Intraindividual Change Research Articles

Longitudinal Changes of White Matter Hyperintensities in Sporadic Small Vessel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are frequent imaging features of small vessel disease (SVD) and related to poor clinical outcomes. WMH progression over time is well described, but regression was also noted recently, although the frequency and associated factors are unknown. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess longitudinal intraindividual WMH volume changes in sporadic SVD. We searched EMBASE and MEDLINE for articles up to 28 January 2022 on WMH volume changes using MRI on ≥2 time points in adults with sporadic SVD. We classified populations (healthy/community-dwelling, stroke, cognitive, other vascular risk factors, and depression) based on study characteristics. We performed random-effects meta-analyses with Knapp-Hartung adjustment to determine mean WMH volume change (change in milliliters, percentage of intracranial volume [%ICV], or milliliters per year), 95% CI, and prediction intervals (PIs, limits of increase and decrease) using unadjusted data. Risk of bias assessment tool for nonrandomized studies was used to assess risk of bias. We followed Preferred Reporting in Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Forty-one articles, 12,284 participants, met the inclusion criteria. Thirteen articles had low risk of bias across all domains. Mean WMH volume increased over time by 1.74 mL (95% CI 1.23-2.26; PI -1.24 to 4.73 mL; 27 articles, N = 7,411, mean time interval 2.7 years, SD = 1.65); 0.25 %ICV (95% CI 0.14-0.36; PI -0.06 to 0.56; 6 articles, N = 1,071, mean time interval 3.5 years, SD = 1.54); or 0.58 mL/y (95% CI 0.35-0.81; PI -0.26 to 1.41; 8 articles, N = 3,802). In addition, 13 articles specifically mentioned and/or provided data on WMH regression, which occurred in asymptomatic, stroke, and cognitive disorders related to SVD. Net mean WMH volume increases over time mask wide-ranging change (e.g., mean increase of 1.75 mL ranging from 1.25 mL decrease to 4.75 mL increase), with regression documented explicitly in up to one-third of participants. More knowledge on underlying mechanisms, associated factors, and clinical correlates is needed, as WMH regression could be an important intervention target.

Development of adolescents’ self-esteem and general academic self-concept: perceived classroom climate makes a difference

We investigated rank-order continuity and mean-level change in adolescents’ self-esteem, academic self-concept, and social self-concept and tested whether interindividual differences in intraindividual change could be explained by four dimensions of classroom climate (i.e., teachers’ focus on students, learning community, pressure related to social or achievement issues, and rivalry and disruptions in class). The effects of classroom climate dimensions were investigated at the individual and classroom levels. The study comprised 2722 students from 98 classes who participated in four waves from grades 5 to 8. Rank-order continuities of self-esteem, academic self-concept, and social self-concept were substantial. Multilevel regressions revealed a significant nonlinear mean-level change in all constructs under investigation, indicating an initial decrease that became smaller over time. In self-esteem and social self-concept, the trend shifted from an initial decrease to an increase. Multilevel regressions revealed significant interindividual differences in the changes over time in all constructs. Change in academic self-concept was significantly predicted by all classroom climate dimensions on the individual level. Change in self-esteem was predicted by teachers’ focus on students and pressure related to social or achievement issues on the individual level. Change in social self-concept was not predicted by any classroom climate dimension.

Developing and Testing a Model of Dynamic Changes in Work-School Conflict and Workplace Deviance Over Time.

Work–school conflict is a major stressor for many college students who have paid jobs while in college. Although work–school conflict experience is dynamic, the extant research has predominantly cast it and its consequences as between-person phenomena from a static perspective, ignoring its inherent temporal nature. As a result, little is known about the intra-individual changes in work–school conflict and their associated consequences as implied by the related theory. Drawing on the stressor–emotion model of counterproductive work behavior, we conducted a longitudinal weekly diary study to examine how work–school conflict change can predict changes in negative emotions and workplace deviance (i.e., the change-to-change effects). We also tested core self-evaluation, time management skill, and financial well-being as moderators of the proposed mediated relationship. Results from latent change score modeling showed that upward work–school conflict change had a positive relationship with upward workplace deviance change via upward changes in negative emotions. Further, time management skill and financial well-being weakened the indirect relationships between upward work–school conflict change and upward workplace deviance change. However, the moderating nature of core self-evaluation on the indirect relationship contrasted with our hypothesis. Implications for theory and future research are discussed along with implications for organizations and college institutions.

Longitudinal associations of plasma metabolites with persistent fatigue among colorectal cancer survivors up to 2 years after treatment.

The underlying biological mechanisms causing persistent fatigue complaints after colorectal cancer treatment need further investigation. We investigated longitudinal associations of circulating concentrations of 138 metabolites with total fatigue and subdomains of fatigue between 6 weeks and 2 years after colorectal cancer treatment. Among stage I-III colorectal cancer survivors (n=252), blood samples were obtained at 6 weeks, and 6, 12 and 24 months posttreatment. Total fatigue and fatigue subdomains were measured using a validated questionnaire. Tandem mass spectrometry was applied to measure metabolite concentrations (BIOCRATES AbsoluteIDQp180 kit). Confounder-adjusted longitudinal associations were analyzed using linear mixed models, with false discovery rate (FDR) correction. We assessed interindividual (between-participant differences) and intraindividual longitudinal associations (within-participant changes over time). In the overall longitudinal analysis, statistically significant associations were observed for 12, 32, 17 and three metabolites with total fatigue and the subscales "fatigue severity," "reduced motivation" and "reduced activity," respectively. Specifically, higher concentrations of several amino acids, lysophosphatidylcholines, diacylphosphatidylcholines, acyl-alkylphosphatidylcholines and sphingomyelins were associated with less fatigue, while higher concentrations of acylcarnitines were associated with more fatigue. For "fatigue severity," associations appeared mainly driven by intraindividual associations, while for "reduced motivation" stronger interindividual associations were found. We observed longitudinal associations of several metabolites with total fatigue and fatigue subscales, and that intraindividual changes in metabolites over time were associated with fatigue severity. These findings point toward inflammation and an impaired energy metabolism due to mitochondrial dysfunction as underlying mechanisms. Mechanistic studies are necessary to determine whether these metabolites could be targets for intervention.

Blood pressure changes impact corticospinal integrity and downstream gait and balance control

Blood pressure (BP) plays an important role in white matter integrity. We sought to determine the role of intra-individual BP changes on white matter and evaluate the impact on gait speed and imbalance by sex. We identified 990 eligible participants in the population-based Mayo Clinic Study of Aging and analyzed fractional anisotropy (FA) in white matter regions. Using structural equation models (SEM), we assessed the effect of BP slope on corticospinal tract (CST) FA and downstream effects on gait speed and imbalance after age and sex effects. Of 990 participants, 438 (44%) were female with mean age of 76 years. In linear models predicting CST FA, a greater change in BP slope (0.0004; p = 0.026) and female sex (0.017; p < 0.001) were significant predictors of lower CST FA. SEMs showed that older age, female sex, and higher BP slope predicted lower CST FA, and lower CST FA predicted worse downstream motor control. Therefore, intra-individual BP slope and variability impact corticospinal tract microstructural properties of white matter with females having increased susceptibility to damage.

Individual variations in pre-altitude hemoglobin mass influence hemoglobin mass responses to repeated altitude sojourns.

Previous studies have shown variable within-subject hemoglobin mass (Hbmass ) responses to altitude training. We investigated whether Hbmass responses depend on individual variations in pre-altitude Hbmass during repeated altitude sojourns. Nine elite endurance athletes carried out 3-5 altitude sojourns over 17 ± 10months (mean ± 95% confidence interval), at an altitude of 1976 ± 62 m, for 21 ± 1 days, and a total hypoxic dose of 989 ± 46km·h, with Hbmass assessed before and after each sojourn (carbon monoxide rebreathing). The individual mean baseline was calculated as the mean of all pre-altitude Hbmass values for an athlete, and it was investigated whether the percent deviation from the individual mean baseline affected the altitude-induced Hbmass response. On average, Hbmass increased by 3.4 ± 1.1% (p < 0.001) from pre- to post-altitude. The intra-individual changes in Hbmass were highly inconsistent (coefficient of variation, CV: 88%), and we found no relationship between Hbmass changes in successive altitude sojourns (r=0.01; p=0.735). However, the percent increase in Hbmass was highly correlated with the pre-altitude Hbmass , expressed as the percent deviation from the individual mean baseline (y=-0.7x + 3.4; r=0.75; p < 0.001). Linear mixed-model analysis confirmed a -0.6 ± 0.2% smaller increase in Hbmass for each 1% higher pre-altitude Hbmass than the individual mean baseline (p < 0.001) after adjusting for the covariates hypoxic dose (p=0.032) and the relative Hbmass (g·kg-1 body weight; p=0.031). Individual variations in pre-altitude Hbmass significantly influence the athletes' Hbmass responses to repeated altitude sojourns, with a potentiated response after traveling to altitude with a low pre-altitude Hbmass .

Temporal dynamics of the quality of the coach-athlete relationship over one season among adolescent handball players: a latent class analysis approach

ABSTRACT Objective . The purpose of this study was to examine the temporal evolution of the quality of the coach-athlete relationship (CAR), in terms of athletes’ perceptions of commitment, closeness, and complementarity, over a 1-season period. More precisely, the intra-individual temporal dynamic of the quality of the CAR was explored in three complementary ways: (1) mean change in the whole sample, (2) inter-individual differences between athletes, and (3) intra-individual stability and/or change of CAR profiles. Method . Eighty handball players (Mage = 16.15; 78% boys) involved in intensive training centres completed a measure of the quality of the CAR across three time points (beginning, middle, and ending of the season). Data were analysed using latent class growth and latent profile transition analyses. Results . Latent class growth analyses indicated that athletes’ perceptions of closeness and complementarity linearly decrease – on average – over the season, whereas those of commitment decreases in a quadratic way (U-shape). In addition, results revealed three distinctive athletes’ trajectories for closeness and complementarity, and four for commitment, suggesting inter-individual differences in the intra-individual evolution of the perceived quality of the CAR. Finally, latent profile transition analyses highlighted the existence of four distinct CAR profiles, and revealed that most athletes displayed the same profile over the season, but some of them changed their profile over time. Conclusion . As a whole, these results highlighted the dynamic aspect of athletes’ perceived quality of the CAR, suggesting that this relationship is likely to evolve in different ways over a season in intensive training context.

Interplay between peer experiences and classroom behavioral engagement throughout early childhood: Intraindividual and interindividual differences

Developmental theorists emphasize the existence of reciprocal influences between children's peer experiences and their early classroom behavioral engagement. For school practitioners who must identify relevant intervention targets to design educational activities, estimating precisely how aspects of peer experiences and behavioral engagement jointly unfold over time is of key interest. In addition, it is important to differentiate between intraindividual and interindividual effects. Nevertheless, evidence of these reciprocal links or intra- and interindividual effects during the early stages of schooling is scarce. This study (N = 638 children) used a Latent Curve Model with Structured Residuals (LCM-SR) to disentangle interindividual differences (stable trait-like) from intraindividual changes (dynamic state-like) in the associations between peer experiences (social acceptance and friendship involvement) and children's classroom behavioral engagement from the beginning of kindergarten through Grade 2. Results indicated that the links between children's peer experiences and their behavioral engagement reflect their steady tendency to be well adjusted in the classroom as well as with peers, rather than highlighting reciprocal associations between these factors over time. However, results also underscored that children who showed high engagement tended to be concurrently more accepted by peers in the same school year in Grade 1 or Grade 2, beyond stable aspects of engagement and social acceptance. These findings support the need to develop educational practices to improve social acceptance as a way to foster behavioral engagement. They also indicate that behavioral engagement should be considered a concrete intervention target for school practitioners seeking to improve children's social acceptance during the school year.

Association of Repetitive Dosing of Levosimendan with Reduction of NYHA Class and NT-proBNP Levels in Decompensated Heart Failure: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BackgroundThere is evidence that repetitive administration of levosimendan can improve outcome in chronic heart failure patients.ObjectiveThe aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the effect of therapy with levosimendan (LEV) additional to standard medical care in patients with symptomatic heart failure (HFrEF = heart failure with reduced ejection fraction) on NYHA class, NT-proBNP values, ejection fraction (EF) and body weight.Patients and Methods178 participating patients (125 male, 53 female; mean age of 73 ± 13 years) were grouped according to whether LEV was given once (group 1) or repetitively (group 2). In group 2 data were analysed for first treatment with LEV (group 2a) and for the following repetitive LEV treatments (group 2b). The differentiation was required to see if there were different results for the particular groups.ResultsRepetitive dosing was given between two and 11 times, leading to 47 repetitive applications of LEV and a total of 225 (178 once + 47 repetitive) applications. The mean time between the repetitive dosing was 133 days or 4.3 months. LEV in addition to standard medical treatment was associated with reduction of NT-proBNP levels from 9138 to 7051 pg/mL (p < 0.05). The corresponding values in group 2a and group 2b were 8790–4717 pg/mL (p < 0.05) as well as 13,681–7581 pg/mL (p < 0.05). The ejection fraction measured by echocardiography improved from 30 to 38% in group 1, from 31 to 45% in group 2a and from 30 to 35% in group 2b (p < 0.05). Addition of LEV was associated with significant reduction of NYHA class and bodyweight in all groups. No adverse side effects (e.g., rhythm disorder, hypotension, electrolyte disorder) were seen.ConclusionLEV may be useful as an additive to standard care of treatment for patients with acute de novo decompensation due to acute heart failure as well as to prevent further deterioration in patients with chronic heart failure disease at high risk for hospitalisation. Intraindividual changes in NT-proBNP levels may be useful in decision-making about the need for additional treatment options in patients with worsening heart failure.

Changes in academic efficacy beliefs in the first year of lower secondary school. Is it related to changes in social and emotional competencies?

During the first year of lower secondary school, the student’s academic efficacy beliefs (AEB) could be challenged. Social and emotional competencies (SECs) could support AEB. The primary aim of this longitudinal study was to investigate links between intra-individual changes in the SECs relationship skills, and emotional regulation with AEB among a sample of 1142 students in the first year of lower secondary school. Intra-individual changes in perceived emotional support from teachers and collaboration with peers were included as intermediate variables. A latent change score approach with structural equation modelling (SEM) was applied. A strong positive direct link between changes in emotional regulation and AEB was found, whereas results yielded a more modest link between changes in relationship skills and AEB. Parts of the associations were indirect via emotional support from teachers and collaborative peer relations. Finally, these relations and AEB showed average negative changes during the first year of lower secondary school.

Life's Essential 8: Updating and Enhancing the American Heart Association's Construct of Cardiovascular Health: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association.

In 2010, the American Heart Association defined a novel construct of cardiovascular health to promote a paradigm shift from a focus solely on disease treatment to one inclusive of positive health promotion and preservation across the life course in populations and individuals. Extensive subsequent evidence has provided insights into strengths and limitations of the original approach to defining and quantifying cardiovascular health. In response, the American Heart Association convened a writing group to recommend enhancements and updates. The definition and quantification of each of the original metrics (Life's Simple 7) were evaluated for responsiveness to interindividual variation and intraindividual change. New metrics were considered, and the age spectrum was expanded to include the entire life course. The foundational contexts of social determinants of health and psychological health were addressed as crucial factors in optimizing and preserving cardiovascular health. This presidential advisory introduces an enhanced approach to assessing cardiovascular health: Life's Essential 8. The components of Life's Essential 8 include diet (updated), physical activity, nicotine exposure (updated), sleep health (new), body mass index, blood lipids (updated), blood glucose (updated), and blood pressure. Each metric has a new scoring algorithm ranging from 0 to 100 points, allowing generation of a new composite cardiovascular health score (the unweighted average of all components) that also varies from 0 to 100 points. Methods for implementing cardiovascular health assessment and longitudinal monitoring are discussed, as are potential data sources and tools to promote widespread adoption in policy, public health, clinical, institutional, and community settings.

Maintaining job crafting over time: joint effect of autonomy and career support from family and friends

PurposeThe study focuses on intraindividual trajectory of job crafting change over time. Integrating the self-regulation and demands-resources perspectives, this study examines how career support from family and friends interacts with job autonomy to influence the change pattern of job crafting.Design/methodology/approachFour waves of self-report survey data were collected in a semester from 324 university professors and instructors in China. Latent growth curve modeling was used to examine intraindividual change of job crafting and conducted latent interaction analysis to test the joint effect of autonomy and career support from family and friends on job crafting change.FindingsThere was a general declining trend in job crafting over the course of a semester. Career support from family and friends moderated the association between job autonomy and job crafting maintenance. Specifically, when career support was low, job autonomy was negatively associated with job crafting maintenance.Research limitations/implicationsThe study showed that job crafting maintenance over time is distinct from the typical between-person conceptualization. Further, job crafting maintenance was predicted from a self-regulatory perspective. However, the unique context of college faculty from China may limit generalization of the findings.Practical implicationsManagers should recognize the challenges in maintaining job crafting over time. In addition to providing autonomy at work, organizations may benefit from establishing channels for employees to receive career support from non-work domains.Originality/valueThe authors adopt a self-regulation perspective to understand intraindividual change in job crafting over time and situate the current investigation in the cyclical nature of university faculty’s job.

Recent information on test utilization and intraindividual change in anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody in Korea: a retrospective study

IntroductionThis study aimed to evaluate the test utilization and intraindividual changes of anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody (GADA), a biomarker for autoimmune diabetes in Korean adults.Research design and methodsWe retrospectively investigated...

Growth, body composition and bone mineral density among pubertal male athletes: intra-individual 12-month changes and comparisons between soccer players and swimmers

BackgroundPuberty is a period of intense changes in human body and, additionally, participation in sports is viewed as prominent form of physical activity among male adolescent athletes. The current study was aimed to examine the intra-individual changes in body composition and bone tissue during years of maximal growth and the effect of 12-month participation in sports contrasting in mechanical impact.MethodsThe sample included 40 male adolescent athletes (soccer: n = 20; swimming: n = 20) aged 12.57 ± 0.37 years who were followed for 12 months. Stature and body mass were measured, bone mineral content (BMC), areal bone mineral density (aBMD), lean soft and fat tissues assessed using DXA. Food intake was estimated using a questionnaires and training sessions individually monitored. Repeated measures ANOVA tested the differences between sports and 12-month intra-individual variation (time moments: TM1, TM2). The analyses on aBMD for total body and total body less head were repeated controlling for variation in stature at baseline.ResultsSoccer players completed 63 ± 31 sessions (95 ± 47 h). Respective values for swimmers were 248 ± 28 sessions and 390 ± 56 h. In general, the analysis of aBMD as dependent variable evidenced significant effect of sport-associated variation (F = 5.254, p < 0.01; η2 = 0.35) and 12-month increments, particularly at lower limbs (F = 97.238, p < 0.01; η2 = 0.85). Respective mean values for aBMD were SCCTM1 = 0.885 g.cm−2, SWMTM1 = 0.847 g.cm−2, SCCTM2 = 0.939 g.cm−2, SWMTM2 = 0.880. Regarding the lean soft tissue, the magnitude of effects was very large for intra-individual variation (F = 223.043, p < 0.01; η2 = 0.92) and moderate between sports (F = 7.850, p < 0.01; η2 = 0.41): SCCTM1 = 30.6 kg, SWMTM1 = 34.9 kg, SCCTM2 = 35.8 kg, SWMTM2 = 40.5 kg). Finally, d-cohen values reporting percentage of intra-individual changes in aBMD between soccer players ad swimmers were large for the trochanter (d = 1.2; annual increments: SCC = 8.1%, SWM = 3.6%).ConclusionPuberty appeared as a period of significant intra-individual changes in lean soft tissue and bone mineral density. With increasing accumulated training experience, mean difference between sports contrasting in mechanical impact tended to me more pronounced in particular at the lower limbs.

How Stable Are Students’ Entrepreneurial Intentions in the COVID-19 Pandemic Context?

The purposed longitudinal study analyzes the evolution of students’ Entrepreneurial Intentions (EI) and its antecedents over the COVID-19 pandemic period and explores the inter-individual differences and the intra-individual changes. Our main contribution consists of proposing two-panel estimations techniques: first, a Latent Change Score model (LCS) approach to analyze the stability of our constructs, and second, a Generalized Least Squares (GLS) Random-Effect estimation of a complex network of relationships that we have identified within the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework. Our empirical results show that students’ EI enrolled in an entrepreneurship education (EE) program increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals with initial higher scores for EI have changed less than those with lower initial scores, and a gender difference exists in the initial level of EI and its antecedents. Our results also document the moderation effects of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and the importance of inspiration and resources in building students’ EI and provide valuable policy recommendations for universities regarding the design of EE programs to contribute to the economic recovery in the post-pandemic era.

MO693: Longitudinal Intraindividual Changes of Peritoneal Histology over Time in 37 Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS The long-term use of peritoneal dialysis is limited due to changes of the peritoneum. Those can be attributed to both, uremia and the effect of the peritoneal dialysis solution on the peritoneum. Although the effect of peritoneal dialysis on the peritoneal histology has been investigated for more than 40 years, most studies fail to report intraindividual changes of the peritoneum but report cross-sectional data from different patients at different timepoints of their dialysis career. The aim of our study was to investigate the intraindividual changes over time associated with peritoneal dialysis as part of the GRiP (German Registry in PD). METHOD Among patients documented by the GRiP study group 37 patients were identified in which two peritoneal samples were collected at least 2 months apart. The median [IQR] patient age was 63.6 [52.8–70.5] years with a median [IQR] BMI of 27.8 [22.4–31.8] kg/m2. The time between the two biopsies was 20.0 [7.2–27.6] months. Removal or change of the PD catheter was due to infection in 20 of the 37 patients (54%). Samples from the parietal peritoneum were collected at prespecified locations. Routine histology using hematoxylin–eosin was performed. The thickness of the submesothelial compacta was analysed with AxioVision SE64 Rel.4.9. software. GraphPad Prism 9 (San Diego, CA, USA) was used for statistical analysis. Comparison between histological parameters at implantation and explantation was done by using a paired t-test using a significance level of P &amp;lt; 0.05. RESULTS Comparing the intraindividual thickness of the compacta at the time of implantation and explantation of the peritoneal dialysis catheter we saw a significant increase of the median [IQR] ‘minimum thickness’ from 50.0 [20.5–89.5] µm to 130.0 [42.5–195.5] µm, the ‘average thickness’ from 102.0 [77.75–162.5.5] µm to 181.5 [123.3–265.5] as well as the ‘maximum thickness’ from 148.0 [107.0–208.0] µm to 240 [182.0–381.0] (Fig. 1). Further, the degree of peritoneal fibrosis increased significantly (Fig. 2). CONCLUSION The longitudinal, intraindividual assessment of peritoneal biopsies in a sizeable cohort of patients confirms previous cross-sectional data showing an increase in the thickness of the sumesothelial compacta over time.

Disaster or opportunity? How COVID-19-associated changes in environmental uncertainty and job insecurity relate to organizational identification and performance.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to create tremendous uncertainty in workplaces. Building on a social identity perspective, this study develops and tests a model of how and why COVID-19-associated uncertainty affects employee work outcomes. The model differentiates uncertainty as either internal (job insecurity) or external (perceived environmental uncertainty) to the organization and reveals their different effects on employee organizational identification, which positively affects employee work outcomes (work effort, organizational citizenship behavior, and performance). With a latent change score to model intraindividual changes, we found that increases (or decreases) in job insecurity before versus during the pandemic related to subsequent decreases (or increases) in organizational identification, whereas increases (or decreases) in perceived environmental uncertainty before versus during the pandemic related to subsequent increases (or decreases) in organizational identification; increases (or decreases) in organizational identification then related to increases (or decreases) in positive work outcomes. These findings complement existing theoretical views that uncertainty typically leads to poor performance by inducing anxiety, and that organizational identification suffers during a crisis such as COVID-19. In turn, this research offers practical implications to help organizations avoid discouraging and even encourage greater organizational identification and performance during crises. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Potential Diffusion Tensor Imaging Biomarkers for Elucidating Intra-Individual Age-Related Changes in Cognitive Control and Processing Speed.

Cognitive aging, especially cognitive control, and processing speed aging have been well-documented in the literature. Most of the evidence was reported based on cross-sectional data, in which inter-individual age effects were shown. However, there have been some studies pointing out the possibility of overlooking intra-individual changes in cognitive aging. To systematically examine whether age-related differences and age-related changes might yield distinctive patterns, this study directly compared cognitive control function and processing speed between different cohorts versus follow-up changes across the adult lifespan. Moreover, considering that cognitive aging has been attributed to brain disconnection in white matter (WM) integrity, this study focused on WM integrity via acquiring diffusion-weighted imaging data with an MRI instrument that are further fitted to a diffusion tensor model (i.e., DTI) to detect water diffusion directionality (i.e., fractional anisotropy, FA; mean diffusivity, MD; radial diffusivity, RD; axial diffusivity, AxD). Following data preprocessing, 114 participants remained for further analyses in which they completed the two follow-up sessions (with a range of 1–2 years) containing a series of neuropsychology instruments and computerized cognitive control tasks. The results show that many significant correlations between age and cognitive control functions originally shown on cross-sectional data no longer exist on the longitudinal data. The current longitudinal data show that MD, RD, and AxD (especially in the association fibers of anterior thalamic radiation) are more strongly correlated to follow-up aging processes, suggesting that axonal/myelin damage is a more robust phenomenon for observing intra-individual aging processes. Moreover, processing speed appears to be the most prominent cognitive function to reflect DTI-related age (cross-sectional) and aging (longitudinal) effects. Finally, converging the results from regression analyses and mediation models, MD, RD, and AxD appear to be the representative DTI measures to reveal age-related changes in processing speed. To conclude, the current results provide new insights to which indicator of WM integrity and which type of cognitive changes are most representative (i.e., potentially to be neuroimaging biomarkers) to reflect intra-individual cognitive aging processes.

“Celts” up and down the Alps. Insights on mobility patterns in the pre‐Roman/Celtic population from Verona (NE Italy, 3rd–1st c. BCE): A multi‐isotopic approach

ObjectivesThe Late Iron Age in continental Europe featured complex demographic processes including, among others, the establishment of transalpine “Celtic” communities on the Italian peninsula between the 4th and 1st centuries BCE. To date, only few data are available about mobility and migration in these populations. Here we explore these topics among the Cenomani of Seminario Vescovile (SV‐Verona, Italy, 3rd–1st c. BCE) through a multi‐isotopic approach and test the possible associations with sex, age and funerary treatment.Materials and methodsWe analyzed isotopic ratios of oxygen (δ 18O) and carbon (δ 13C) from bone phosphate and collagen, respectively, of 49 individuals (23 males, 17 females, and 9 nonadults). In addition, we explored possible intraindividual lifetime changes by comparing collagen δ 13C from bone and dentine of 26 individuals. We assessed nonlocality based on individual deviation of isotopic values from the population mean plus three times the median absolute deviation from the median (±3MAD). We then checked for isotopic differences between sexes and type of funerary treatment using Mann–Whitney tests.ResultsOne individual shows isotopic values consistent with a nonlocal origin. Five more individuals may have originated from a different locality. No statistical differences separate sexes and types of funerary treatment.DiscussionResults suggest a local origin of most of the individuals of SV with the few exceptions pointing especially to an Alpine origin. The low frequency of nonlocals at SV suggest a reduced mobility in this population, or the preeminence of short distance movements undetected by our analyses.

Changes in patient activation in people starting dialysis: A prospective longitudinal, observational study.

IntroductionIncreased patient activation is associated with improved health outcomes; however, little is known about patient activation in people with end‐stage kidney disease at the start of their dialysis journey. This study aimed to measure activation status changes over the first 4 months of dialysis.MethodsProspective, longitudinal, and observational study. Incident patients initiating dialysis at 25 in‐center hemodialysis and 17 home dialysis programs across three US states managed by the same dialysis provider completed the 13‐item Patient Activation Measure (PAM‐13) survey at baseline (month 1 after commencement of dialysis) and follow‐up (month 4). The survey yields a score (0–100) that corresponds to four levels (1–4), with higher scores or levels indicating higher activation.FindingsOne hundred eighty‐two participants (139 center, 43 home) completed both baseline and follow‐up surveys. Mean age was 60 ± 15 years, 40% female. Mean PAM‐13 scores were 65.1 ± 16.8 and 64.8 ± 17.8 at baseline and follow‐up, respectively; mean intraindividual change: −0.3 ± 17.3. The proportions of patients at levels 1–4 at baseline were 11%, 23%, 35%, and 31% respectively. At follow‐up, 50%, 64%, 52%, and 37% of participants at levels 1–4, respectively, changed to a different PAM level (Spearman correlation = 0.47; p < 0.001). Home dialysis was associated with higher PAM scores when compared to in‐center hemodialysis in multivariable analyses, adjusted for sociodemographic variables, comorbidities, and predialysis nephrology care (β = 5.74, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.11–11.37 and 9.02, 95% CI: 3.03–15.02, at baseline and follow–up, respectively).DiscussionAlthough aggregated group scores and levels remained stable, intra‐individual patient activation changed significantly during the first 4 months of dialysis. This novel finding is foundational to future projects aiming to design interventions to improve patient activation.