functional performance in healthy postmenopausal women.

Dual-Task Exercise to Improve Cognition and Functional Capacity of Healthy Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that physical inactivity and lack of stimulating cognitive activity are the two most significant modifiable risk factors to impair cognitive function. Although many studies that investigated the cognitive effects of physical exercise and cognitive stimuli in dual-task conditions showed improved cognitive performance, others have not confirmed these findings. The main aim of the present work is to analyze the effects of a dual-task multimodal physical exercise training, at moderate intensity, and cognitive stimulation on cognitive and physical function in healthy older adults. METHODS: This clinical trial was registered on the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (RBR-9zrx3d). Here we tested the effects of a dual-task multimodal physical exercise training, at moderate intensity, on cognitive and physical function and quality of life in community dwelling older adults. The training protocol included 24 group sessions, 2/week, per 75 min. Cognition was assessed using CANTAB automated neuropsychological tests and Functional Capacity to Exercise tests. Performance was compared from baseline to post intervention and to a non-exercise control group using Mixed Linear Model for repeated measures. RESULTS: Control (CG) and dual-task (DTEx) groups progressed differentially over time on performance of episodic memory, sustained visual attention, functional mobility, cardiorespiratory fitness, lower limbs strength resistance, agility, quality of life and dual-task performance with significant improved DTEx performance. Control group did not show any significant changes on these tests except for showing a reduction in dual-task performance. CONCLUSION: We suggest that the dual-task combination of multisensory cognitive stimulation and multimodal moderate physical exercise training, twice a week, may be adopted as an effective program to reduce progression of age-related cognitive decline and improve physical fitness and quality of life on healthy older adults. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials: https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-9zrx3d -UTN code: U1111-1233-6349.