Fitness tracking reveals task-specific associations between memory, mental health, and physical activity

Mental health in children with and without ADHD: the role of physical activity and parental nativity

BACKGROUND

Physical activity (PA) can improve mental health, including anxiety/depression, in individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with minimal side effects, unlike pharmacotherapy that can result in significant side effects. However, the influence of PA on mental health among children with ADHD is understudied. Also, immigrants tend to have better mental health, but the influence of parental nativity on children's mental health is unknown. We examined the relationship between PA, parental nativity, and current anxiety/depression among U.S. children with and without ADHD. We also analyzed whether ADHD diagnosis status moderates the relationship between anxiety/depression and PA or parental nativity.

METHODS

We used national annual cross-sectional data from the 2016 to 2021 National Survey of Children's Health to conduct weighted multivariable logistic regression and moderation analyses, with current anxiety/depression status as the outcome variable. The sampling involves selecting households with children and rostering children in the household from each state and the District of Columbia. A parent or caregiver of the selected child completes the surveys. We restricted the analysis to children aged 6-17 years (N = 140,977).

RESULTS

The prevalence of current anxiety/depression was higher in children with ADHD diagnosis (37.34%) than those without ADHD diagnosis (7.42%). Children with ADHD (versus no ADHD) had higher odds of anxiety/depression. Engaging in PA (versus no PA) and having immigrant parents (versus non-immigrant parents) were associated with lower anxiety/depression odds. ADHD diagnosis status significantly moderated the association between anxiety/depression and PA or parental nativity. However, the three-way interaction between ADHD status, parental nativity, and physical activity was not statistically significant. Stratified by ADHD diagnosis status, those who engaged in PA (versus did not) for 1 to 3 days, 4 to 6 days, and daily were less often diagnosed with anxiety/depression disorder among those with or without ADHD, especially children without ADHD. The odds were also lower for children with or without ADHD whose parents were immigrants than children with non-immigrant parents, particularly children without ADHD who had immigrant parents. Parental nativity did not significantly moderate the association between PA and anxiety/depression among children with and without ADHD.

CONCLUSIONS

Physical activity was associated with lower risks of diagnosed with anxiety/depression disorder among children, especially children without ADHD and those with immigrant parents. Considering parental nativity and incorporating personalized PA in ADHD and anxiety/depression management can improve mental illness and ADHD symptoms among children.

Greater physical fitness ( VO 2 max ) in healthy older adults associated with increased integrity of the locus coeruleus-noradrenergic system

AIM

Physical activity (PA) is a key component for brain health and Reserve, and it is among the main dementia protective factors. However, the neurobiological mechanisms underpinning Reserve are not fully understood. In this regard, a noradrenergic (NA) theory of cognitive reserve (Robertson, 2013) has proposed that the upregulation of NA system might be a key factor for building reserve and resilience to neurodegeneration because of the neuroprotective role of NA across the brain. PA elicits an enhanced catecholamine response, in particular for NA. By increasing physical commitment, a greater amount of NA is synthetised in response to higher oxygen demand. More physically trained individuals show greater capabilities to carry oxygen resulting in greaterVo 2 max - a measure of oxygen uptake and physical fitness (PF).

METHODS

We hypothesized that greaterVo 2 max would be related to greater Locus Coeruleus (LC) MRI signal intensity. In a sample of 41 healthy subjects, we performed Voxel-Based Morphometry analyses, then repeated for the other neuromodulators as a control procedure (Serotonin, Dopamine and Acetylcholine).

RESULTS

As hypothesized, greaterVo 2 max related to greater LC signal intensity, and weaker associations emerged for the other neuromodulators.

CONCLUSION

This newly established link betweenVo 2 max and LC-NA system offers further understanding of the neurobiology underpinning Reserve in relationship to PA. While this study supports Robertson's theory proposing the upregulation of the NA system as a possible key factor building Reserve, it also provides ground for increasing LC-NA system resilience to neurodegeneration viaVo 2 max enhancement.

Predicting cognitive scores from wearable-based digital physiological features using machine learning: data from a clinical trial in mild cognitive impairment

BACKGROUND

Continuous assessment and remote monitoring of cognitive function in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) enables tracking therapeutic effects and modifying treatment to achieve better clinical outcomes. While standardized neuropsychological tests are inconvenient for this purpose, wearable sensor technology collecting physiological and behavioral data looks promising to provide proxy measures of cognitive function. The objective of this study was to evaluate the predictive ability of digital physiological features, based on sensor data from wrist-worn wearables, in determining neuropsychological test scores in individuals with MCI.

METHODS

We used the dataset collected from a 10-week single-arm clinical trial in older adults (50-70 years old) diagnosed with amnestic MCI (N = 30) who received a digitally delivered multidomain therapeutic intervention. Cognitive performance was assessed before and after the intervention using the Neuropsychological Test Battery (NTB) from which composite scores were calculated (executive function, processing speed, immediate memory, delayed memory and global cognition). The Empatica E4, a wrist-wearable medical-grade device, was used to collect physiological data including blood volume pulse, electrodermal activity, and skin temperature. We processed sensors' data and extracted a range of physiological features. We used interpolated NTB scores for 10-day intervals to test predictability of scores over short periods and to leverage the maximum of wearable data available. In addition, we used individually centered data which represents deviations from personal baselines. Supervised machine learning was used to train models predicting NTB scores from digital physiological features and demographics. Performance was evaluated using "leave-one-subject-out" and "leave-one-interval-out" cross-validation.

RESULTS

The final sample included 96 aggregated data intervals from 17 individuals. In total, 106 digital physiological features were extracted. We found that physiological features, especially measures of heart rate variability, correlated most strongly to the executive function compared to other cognitive composites. The model predicted the actual executive function scores with correlation r = 0.69 and intra-individual changes in executive function scores with r = 0.61.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrated that wearable-based physiological measures, primarily HRV, have potential to be used for the continuous assessments of cognitive function in individuals with MCI.

Greater physical fitness (Vo2Max) in healthy older adults associated with increased integrity of the Locus Coeruleus-Noradrenergic system

Physical activity (PA) is a key component for brain health and Reserve, and it is among the main dementia protective factors. However, the neurobiological mechanisms underpinning Reserve are not fully understood. In this regard, a noradrenergic (NA) theory of cognitive reserve (Robertson, 2013) has proposed that the upregulation of NA system might be a key factor for building reserve and resilience to neurodegeneration because of the neuroprotective role of NA across the brain. PA elicits an enhanced catecholamine response, in particular for NA. By increasing physical commitment, a greater amount of NA is synthetised in response to higher oxygen demand. More physically trained individuals show greater capabilities to carry oxygen resulting in greater Vo2max - a measure of oxygen uptake and physical fitness (PF). In the current study, we hypothesised that greater Vo2 max would be related to greater Locus Coeruleus (LC) MRI signal intensity. As hypothesised, greater Vo2max related to greater LC signal intensity across 41 healthy adults (age range 60-72). As a control procedure, in which these analyses were repeated for the other neuromodulators' seeds (for Serotonin, Dopamine and Acetylcholine), weaker associations emerged. This newly established link between Vo2max and LC-NA system offers further understanding of the neurobiology underpinning Reserve in relationship to PA. While this study supports Robertson's theory proposing the upregulation of the noradrenergic system as a possible key factor building Reserve, it also provide grounds for increasing LC-NA system resilience to neurodegeneration via Vo2max enhancement.

Greater physical fitness (Vo2Max) in healthy older adults associated with increased integrity of the Locus Coeruleus-Noradrenergic system

Physical activity (PA) is a key component for brain health and Reserve, and it is among the main dementia protective factors. However, the neurobiological mechanisms underpinning Reserve are not fully understood. In this regard, a noradrenergic (NA) theory of cognitive reserve (Robertson, 2013) has proposed that the upregulation of NA system might be a key factor for building reserve and resilience to neurodegeneration because of the neuroprotective role of NA across the brain. PA elicits an enhanced catecholamine response, in particular for NA. By increasing physical commitment, a greater amount of NA is synthetised in response to higher oxygen demand. More physically trained individuals show greater capabilities to carry oxygen resulting in greater Vo2max - a measure of oxygen uptake and physical fitness (PF). In the current study, we hypothesised that greater Vo2 max would be related to greater Locus Coeruleus (LC) MRI signal intensity. As hypothesised, greater Vo2max related to greater LC signal intensity across 41 healthy adults (age range 60-72). As a control procedure, in which these analyses were repeated for the other neuromodulators' seeds (for Serotonin, Dopamine and Acetylcholine), weaker associations emerged. This newly established link between Vo2max and LC-NA system offers further understanding of the neurobiology underpinning Reserve in relationship to PA. While this study supports Robertson's theory proposing the upregulation of the noradrenergic system as a possible key factor building Reserve, it also provide grounds for increasing LC-NA system resilience to neurodegeneration via Vo2max enhancement.

The Physiological and Molecular Links Between Physical Activity and Brain Health: A Review

There is currently an epidemic of sedentary behavior throughout the world, leading to negative impacts on physical health and contributing to both mortality and burden of disease. The consequences of this also impact the brain, where increased levels of cognitive decline are observed in individuals who are more sedentary. This review explores the physiological and molecular responses to our sedentary propensity, its contribution to several medical conditions and cognitive deficits, and the benefits of moderate levels of physical activity and exercise. Also presented is the recommended level of activity for overall physical health improvement.