Addressing isolation, loneliness and mental health during COVID: A university training partnership with senior living communities.

Older adults living in congregate housing have been uniquely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The sudden interruption of routine activities, social isolation, and support adversely affected the wellbeing of residents in retirement facilities around the country and world. The stress of social isolation was fueled by the interruption of routine activities and support that in turn, adversely affected the wellbeing, mood, and cognition of many residents. Therefore, university clinical programs in psychology and counseling can address the needs of community older residents by preparing student clinicians to work with the aging population and to engage in telehealth models of outreach and interventions. This manuscript outlines a model of partnership between long-term care assisted living organizations and clinical training programs at a west coast university to meet community and educational needs of older residents.

Reinforcing Value of a Moderately Physiologically Challenging Active Videogame Versus a Minimally Challenging Active Videogame.

Objective: This study assessed the oxygen consumption [VO2 mL/(kg·min)], liking, and relative reinforcing (motivating) value (RRV) of a moderately physiologically challenging exergame [Nintendo Wii-Sports Boxing (Boxing)] versus a minimally challenging exergame [Nintendo Wii Lego Star Wars (Lego)]. Materials and Methods: VO2 and liking were recorded in children(N = 28, 7.8 ± 1.3 years old) during three 10-minute conditions: recumbent resting (Resting), and playing Wii Boxing or Wii Lego. Resting was completed first, and the order of exergames was randomized. Next, children performed an operant button pressing task using a progressive fixed ratio to assess the RRV of the two videogame conditions. Children worked to earn up to 11 minutes for Boxing, Lego, or a combination of the two. The output maximum (Omax) performed to earn access to each game was the measure of RRV. Results: There was a significant (P ≤ 0.03 for all conditions) step-wise increase in VO2 from Resting [4.3 ± 1.2 mL/(kg·min)] to Lego [5.3 ± 0.5 mL/(kg·min)] and from Lego to Boxing [11.7 ± 4.2 mL/(kg·min)]. Liking was significantly greater for Boxing (P = 0.003) and Lego (P < 0.0001, 7.1 ± 2.9 cm; 7.1 ± 2.7 cm, respectively) versus Resting (4.6 ± 3.8 cm), with no significant difference between Boxing and Lego (P = 0.358). Lastly, Omax was significantly (P = 0.021) greater for Lego (257.7 ± 390.6 presses) than for Boxing (51.7 ± 131.0 presses). Conclusion: Oxygen consumption during Wii Boxing was significantly greater than during Wii Lego. Despite this greater physiological challenge, liking was similar for both Lego and Boxing. However, children were more motivated to play Lego than Boxing.

Open-Label Phase 1 Futility Studies of Salsalate and Young Plasma in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

BACKGROUND: Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative disease without approved therapies, and therapeutics are often tried off-label in the hope of slowing disease progression. Results from these experiences are seldom shared, which limits evidence-based knowledge to guide future treatment decisions. OBJECTIVES: To describe an open-label experience, including safety/tolerability, and longitudinal changes in biomarkers of disease progression in PSP-Richardson's syndrome (PSP-RS) patients treated with either salsalate or young plasma and compare to natural history data from previous multicenter studies. METHODS: For 6 months, 10 PSP-RS patients received daily salsalate 2,250 mg, and 5 patients received monthly infusions of four units of young plasma. Every 3 months, clinical severity was assessed with the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Rating Scale (PSPRS), and MRI was obtained for volumetric measurement of midbrain. A range of exploratory biomarkers, including cerebrospinal fluid levels of neurofilament light chain, were collected at baseline and 6 months. Interventional data were compared to historical PSP-RS patients from the davunetide clinical trial and the 4-Repeat Tauopathy Neuroimaging Initiative. RESULTS: Salsalate and young plasma were safe and well tolerated. PSPRS change from baseline (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) was similar in salsalate (+5.6 ± 9.6), young plasma (+5.0 ± 7.1), and historical controls (+5.6 ± 7.1), and change in midbrain volume (cm3 ± SD) did not differ between salsalate (-0.07 ± 0.03), young plasma (-0.06 ± 0.03), and historical controls (-0.06 ± 0.04). No differences were observed between groups on any exploratory endpoint. CONCLUSIONS: Neither salsalate nor young plasma had a detectable effect on disease progression in PSP-RS. Focused open-label clinical trials incorporating historical clinical, neuropsychological, fluid, and imaging biomarkers provide useful preliminary data about the promise of novel PSP-directed therapies.

The validity of the commercially-available, low-cost, wrist-worn Movband accelerometer during treadmill exercise and free-living physical activity.

Low-cost physical activity monitors may provide a more accurate measure of physical activity than subjective methods (e.g., self-report) while being less costly than research-grade accelerometers. The present study assessed the validity of a low-cost monitor (Movband 2) to estimate physical activity behavior/intensity. Participants (N = 23, n = 16 female, BMI = 22.9 ± 4.0 kg/m2, age = 21.9 ± 1.6 years) completed four, five-minute treadmill stages (2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 MPH) while wearing both the Movband and the previously-validated Actigraph monitor. Oxygen consumption (VO2) was recorded during each stage (Laboratory assessment). A subset (n = 15, n = 10 female, BMI = 22.2 ± 3.2 kg/m2, age = 21.5 ± 0.8 years) of these participants then wore the two accelerometers for three days (Free-living assessment). During the Laboratory assessment there were strong, significant (r = 0.94, p ≤ 0.001) relationships between Movband and Actigraph counts and VO2. During Free-living assessment there was also a strong, significant (r = 0.97, p < 0.001) correlation between Movband and Actigraph counts. The low-cost, Movband accelerometer appears to provide a valid assessment of physical activity behavior/intensity.

The differences in physical activity levels in preschool children during free play recess and structured play recess.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Physical activity (PA) is important in reducing childhood obesity, yet a majority of children are not meeting PA guidelines. Schools have been identified as a place to promote childhood PA. The purpose of this study was to determine the best type of physically active recess period to increase preschool-aged children's PA. METHODS: PA was measured via accelerometers in preschool-aged children (n = 29) during three, 30-min recess conditions (control; structured play; free play) on separate school days. Tertile splits were performed based on PA during the free play condition and children were divided into three groups: highly, moderately and least active. RESULTS: For the aggregated sample, children were more (p ≤ 0.001) active during the free play (1282 ±â€¯662 counts. min-1) and structured play (1416 ±â€¯448 counts. min-1) recess versus the control condition (570 ±â€¯460 counts. min-1) and activity was not different between the free play and structured conditions. However, children who were the most active during free play (1970 ±â€¯647 counts·min-1) decreased (p ≤ 0.05) activity during structured play (1462 ±â€¯535 counts·min-1), whereas children who were moderately active (1031 ±â€¯112 counts·min-1) or the least (530 ±â€¯239 counts·min-1) active during free play increased activity during structured play (1383 ±â€¯345 counts·min-1 moderately active, 1313 ±â€¯413 counts·min-1 least active). CONCLUSION: Providing a physically-active recess period will contribute to preschool-aged children meeting the recommended PA guidelines; however, different children may respond in a different way based upon the structure of the recess period.