Memory enhancement in Argentinian women during postpartum by the dietary intake of lignans and anthocyanins

Due to their polyphenolic content, vegetable foods have neuroprotective effects which provide health benefits for specific human groups. Thus, they may be a useful dietary component for women who experience mnesic variations during postpartum, and here we examined the hypothesis that polyphenols can differentially enhance memory functioning. In particular, we aimed to associate the dietary intake of polyphenols with different memory systems in Argentinian postpartum women. The daily intakes of polyphenol groups were calculated using a validated food frequency questionnaire and the Phenol-Explorer database. Short-term memory (STM), long-term memory (LTM), learning (L), lexical-semantic memory (LSM), and working memory (WM) were assessed. Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression models were used to analyze the dietary polyphenols (predictors) and memory domains (responses), taking into account demographic, obstetric, and psychological factors. The sample included 71 women, with an average age of 29.59 years (SE = 0.73). Most of these women lived in a couple (91%), were unemployed (63%), and had ≥12 years of formal education (72%). STM, LTM, L, and LSM correlated with lignans and anthocyanins, with LTM also being correlated with flavanones, flavonols, and tyrosols, and L and LSM also being associated with flavonols. A significant correlation was also found between WM and lignans. In conclusion, a cognitive improvement was demonstrated, mainly associated with the intake of lignans and anthocyanins, in the STM, LTM, WM, L, and LSM systems of postpartum women. This is the first study to our knowledge suggesting a role of polyphenolic effects on memory functioning during postpartum.     

Effects of noise on mental performance with regard to subjective noise sensitivity

Summary Objective and subjective effects of moderate levels of recorded traffic noise [L_eq = 55 dB(A) and 75 dB(A)] on mental performance were studied in a laboratory setting. A total of 45 subjects (23 males and 22 females) were investigated with respect to subjective noise sensitivity (SNS). Four cognitive tasks were applied involving different psychological functions: Short-Term Memory (STM), Search and Memory 5 (SAM 5) (vigilance), Hidden Figures (HF) (spatial reasoning) and Mental Arithmetic (MA) (parallel processing). Three groups of 15 subjects were defined according to their scores on Weinstein's Noise Sensitivity Scale as tolerant, moderately sensitive or highly sensitive to noise. A similar level of performance was observed in the three groups under quiet conditions [30 dB(A) L_eq], but under noisy conditions significant differences (P<0.05) were seen between them on the STM (words) and MA (total results) tasks, and the lowest performance accuracy was demonstrated by the noise-sensitive subjects. SNS was the primary factor responsible for these differences. There were no significant differences between the groups in respect of the SAM 5 and HF tasks, under either quiet or noisy conditions. Annoyance while performing tasks under noisy conditions was regularly and significantly higher among subjects judged to be noise sensitive on Weinstein's scale, as compared with those judged to have low or moderate SNS.     

Cognitive load theory in health professional education: design principles and strategies

Context Cognitive load theory aims to develop instructional design guidelines based on a model of human cognitive architecture. The architecture assumes a limited working memory and an unlimited long‐term memory holding cognitive schemas; expertise exclusively comes from knowledge stored as schemas in long‐term memory. Learning is described as the construction and automation of such schemas. Three types of cognitive load are distinguished: intrinsic load is a direct function of the complexity of the performed task and the expertise of the learner; extraneous load is a result of superfluous processes that do not directly contribute to learning, and germane load is caused by learning processes that deal with intrinsic cognitive load. Objectives This paper discusses design guidelines that will decrease extraneous load, manage intrinsic load and optimise germane load. Discussion Fifteen design guidelines are discussed. Extraneous load can be reduced by the use of goal‐free tasks, worked examples and completion tasks, by integrating different sources of information, using multiple modalities, and by reducing redundancy. Intrinsic load can be managed by simple‐to‐complex ordering of learning tasks and working from low‐ to high‐fidelity environments. Germane load can be optimised by increasing variability over tasks, applying contextual interference, and evoking self‐explanation. The guidelines are also related to the expertise reversal effect, indicating that design guidelines for novice learners are different from guidelines for more experienced learners. Thus, well‐designed instruction for novice learners is different from instruction for more experienced learners. Applications in health professional education and current research lines are discussed. Medical Education 2010: 44 : 85–93     

Computer-based working memory training in children with mild intellectual disability

We designed a working memory (WM) training programme in game framework for mild intellectually disabled students. Twenty-four students participated as test and control groups. The auditory and visual–spatial WM were assessed by primary test, which included computerised Wechsler numerical forward and backward sub-tests and secondary tests, which contained three parts: dual visual–spatial test, auditory test and a one-syllable word recalling test. The results showed significant difference between WM capacity in the intellectually disabled children and normal ones (p-value?<?0.00001). Visual–spatial WM, auditory WM and speaking were improved in the trained group. Four tests showed significant differences between pre-test and post-tests. The trained group showed more improvements in forward tasks. The trained participant's processing speed increased with training.

We found that school is the best place for training. More comprehensive human–computer interfaces could be suitable for intellectually disabled students with visual and auditory impairments and problems in motor skills.     

青少年抑郁障碍冷执行功能研究进展

抑郁障碍患者常起病于青少年期,早期识别是早期干预的基础.研究发现抑郁障碍患者在许多不同的认知领域如注意偏差及在工作记忆、抑制控制等执行功能等方面均持续性存在认知损害.本文主要介绍青少年抑郁障碍冷执行功能的抑制控制、工作记忆及认知灵活性的神经心理学及其脑影像学研究进展,探索青少年抑郁障碍患者的冷执行功能特征.     

Cognitive functions in abstinent alcohol-dependent patients

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to compare cognitive functioning of abstaining alcohol-dependent (AD) male patients and healthy controls as well as to investigate whether their cognitive performance varied by abstinence length. Forty-two maintaining abstinent (AD) patients and 34 healthy controls were examined. Tests from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) were used to assess cognitive functions. Differences in cognitive performance were found between AD patients and healthy controls. Nonverbal tasks in cognitive domains such as attention, visual memory and working memory were impaired in AD patients who presented deficits in visual episodic memory, had slower reaction time and reduced working memory span. Patients who were abstinent for less than one year made more errors in both attentional set shifting and working memory tests than healthy controls and patients with longer durations of abstinence. Impairments identified in multiple cognitive domains in abstinent alcohol-dependent subjects suggest functional deficits in extensive brain networks connecting interrelated brain structures. Attentional control and spatial working memory were less impaired in those AD patients who maintained abstinence for at least one year.     

An investigation of the effects of saccharides on the memory performance of middle-aged adults

Objectives: To investigate the effects of glucose, or a combination of saccharides, or a placebo on the memory performance of middle-aged adults.Design: A double-blind, placebo controlled design was used. A population-based sample of 45 men and women (aged 40–63 years) completed a series of memory tasks following administration of a single dose of either glucose, a combination of saccharides or placebo. Memory tasks included immediate and delayed recall, recognition, short-term memory, working memory, and a test of general cognitive ability.Results: There were no statistically significant effects of treatments on any of the outcome measures.Conclusion: The pattern of means in the combination of saccharides group suggests potential enhancement effects of memory performance in middle-aged adults that deserves further investigation.     

Cognitive Function and Vascular Risk Factors Among Older African American Adults

To evaluate the association between vascular risk factors and cognitive impairment among older African American (AA) adults in a primary care clinic. Participants included 96 AA adults aged 60 years or older who were evaluated for global and domain-specific cognition. Participants were interviewed using the Computerized Assessment of Memory and Cognitive Impairment (CAMCI). The relationship between CAMCI cognitive domain scores and vascular risk factors were examined using hierarchical regression models. Patients who smoked, those with higher SBP/DBP values had lower accuracy rates on CAMCI cognitive domains (attention, executive, memory).Those with higher BMI had better attention scores. Patients with higher HbA1C values had worse verbal memory. Patients with higher blood pressure were significantly faster in responding to tasks in the executive domain. Primary care providers working with older AA adults with these VRFs could implement cognitive screening earlier into their practice to reduce barriers of seeking treatment.     

Most Effective Combination of Nutraceuticals for Improved Memory and Cognitive Performance in the House Cricket,Acheta domesticus

Background: Dietary intake of multivitamins, zinc, polyphenols, omega fatty acids, and probiotics have all shown benefits in learning, spatial memory, and cognitive function. It is important to determine the most effective combination of antioxidants and/or probiotics because regular ingestion of all nutraceuticals may not be practical. This study examined various combinations of nutrients to determine which may best enhance spatial memory and cognitive performance in the house cricket (Acheta domesticus (L.)). Methods: Based on the 31 possible combinations of multivitamins, zinc, polyphenols, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and probiotics, 128 house crickets were divided into one control group and 31 experimental groups with four house crickets in each group. Over eight weeks, crickets were fed their respective nutrients, and an Alternation Test and Recognition Memory Test were conducted every week using a Y-maze to test spatial working memory. Results: The highest-scoring diets shared by both tests were the combination of multivitamins, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids (VitZncPuf; Alternation: slope = 0.07226, Recognition Memory: slope = 0.07001), the combination of probiotics, polyphenols, multivitamins, zinc, and omega-3 PUFAs (ProPolVitZncPuf; Alternation: slope = 0.07182, Recognition Memory: slope = 0.07001), the combination of probiotics, multivitamins, zinc, and omega-3 PUFAs (ProVitZncPuf; Alternation: slope = 0.06999, Recognition Memory: slope = 0.07001), and the combination of polyphenols, multivitamins, zinc, and omega-3 PUFAs (PolVitZncPuf; Alternation: slope = 0.06873, Recognition Memory: slope = 0.06956). Conclusion: All of the nutrient combinations demonstrated a benefit over the control diet, but the most significant improvement compared to the control was found in the VitZncPuf, ProVitZncPuf, PolVitZncPuf, and ProPolVitZncPuf. Since this study found no significant difference between the performance and improvement of subjects within these four groups, the combination of multivitamins, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids (VitZncPuf) was concluded to be the most effective option for improving memory and cognitive performance.     

Short-term changes in endogenous estrogen levels and consumption of soy isoflavones affect working and verbal memory in young adult females

Abstract

Estrogen is known to modulate certain cognitive functions, most notably improving working memory and verbal memory. Soy foods contain isoflavones, phytoestrogens structurally similar to estrogen that weakly bind to estrogen receptors. We investigated the effects of natural variations in estrogen levels and short-term dietary supplementation with soy isoflavones on cognitive function in 28 young women. Performance was examined across a range of cognitive tasks on three occasions during separate menstrual cycles: during a menses phase (low estrogen), during a luteal phase (highest estrogen), and once during a menses phase after a 3-day phytoestrogen-rich dietary intervention. Soy supplementation during menses led to an improvement in working memory and verbal memory. The menstrual cycle effects were mixed, with high estrogen improving performance on a verbal memory task but not on working memory. Our results suggest that soy phytoestrogens may improve working memory through estrogen-independent mechanisms.     

Working memory,reasoning, and expertise in medicine—insights into their relationship using functional neuroimaging

Clinical reasoning is dependent upon working memory (WM). More precisely, during the clinical reasoning process stored information within long-term memory is brought into WM to facilitate the internal deliberation that affords a clinician the ability to reason through a case. In the present study, we examined the relationship between clinical reasoning and WM while participants read clinical cases with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). More specifically, we examined the impact of clinical case difficulty (easy, hard) and clinician level of expertise (2nd year medical students, senior gastroenterologists) on neural activity within regions of cortex associated with WM (i.e., the prefrontal cortex) during the reasoning process. fMRI was used to scan ten second-year medical students and ten practicing gastroenterologists while they reasoned through sixteen clinical cases [eight straight forward (easy) and eight complex (hard)] during a single 1-h scanning session. Within-group analyses contrasted the easy and hard cases which were then subsequently utilized for a between-group analysis to examine effects of expertise (novice > expert, expert > novice). Reading clinical cases evoked multiple neural activations in occipital, prefrontal, parietal, and temporal cortical regions in both groups. Importantly, increased activation in the prefrontal cortex in novices for both easy and hard clinical cases suggests novices utilize WM more so than experts during clinical reasoning. We found that clinician level of expertise elicited differential activation of regions of the human prefrontal cortex associated with WM during clinical reasoning. This suggests there is an important relationship between clinical reasoning and human WM. As such, we suggest future models of clinical reasoning take into account that the use of WM is not consistent throughout all clinical reasoning tasks, and that memory structure may be utilized differently based on level of expertise.     

Improved cognitive-cerebral function in older adults with chromium supplementation

Abstract

Insulin resistance is implicated in the pathophysiological changes associated with Alzheimer's disease, and pharmaceutical treatments that overcome insulin resistance improve memory function in subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early Alzheimer's disease. Chromium (Cr) supplementation improves glucose disposal in patients with insulin resistance and diabetes. We sought to assess whether supplementation with Cr might improve memory and neural function in older adults with cognitive decline. In a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, we randomly assigned 26 older adults to receive either chromium picolinate (CrPic) or placebo for 12 weeks. Memory and depression were assessed prior to treatment initiation and during the final week of treatment. We also performed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans on a subset of subjects. Although learning rate and retention were not enhanced by CrPic supplementation, we observed reduced semantic interference on learning, recall, and recognition memory tasks. In addition, fMRI indicated comparatively increased activation for the CrPic subjects in right thalamic, right temporal, right posterior parietal, and bifrontal regions. These findings suggest that supplementation with CrPic can enhance cognitive inhibitory control and cerebral function in older adults at risk for neurodegeneration.     

35例路易体痴呆临床特点分析

目的了解中国路易体痴呆（DLB）的临床特点,提高临床诊治水平。方法电子检索中国生物医学文献数据库和中国知识仓库医学专题全文数据库1980～2012年收录的DLB病例报告,并分析其临床特点。结果共纳入18个研究35例患者,其中男26例,女9例。平均起病年龄（67.2±9.8）岁。以记忆力减退起病者占58.8%,以帕金森综合征起病者占11.8%,以视幻觉起病者占8.8%,以强迫症为首发症状占2.9%,以3种核心症状中的两种同时起病者占17.6%。随着病程的进展,68.6%的患者有波动性认知功能障碍,97.1%的患者有视幻觉,100%的患者有帕金森综合征,81.8%的患者对神经镇静药高度敏感,22.9%的患者有睡眠行为障碍,40.0%的患者有反复跌倒,17.1%的患者有短暂意识丧失,85.7%的患者有精神症状。26例患者行简易精神状态量表（MMSE）检查,评分均≤24分。影像学检查中,29.4%行头颅CT或MRI检查的患者显示海马和颞叶中部结构相对保留。3例患者行SPECT/PET检查,1例提示枕叶葡萄糖代谢减低。脑电图检查患者中63.2%表现为基本节律慢化,波率调节差,额、颞叶区明显。结论 DLB患者多在老年期发病,波动性认知功能障碍、视幻觉和帕金森综合征为3大核心症状,可合并存在。神经心理学、影像学及脑电图检查有一定诊断及鉴别诊断的价值。     

Self-reported symptoms and their effects on cognitive functioning in workers with past exposure to solvent-based glues: an 18-year follow-up

Objectives To examine to what extent exposure to organic solvents during the working life affects general well-being in the long term, and to explore the relationship between self-reported symptoms and cognitive functioning in previously solvent-exposed floor layers. Methods The study included 41 solvent-exposed floor layers and 40 unexposed referents participating in a longitudinal follow-up study 18 years after the baseline assessment. Symptom prevalence and level of spare time activities were studied using the same methods as in the initial study. These include a general health examination, the Q16 symptom questionnaire, and a questionnaire for spare time activities. Relationships between symptoms and cognitive functioning were analysed based on recently published data on cognitive functioning of the participants at follow-up. Results At follow-up neuropsychiatric symptoms such as need to check things, depressive mood, and abnormal fatigue, were more prevalent among floor layers, particularly the most exposed individuals, than among referents. In addition, the most highly exposed floor layers reported more concentration difficulties and irritability. Fatigue and depressive mood increased over the follow-up time in the most exposed floor layers but not in the referents. Memory difficulties, although more frequent among floor layers than among referents, had decreased in floor layers while increased in referents. Floor layers also reported some negative effects on intimate relations and activity level. Neuropsychiatric symptoms were related to poorer performance chiefly in memory tasks and tests of complex attention and perceptual speed, more seldom in visuospatial tasks. Conclusions Findings of exposure-related, long-lasting, partly deteriorating neuropsychiatric complaints indicate that general well-being later in life has been affected in floor layers with past heavy solvent exposure. We also found frequent associations between symptom prevalence and the cognitive functioning. Together with previous findings of dose-related cognitive decrements, the present results strengthen the evidence that long-term heavy occupational solvent exposure may negatively interact with the normal ageing process.     

Sex differences in spatial visualization and episodic memory as a function of alcohol consumption

AIMS: Sex differences in visuospatial ability as well as episodic memory have been reliably demonstrated, irrespective of alcoholism. Studies in alcoholics have consistently documented cognitive deficits in visuospatial ability, problem solving and memory function. This cross-sectional, population-based study examined if sex differences in cognitive performance could be impacted by alcohol consumption. METHODS: Drinking data were collected from 2224 randomly sampled adults, aged between 35 and 85 years, who participated in the Betula study on memory, health and aging. Participants were classified into non-, light, moderate and heavy drinking subgroups based on sex-adjusted normative values. Cognitive tasks demonstrating clear sex differences, such as episodic memory tasks (favouring women) and spatial visualization tasks (favouring men), were conducted and performance was assessed by sex and the drinking group. RESULTS: After controlling for age and education, overall analyses found expected sex differences in episodic memory and spatial visualization that were apparent across the entire population. When these sex differences were examined by drinking group, visuospatial performance favouring men disappeared for the moderate to heavy drinking groups, but higher performance by women on episodic memory tasks was consistent across all levels of alcohol consumption. Traditional biomarkers of increased alcohol consumption (GGT and MCV) correlated with the reported drinks/day. CONCLUSIONS: These results lend support to the theory that moderate alcohol intake may be beneficial to cognitive function in women, but not necessarily in men.     

Dose-dependent effects of walnuts on motor and cognitive function in aged rats

Aged rats show decrements in performance on motor and cognitive tasks that require the use of spatial learning and memory. Previously we have shown that these deficits can be reversed by the polyphenolics in fruits and vegetables. Walnuts, which contain the n-3 fatty acids a-linolenic acid and linoleic acid, are a dietary source of polyphenols, antioxidants and lipids. Thus, the present study examined the effects of walnut supplementation on motor and cognitive ability in aged rats. Fischer 344 rats, aged 19 months, were fed a control, or a 2, 6 or 9% walnut diet for 8 weeks before motor and cognitive testing. Results for the motor testing showed that the 2% walnut diet improved performance on rod walking, while the 6% walnut diet improved performance on the medium plank walk; the higher dose of the 9% walnut diet did not improve psychomotor performance and on the large plank actually impaired performance. All of the walnut diets improved working memory in the Morris water maze, although the 9% diet showed impaired reference memory. These findings show for the first time that moderate dietary walnut supplementation can improve cognitive and motor performance in aged rats.     

Effects of chronic alcohol consumption on spatial reference and working memory tasks.

The aim of this work was to determine the spatial memory impairments induced by chronic alcohol consumption in rats. The alcoholization process began on the 21st postnatal day and alcohol concentrations were gradually increased to reach a concentration of 20% that was maintained for 4 mon. Behavioral tests were performed in the Morris Water Maze (MWM). The first study assessed the effects of chronic alcohol intake on two reference memory tasks (a place learning with multiple trials and a new place learning carried out in the same experimental context). Alcohol-treated animals presented no overall impairment in their ability to process spatial information. Deficits were restricted to reduced behavioral flexibility in spatial strategies. The second study assessed working memory in two tasks in which information about platform location was only valid for one trial. In the first working memory task, the animals had to perform one trial per day and in the second task they were submitted to four trials per day. At the end of the second experiment, all animals were trained in a visual-cued task. In the second experiment, the most important deficits in alcohol-treated animals occur in spatial working memory tasks, and this impairment was independent of the intertrial interval used. In the second spatial working memory task, performance of the alcohol-treated animals in the earlier trials affected their performance in subsequent trials, suggesting that a process of proactive interference had taken place. The visual-cued task demonstrated that these behavioral impairments were produced without visuoperceptive impairments.     

Enhanced neural activation with blueberry supplementation in mild cognitive impairment

Objectives: Preclinical studies have shown that blueberry supplementation can improve cognitive performance and neural function in aged animals and have identified associations between anthocyanins and such benefits. Preliminary human trials also suggest cognitive improvement in older adults, although direct evidence of enhancement of brain function has not been demonstrated. In this study, we investigated the effect of blueberry supplementation on regional brain activation in older adults at risk for dementia.

Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial we performed pre- and post-intervention functional magnetic resonance imaging during a working memory (WM) task to assess the effect of blueberry supplementation on blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, a risk condition for dementia.

Results: Following daily supplementation for 16 weeks, blueberry-treated participants exhibited increased BOLD activation in the left pre-central gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, and left inferior parietal lobe during WM load conditions (corrected P?Discussion: These data demonstrate, for the first time, enhanced neural response during WM challenge in blueberry-treated older adults with cognitive decline and are consistent with prior trials showing neurocognitive benefit with blueberry supplementation in this at-risk population.     

Dairy consumption and working memory performance in overweight and obese adults

All individuals will experience some degree of cognitive impairment in their later years. Diet is one readily modifiable factor that may influence cognitive function and psychological well-being. Very little research has considered the potential role of dairy foods in modulating cognitive and psychological functions. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a high intake of reduced fat dairy food on cognitive performance. Overweight adults with habitually low dairy intakes (< two serves/day) were recruited for a 12 month crossover dietary intervention trial and randomised to a high (four serves/day) or low (one serve/day) intake of reduced fat dairy, crossing over to the alternate diet after 6 months. Participants were tested at the end of each 6 month diet period on multiple measures of cognitive performance, including memory, information processing speed, executive function, attention and abstract reasoning. In 38 participants who completed the trial (average age=52±2 years; BMI=31.5±0.8 kg/m(2)), spatial working memory performance was marginally better following 6 months of the high dairy diet compared with the low dairy diet. Increasing the dairy intake of habitually low dairy consumers may have the potential to improve working memory.     

Effects of postnatal protein malnutrition on learning and memory procedures

Protein malnutrition induces structural, neurochemical and functional changes in the central nervous system leading to alterations in cognitive and behavioral development of rats. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of postnatal protein malnutrition on learning and memory tasks. Previously malnourished (6% protein) and well-nourished rats (16% protein) were tested in three experiments: working memory tasks in the Morris water maze (Experiment I), recognition memory of objects (Experiment II), and working memory in the water T-maze (Experiment III). The results showed higher escape latencies in malnourished animals in Experiment I, lower recognition indexes of malnourished animals in Experiment II, and no differences due to diet in Experiment III. It is suggested that protein malnutrition imposed on early life of rats can produce impairments on both working memory in the Morris maze and recognition memory in the open field tests.