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Santamaría-García H, Migeot J, Medel V, Hazelton JL, Teckentrup V, Romero-Ortuno R, Piguet O, Lawor B, Northoff G, Ibanez A. Allostatic interoceptive overload across psychiatric and neurological conditions. Biol Psychiatry 2024:S0006-3223(24)01428-8. [PMID: 38964530 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Emerging theories emphasize the crucial role of allostasis (anticipatory and adaptive regulation of the body's biological processes) and interoception (integration, anticipation, and regulation of internal bodily states) in adjusting physiological responses to environmental and bodily demands. This review explores the disruptions in integrated allostatic interoceptive mechanisms in psychiatric and neurological disorders, including anxiety, depression, Alzheimer's disease, and frontotemporal dementia. We assess the biological mechanisms associated with allostatic interoception, including whole-body cascades, brain structure and function of the allostatic interoceptive network, heart-brain interactions, respiratory-brain interactions, the gut-brain-microbiota axis, peripheral biological processes (inflammatory, immune), and epigenetic pathways. These processes span psychiatric and neurological conditions and call for developing dimensional and trans-nosological frameworks. We synthesize new pathways to understand how allostatic interoceptive processes modulate interactions between environmental demands and biological functions in brain disorders. We discuss current limitations of the framework and future transdisciplinary developments. This review opens a new research agenda for understanding how allostatic interoception involves brain predictive coding in psychiatry and neurology, allowing for better clinical application and the development of new therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hernando Santamaría-García
- Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, PhD program of Neuroscience, Bogotá, Colombia; Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Centro de Memoria y Cognición Intellectus, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Joaquin Migeot
- Global Brain Health Institute, University California of San Francisco, Trinity College of Dublin; Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibanez, Santiago de Chile
| | - Vicente Medel
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibanez, Santiago de Chile
| | - Jessica L Hazelton
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibanez, Santiago de Chile; The University of Sydney, School of Psychology and Brain & Mind Centre, Sydney, Australia
| | - Vanessa Teckentrup
- School of Psychology and Trinity Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Roman Romero-Ortuno
- Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, PhD program of Neuroscience, Bogotá, Colombia; Discipline of Medical Gerontology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Olivier Piguet
- The University of Sydney, School of Psychology and Brain & Mind Centre, Sydney, Australia
| | - Brian Lawor
- Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, PhD program of Neuroscience, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - George Northoff
- Institute of Mental Health Research, Mind, Brain Imaging and Neuroethics Research Unit, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Agustin Ibanez
- Global Brain Health Institute, University California of San Francisco, Trinity College of Dublin; Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibanez, Santiago de Chile; School of Psychology and Trinity Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
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2
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Bouizegarene N, Ramstead MJD, Constant A, Friston KJ, Kirmayer LJ. Narrative as active inference: an integrative account of cognitive and social functions in adaptation. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1345480. [PMID: 38903472 PMCID: PMC11188712 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1345480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
While the ubiquity and importance of narratives for human adaptation is widely recognized, there is no integrative framework for understanding the roles of narrative in human adaptation. Research has identified several cognitive and social functions of narratives that are conducive to well-being and adaptation as well as to coordinated social practices and enculturation. In this paper, we characterize the cognitive and social functions of narratives in terms of active inference, to support the claim that one of the main adaptive functions of narrative is to generate more useful (i.e., accurate, parsimonious) predictions for the individual, as well as to coordinate group action (over multiple timescales) through shared predictions about collective behavior. Active inference is a theory that depicts the fundamental tendency of living organisms to adapt by proactively inferring the causes of their sensations (including their own actions). We review narrative research on identity, event segmentation, episodic memory, future projections, storytelling practices, enculturation, and master narratives. We show how this research dovetails with the active inference framework and propose an account of the cognitive and social functions of narrative that emphasizes that narratives are for the future-even when they are focused on recollecting or recounting the past. Understanding narratives as cognitive and cultural tools for mutual prediction in social contexts can guide research on narrative in adaptive behavior and psychopathology, based on a parsimonious mechanistic model of some of the basic adaptive functions of narrative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabil Bouizegarene
- Department of Psychology, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Research Center, Montreal University Institute of Mental Health, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Maxwell J. D. Ramstead
- VERSES Research Lab, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Axel Constant
- School of Engineering and Informatics, The University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
- Culture and Mental Health Research Unit, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Karl J. Friston
- VERSES Research Lab, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Laurence J. Kirmayer
- Culture and Mental Health Research Unit, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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3
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Gniewosz G. Clarifying the Links between Perceived Stress and Depressiveness: a Longitudinal Study of COVID-19's Effects on Adolescents in Germany. J Youth Adolesc 2024:10.1007/s10964-024-02012-8. [PMID: 38789874 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-024-02012-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Young people are navigating an increasingly uncertain and unstable social and economic environment, further complicated by COVID-19. Individual resources and vulnerabilities, such as mental health and sensitivity to stress, play a significant role in how well youth adapt to the career paths and living conditions altered by the pandemic, a dynamic that is not yet well understood. This study examined the role of COVID-19 on the intertwined relation between perceived stress and depressiveness (negative and positive affect) in adolescents, focusing on gender differences. Longitudinal data from 673 German adolescents (Mage = 16.8 years, SDage = 0.91; female = 59%) were collected in three waves, before (T1) and during the pandemic (T2, T3). Using Latent Change Score models, the bidirectional relation between perceived stress and depressiveness was analyzed, considering gender as a moderator. The results showed that adolescents who found their situation stressful were at risk of developing depressiveness at the outbreak of the pandemic and throughout its progression. As the pandemic progressed, an increase in positive affect was linked to heightened perceived stress. Gender-specific differences were particularly evident in the levels of perceived stress and depressiveness, with women being more vulnerable. This study highlights how vulnerabilities in stress perception affect adolescents' mental health, with gender-specific differences underscoring the need for tailored mental health measures.
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4
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Miller M, White B, Scrivner C. Surfing uncertainty with screams: predictive processing, error dynamics and horror films. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20220425. [PMID: 38104602 PMCID: PMC10725765 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite tremendous efforts in psychology, neuroscience and media and cultural studies, it is still something of a mystery why humans are attracted to fictional content that is horrifying, disgusting or otherwise aversive. While the psychological benefits of horror films, stories, video games, etc. has recently been demonstrated empirically, current theories emphasizing the negative and positive consequences of this engagement often contradict one another. Here, we suggest the predictive processing framework may provide a unifying account of horror content engagement that provides clear and testable hypotheses, and explains why a 'sweet spot' of fear and fun exists in horror entertainment. This article is part of the theme issue 'Art, aesthetics and predictive processing: theoretical and empirical perspectives'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Miller
- Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5R 0A3
| | - Ben White
- School of Media, Arts and Humanities, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9RH, UK
| | - Coltan Scrivner
- Recreational Fear Lab, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
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5
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Krupnik V. I like therefore I can, and I can therefore I like: the role of self-efficacy and affect in active inference of allostasis. Front Neural Circuits 2024; 18:1283372. [PMID: 38322807 PMCID: PMC10839114 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2024.1283372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Active inference (AIF) is a theory of the behavior of information-processing open dynamic systems. It describes them as generative models (GM) generating inferences on the causes of sensory input they receive from their environment. Based on these inferences, GMs generate predictions about sensory input. The discrepancy between a prediction and the actual input results in prediction error. GMs then execute action policies predicted to minimize the prediction error. The free-energy principle provides a rationale for AIF by stipulating that information-processing open systems must constantly minimize their free energy (through suppressing the cumulative prediction error) to avoid decay. The theory of homeostasis and allostasis has a similar logic. Homeostatic set points are expectations of living organisms. Discrepancies between set points and actual states generate stress. For optimal functioning, organisms avoid stress by preserving homeostasis. Theories of AIF and homeostasis have recently converged, with AIF providing a formal account for homeo- and allostasis. In this paper, we present bacterial chemotaxis as molecular AIF, where mutual constraints by extero- and interoception play an essential role in controlling bacterial behavior supporting homeostasis. Extending this insight to the brain, we propose a conceptual model of the brain homeostatic GM, in which we suggest partition of the brain GM into cognitive and physiological homeostatic GMs. We outline their mutual regulation as well as their integration based on the free-energy principle. From this analysis, affect and self-efficacy emerge as the main regulators of the cognitive homeostatic GM. We suggest fatigue and depression as target neurocognitive phenomena for studying the neural mechanisms of such regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valery Krupnik
- Department of Mental Health, Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, CA, United States
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6
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Szcześniak M, Falewicz A, Wnuk M, Bielecka G, Madej D. The mediating effect of hope agency on perceived stress and professional burnout among Polish corporate employees. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1859. [PMID: 38253586 PMCID: PMC10803369 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52289-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Job burnout is considered an outcome of prolonged exposure of employees to stress. Although many studies have focused on the presence of a direct association between stress and burnout, we still know very little about mediators that indirectly play a role in this relationship. Previous analyses have determined that self-efficacy acts as a mechanism that explains the overall relationship between stress and burnout. However, there is no such evidence to support the mediatory function of hope. Therefore, the main aim of the current study was to verify whether self-efficacy, hope pathways, and hope agency are mediators in this relationship. The study included 408 Polish-speaking adults who completed the Perceived Stress Scale, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Dispositional Hope Scale. The outcomes indicated a positive correlation of stress with the overall burnout score, as well as all subscales. Moreover, hope agency was a mediator, thus suggesting that there is also an indirect relationship between stress and job burnout. Therefore, it can be assumed that higher stress is associated with lower motivation to generate and sustain the actions needed to reach the goals. Consequently, lower hope agency may lead stressed employees to greater exhaustion and reduced personal accomplishment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adam Falewicz
- Institute of Psychology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Marcin Wnuk
- Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Grażyna Bielecka
- Institute of Psychology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Daria Madej
- Institute of Psychology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
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7
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Corcoran AW, Perrykkad K, Feuerriegel D, Robinson JE. Body as First Teacher: The Role of Rhythmic Visceral Dynamics in Early Cognitive Development. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2023:17456916231185343. [PMID: 37694720 DOI: 10.1177/17456916231185343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Embodied cognition-the idea that mental states and processes should be understood in relation to one's bodily constitution and interactions with the world-remains a controversial topic within cognitive science. Recently, however, increasing interest in predictive processing theories among proponents and critics of embodiment alike has raised hopes of a reconciliation. This article sets out to appraise the unificatory potential of predictive processing, focusing in particular on embodied formulations of active inference. Our analysis suggests that most active-inference accounts invoke weak, potentially trivial conceptions of embodiment; those making stronger claims do so independently of the theoretical commitments of the active-inference framework. We argue that a more compelling version of embodied active inference can be motivated by adopting a diachronic perspective on the way rhythmic physiological activity shapes neural development in utero. According to this visceral afferent training hypothesis, early-emerging physiological processes are essential not only for supporting the biophysical development of neural structures but also for configuring the cognitive architecture those structures entail. Focusing in particular on the cardiovascular system, we propose three candidate mechanisms through which visceral afferent training might operate: (a) activity-dependent neuronal development, (b) periodic signal modeling, and (c) oscillatory network coordination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew W Corcoran
- Monash Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies, Monash University
- Cognition and Philosophy Laboratory, School of Philosophical, Historical, and International Studies, Monash University
| | - Kelsey Perrykkad
- Cognition and Philosophy Laboratory, School of Philosophical, Historical, and International Studies, Monash University
| | | | - Jonathan E Robinson
- Cognition and Philosophy Laboratory, School of Philosophical, Historical, and International Studies, Monash University
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8
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Abend R. Understanding anxiety symptoms as aberrant defensive responding along the threat imminence continuum. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105305. [PMID: 37414377 PMCID: PMC10528507 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Threat-anticipatory defensive responses have evolved to promote survival in a dynamic world. While inherently adaptive, aberrant expression of defensive responses to potential threat could manifest as pathological anxiety, which is prevalent, impairing, and associated with adverse outcomes. Extensive translational neuroscience research indicates that normative defensive responses are organized by threat imminence, such that distinct response patterns are observed in each phase of threat encounter and orchestrated by partially conserved neural circuitry. Anxiety symptoms, such as excessive and pervasive worry, physiological arousal, and avoidance behavior, may reflect aberrant expression of otherwise normative defensive responses, and therefore follow the same imminence-based organization. Here, empirical evidence linking aberrant expression of specific, imminence-dependent defensive responding to distinct anxiety symptoms is reviewed, and plausible contributing neural circuitry is highlighted. Drawing from translational and clinical research, the proposed framework informs our understanding of pathological anxiety by grounding anxiety symptoms in conserved psychobiological mechanisms. Potential implications for research and treatment are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rany Abend
- School of Psychology, Reichman University, P.O. Box 167, Herzliya 4610101, Israel; Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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9
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Kent L. Mental Gravity: Depression as Spacetime Curvature of the Self, Mind, and Brain. ENTROPY (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 25:1275. [PMID: 37761574 PMCID: PMC10528036 DOI: 10.3390/e25091275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
The principle of mental gravity contends that the mind uses physical gravity as a mental model or simulacrum to express the relation between the inner self and the outer world in terms of "UP"-ness and "DOWN"-ness. The simulation of increased gravity characterises a continuum of mental gravity which states includes depression as the paradigmatic example of being down, low, heavy, and slow. The physics of gravity can also be used to model spacetime curvature in depression, particularly gravitational time dilation as a property of MG analogous to subjective time dilation (i.e., the slowing of temporal flow in conscious experience). The principle has profound implications for the Temporo-spatial Theory of Consciousness (TTC) with regard to temporo-spatial alignment that establishes a "world-brain relation" that is centred on embodiment and the socialisation of conscious states. The principle of mental gravity provides the TTC with a way to incorporate the structure of the world into the structure of the brain, conscious experience, and thought. In concert with other theories of cognitive and neurobiological spacetime, the TTC can also work towards the "common currency" approach that also potentially connects the TTC to predictive processing frameworks such as free energy, neuronal gauge theories, and active inference accounts of depression. It gives the up/down dimension of space, as defined by the gravitational field, a unique status that is connected to both our embodied interaction with the physical world, and also the inverse, reflective, emotional but still embodied experience of ourselves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lachlan Kent
- Mental Wellbeing Initiatives, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
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10
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Westergren J, Sjöberg V, Vixner L, Nyberg RG, Moulaee Conradsson D, Monnier A, LoMartire R, Enthoven P, Äng BO. Acute exercise as active inference in chronic musculoskeletal pain, effects on gait kinematics and muscular activity in patients and healthy participants: a study protocol for a randomised controlled laboratory trial. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e069747. [PMID: 37258077 PMCID: PMC10255138 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chronic musculoskeletal pain is a highly prevalent, complex and distressing condition that may negatively affect all domains of life. In view of an active inference framework, and resting on the concept of allostasis, human movement per se becomes a prerequisite for health and well-being while chronic pain becomes a sign of a system unable to attenuate an allostatic load. Previous studies on different subgroups of chronic pain conditions have demonstrated alterations in gait kinematics and muscle activity, indicating shared disturbances in the motor system from long-term allostatic load. We hypothesise that such alterations exist in heterogenous populations with chronic musculoskeletal pain, and that exposure to acute and controlled exercise may attenuate these alterations. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to investigate the acute effects of exercise on gait kinematics and activity of the back and neck muscles during diverse walking conditions in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain compared with a reference sample consisting of healthy participants. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This two-sample two-armed parallel randomised controlled laboratory trial will include 40 participants with chronic musculoskeletal pain (>3 months) and 40 healthy participants. Participants will be randomly allocated to either 30 min of aerobic exercise or rest. Primary outcomes are gait kinematics (walking speed, step frequency, stride length, lumbar rotation, gait stability) and muscular activity (spatial and temporal) of the back and neck during diverse walking conditions. Secondary outcomes are variability of gait kinematics and muscle activity and subjective pain ratings assessed regularly during the trial. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study has been approved by the Regional Ethics Review Board in Uppsala, Sweden (#2018/307). Findings will be disseminated via conference presentations, publications in peer-reviewed journals and engagement with patient support groups and clinicians. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT03882333.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Westergren
- School of Health and Welfare, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden
| | | | - Linda Vixner
- School of Health and Welfare, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden
| | - Roger G Nyberg
- School of Information and Engineering, Dalarna University, Borlänge, Sweden
| | - David Moulaee Conradsson
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Physiotherapy, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
- Medical unit Occupational therapy & Physiotherapy, Theme Women's Health and Allied Health Professional, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andreas Monnier
- School of Health and Welfare, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Physiotherapy, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Riccardo LoMartire
- Center for Clinical Research Dalarna, Uppsala University, Region Dalarna, Falun, Sweden
| | - Paul Enthoven
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Pain and Rehabilitation Centre, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Björn O Äng
- School of Health and Welfare, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Physiotherapy, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
- Center for Clinical Research Dalarna, Uppsala University, Region Dalarna, Falun, Sweden
- Regional Board Administration, Region Dalarna, Falun, Sweden
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11
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Sánchez IA, Cuchimba JA, Pineda MC, Argüello YP, Kočí J, Kreider RB, Petro JL, Bonilla DA. Adaptogens on Depression-Related Outcomes: A Systematic Integrative Review and Rationale of Synergism with Physical Activity. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5298. [PMID: 37047914 PMCID: PMC10094590 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20075298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Depression is considered the most important disorder affecting mental health. The aim of this systematic integrative review was: (i) to describe the effects of supplementation with adaptogens on variables related to depression in adults; and (ii) to discuss the potential combination with physical exercise to aid planning and commissioning future clinical research. An integrative review was developed complementing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses statement (PROSPERO registration: CRD42021249682). A total of 41 articles met the inclusion criteria. With a Price index of 46.4%, we found that: (i) Hypericum perforatum (St. John's Wort) is the most studied and supported adaptogen (17/41 [41.46%], three systematic reviews with meta-analysis) followed by Crocus sativus L. or saffron (6/41 [14.63%], three systematic reviews with meta-analysis and two systematic reviews); (ii) it is possible that the significantly better performance of adaptogens over placebo is due to the reduction of allostatic load via the action of secondary metabolites on BDNF regulation; and, (iii) the number of studies reporting physical activity levels is limited or null for those that combine an exercise program with the consumption of adaptogens. Aware of the need for a multidisciplinary approach for depression treatment, this systematic integrative review provides an up-to-date view for supporting the use of St. John's Wort and saffron as non-pharmacological strategies while also help commissioning future research on the efficacy of other adaptogens. It also contributes to the design of future clinical research studies that evaluate the consumption of herbal extracts plus physical exercise, mainly resistance training, as a potentially safe and powerful strategy to treat depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel A. Sánchez
- Grupo de Investigación Ciencias Aplicadas al Ejercicio, Deporte y Salud—GICAEDS, Universidad Santo Tomás, Bogotá 205070, Colombia; (I.A.S.)
| | - Jaime A. Cuchimba
- Grupo de Investigación Ciencias Aplicadas al Ejercicio, Deporte y Salud—GICAEDS, Universidad Santo Tomás, Bogotá 205070, Colombia; (I.A.S.)
| | - María C. Pineda
- Grupo de Investigación Ciencias Aplicadas al Ejercicio, Deporte y Salud—GICAEDS, Universidad Santo Tomás, Bogotá 205070, Colombia; (I.A.S.)
| | - Yenny P. Argüello
- Grupo de Investigación Cuerpo, Sujeto y Educación—CSE, Universidad Santo Tomás, Bogotá 205070, Colombia
| | - Jana Kočí
- Research Division, Dynamical Business & Science Society—DBSS International SAS, Bogotá 110311, Colombia; (J.K.); (J.L.P.)
- Department of Education, Faculty of Education, Charles University, 11636 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Richard B. Kreider
- Exercise & Sport Nutrition Laboratory, Human Clinical Research Facility, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA;
| | - Jorge L. Petro
- Research Division, Dynamical Business & Science Society—DBSS International SAS, Bogotá 110311, Colombia; (J.K.); (J.L.P.)
- Research Group in Physical Activity, Sports and Health Sciences (GICAFS), Universidad de Córdoba, Montería 230002, Colombia
| | - Diego A. Bonilla
- Research Division, Dynamical Business & Science Society—DBSS International SAS, Bogotá 110311, Colombia; (J.K.); (J.L.P.)
- Research Group in Physical Activity, Sports and Health Sciences (GICAFS), Universidad de Córdoba, Montería 230002, Colombia
- Research Group in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas, Bogotá 110311, Colombia
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12
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Beydoun HA, Beydoun MA, Kwon E, Hossain S, Fanelli-Kuczmarski MT, Maldonado A, Evans MK, Zonderman AB. Longitudinal association of allostatic load with depressive symptoms among urban adults: Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span study. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 149:106022. [PMID: 36640448 PMCID: PMC9931667 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.106022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence suggests that lifetime exposure to stressful life events and chronic stressors may be linked to geriatric depression. Allostatic load (AL) is considered a mediator of the stress-health relationship and has been linked to psychosocial factors reflecting health disparities. The purpose of this study was to examine the longitudinal associations of AL with depressive symptoms scores among urban adults, before and after stratifying by sex and race. METHODS Secondary analyses were performed using Visit 1 (2004-2009), Visit 2 (2009-2013) and Visit 3 (2013-2017) data collected on 2298 Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span study participants (baseline age: 30-64 y). AL at Visit 1 (ALv1) and z-transformed probability of higher AL trajectory (ALtraj) between Visits 1 and 3 were calculated using cardiovascular, metabolic and inflammatory risk indicators. The 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale was used to calculate total and domain-specific depressive symptoms scores. Mixed-effects linear models controlled for socio-demographic, lifestyle and health characteristics. RESULTS In fully adjusted models, a positive cross-sectional relationship was observed between ALv1 and "somatic complaints" depressive symptoms (β = 0.21, P = 0.006) score at Visit 1, whereas ALtraj was associated with increasing depressive symptoms score (β = 0.086, P = 0.003) between Visits 1 and 3. An inverse relationship was observed between ALtraj and "positive affect" depressive symptoms score at Visit 1 among women (β = -0.31, P < 0.0001) and White adults (β = -0.32, P = 0.004). Among women, ALtraj was also positively related to change in "somatic complaints" depressive symptoms score between Visits 1 and 3 (β = 0.043, P = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS Among urban adults, AL may be associated with "somatic complaints" depressive symptoms at baseline. Higher AL trajectories may predict increasing depressive symptoms (overall) and increasing "somatic complaints" depressive symptoms (among women). A higher AL trajectory may be associated with lower "positive affect" depressive symptoms at baseline among women and White adults only.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hind A Beydoun
- Department of Research Programs, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, Fort Belvoir, VA, USA.
| | - May A Beydoun
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Edward Kwon
- Department of Family Medicine, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, Fort Belvoir, VA, USA
| | - Sharmin Hossain
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Marie T Fanelli-Kuczmarski
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ana Maldonado
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Michele K Evans
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alan B Zonderman
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Perlman G, Cogo-Moreira H, Wu CY, Herrmann N, Swardfager W. Depression interacts with allostatic load to predict cognitive decline in middle age. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 146:105922. [PMID: 36150368 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Allostatic load (AL) indicates the cumulative impact of stress on homeostatic mechanisms. Depression and AL have been associated with cognitive deficits, but it is unclear if they do so independently. METHODS Using data from middle-aged participants in the observational longitudinal Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study (n = 704, 57.5 % female, 63.8 ± 10.6 years old in 2014), we assessed whether the effect of prior depression (Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short-Form in 1995) on cognitive decline between 2004 and 2013 (composite Z-scores derived from the Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone and the Stop & Go Switch Task) was moderated by AL Z-scores in 2004 (calculated from biomarkers in blood, urine, and electrocardiography). RESULTS A significant depression × AL interaction predicted a decline in a composite cognitive score (β = -0.066, SE=0.029, p = 0.024) and executive function (β = -0.068, SE=0.025, p = 0.007). Depression predicted a decline in composite cognition among those with AL Z-scores above - 0.055. AL subdomains of inflammation and lipid metabolism showed evidence of moderation. CONCLUSION Middle-aged adults with depression who had higher allostatic load were at greater risk of cognitive decline. Future studies should evaluate whether the interaction predicts incident dementia, and whether interventions targeting depression or elevated AL in people who have both can attenuate cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Perlman
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto M4N 3M5, Canada; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada; Sleep and Cardiopulmonary Program, University Health Network - Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, 347 Rumsey Road, Toronto M4G 2V6, Canada
| | - Hugo Cogo-Moreira
- Department of Education, ICT and Learning, Østfold University College, P.O.Box 700, NO-1757, Halden, Norway
| | - Che-Yuan Wu
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto M4N 3M5, Canada; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Nathan Herrmann
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto M4N 3M5, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, Toronto M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Walter Swardfager
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto M4N 3M5, Canada; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada; Sleep and Cardiopulmonary Program, University Health Network - Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, 347 Rumsey Road, Toronto M4G 2V6, Canada.
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Paans O, Ehlen B. Action-Shapers and Their Neuro-Immunological Foundations. Front Psychol 2022; 13:917876. [PMID: 35910998 PMCID: PMC9336682 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.917876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Not all our intentions translate into actions, as our capacity to act may be influenced by a variety of mental and biochemical factors. In this article, we present a comprehensive account of how neuro-immunological processes affect our intentional abilities and our capacity to act. We do so by extending the theory of thought-shapers (TTS) through the notion of action-shapers and combining this theory with the essential embodiment thesis (EE). This thesis about the mind-body relation says that human minds are necessarily and completely embodied. Action-shapers dynamically constitute the action-space of individuals, affecting their capacity to take action or to select one course of action over another. We highlight the effects and interactions of neuro-immunological effective processes in the body to demonstrate how they shape the action-space. In this article, we consider neuro-immunological effective processes that influence the gut-brain axis, chronic stress, high levels of sugar intake, the amygdala and the effects of prolonged stress. We investigate the effects of these processes on the perception and on the capacity to form intentions and act on them. We conclude the paper by providing a concise account of action-shapers, in which we attempt to summarize the line of argumentation and provide suggestions for further research.
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