Improvements in concentration,working memory and sustained attention following consumption of a natural citicoline–caffeine beverage

This study examined the neurocognitive and electrophysiological effects of a citicoline–caffeine-based beverage in 60 healthy adult participants enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Measures of electrical brain activity using electroencephalogram (EEG) and neuropsychological measures examining attention, concentration and reaction time were administered. Compared to placebo, participants receiving the citicoline–caffeine beverage exhibited significantly faster maze learning times and reaction times on a continuous performance test, fewer errors in a go/no-go task and better accuracy on a measure of information processing speed. EEG results examining P450 event-related potentials revealed that participants receiving the citicoline–caffeine beverage exhibited higher P450 amplitudes than controls, suggesting an increase in sustained attention. Overall, these findings suggest that the beverage significantly improved sustained attention, cognitive effort and reaction times in healthy adults. Evidence of improved P450 amplitude indicates a general improvement in the ability to accommodate new and relevant information within working memory and overall enhanced brain activation.     

Compulsive eating,obsessive thoughts of food,and their relation to assertiveness and depression in women

Fifty-three self-defined compulsive eaters recruited from weight loss programs and a college population and prescreened to eliminate probable anorexics and bulimics participated in this study. They completed the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, Compulsive Eating Scale, Eating Obsessive-Compulsive Questionnaire, Personal Assertion Analysis, and provided demographic information. Participants had high scores for compulsive eating and disinhibition and low scores for depression. The best predictors of compulsive eating were disinhibition and obsessive thoughts of food, which accounted for 61% of the variance. Twenty-one percent of the sample reported a history of sexual abuse. Thirty-one percent of the sample were classified as medically obese, yet 49% perceived themselves to be moderately to very overweight.     

Stress,social support,and morale: Failure to replicate age effects

The present study tested the following hypotheses: (1) Stress has more of a negative impact on the life satisfaction of those under age 75 than those over age 75; (2) social support has more of a positive effect on life satisfaction in those under age 75 than those over age 75; (3) the buffering effect of social support is stronger in the under age 75 group than the over age 75 group. None of the three hypotheses was supported, contrary to prior research.     

Can Public Health Interventions Change Immediate and Long-Term Dietary Behaviours? Encouraging Evidence from a Pilot Study of the U.K. Change4Life Sugar Swaps Campaign

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the U.K. Change4Life Sugar Swaps campaign for improving nutritional intake in a small sample of families prior to the 2015 nationwide launch. A total of 49 participants from 14 families received information and materials during a two-week intervention period in November 2014 encouraging them to swap high sugar foods and drinks for low sugar alternatives. Daily dietary intake was reported with online food diaries over four stages, each two weeks in length: (i) baseline (no information provided), (ii) intervention when Sugar Swaps materials were accessible, (iii) immediate follow-up, and (iv) one year on from baseline. Data were analysed for sugar, glucose, fructose, sucrose, lactose, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, protein, salt, fibre, vitamin C, and energy. During the intervention, significant daily reductions of 32 g sugar, 11 g fat, and 236 kcal for each family member were observed, among others, and 61% of benefits achieved during the intervention period were maintained at immediate follow-up. Encouragingly, for children, reductions in sugar, sucrose, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, and energy were observed one year on. The Sugar Swaps Campaign is potentially an effective public health intervention for improving short- and long-term dietary behaviour for the whole family.