Memory Cognitive Functions Research Articles

Assessment of Vitamin B12 Efficacy on Cognitive Memory Function and Depressive Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Vitamin B12 is significant for DNA synthesis, red blood cell formation, and nervous system function. Inadequate vitamin B12 levels may result in a higher risk of depression, necessitating the need for supplementation to improve mood and cognitive function. However, the use of vitamin B12 supplementation varies across studies. This review aims to evaluate the effect of vitamin B12 supplementation on cognitive memory function and depressive symptoms among participants who may have mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This review adhered to the Cochrane Handbook and PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, CENTRAL, Medline, and Ovid, with no constraints on geography or demographics, up to August 31, 2024. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Data on study characteristics, treatment details, and outcomes were extracted. The risk of bias was assessed using the revised Cochrane ROB2 tool. A meta-analysis of the effect of vitamin B12 on cognitive memory and depression was conducted using Jamovi software (The jamovi project (2024).jamovi(Version 2.5) [Computer Software]. Retrieved from https://www.jamovi.org). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The results yielded 483 records that were screened based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) criteria. Excluding duplicates and irrelevant studies, the meta-analysis finally included nine RCTs. For cognitive memory function, eight of the nine included studies were analyzed, showing an average standardized mean difference of -0.03 (95% confidence interval (CI): -0.07 to 0.01), indicating no significant effect of vitamin B12 supplementation (p = 0.1801) and no significant heterogeneity. Regarding depressive symptoms, three of the nine included studies were analyzed, yielding an average standardized mean difference of -0.01 (95% CI: -0.0773 to 0.0525), also showing no significant effect (p = 0.708). These results suggest that vitamin B12 complex supplementation has an insignificant effect on cognitive function and depressive symptoms in the general population. However, further research is needed to explore the conditions under which B12 is most effective, providing clearer guidelines for its use in clinical practice.

Role of Probiotic Microorganisms in the Brain Plasticity Development

Probiotics are defined as beneficial microorganisms that are responsible for the maintenance of homeostasis mechanisms within the host system, especially in humans. Other than homeostasis, it is also used to improve a host system's cognition, immune functions, and antioxidant levels. Over the past decades, probiotic microorganisms have been used most commonly as traditional fermented foods in our country and some parts of southeast asia. These fermented food products majorly consist of Lactobacillus species, including Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. fermentum, and L. plantarum. The present study explored the potential role of three different lactobacillus strains (L. acidophilus, L. fermentum, and L. Plantarum) in forming brain plasticity changes (BPC) with the help of a cue-based learning paradigm (CBLP). Two staged behavioral studies were conducted for all behavioral analysis groups (BAG) before (without probiotic infusions - WiPI) and after probiotic infusions (with probiotic infusions - WPI) in RBLP. Behavioral responses of the WiPI &amp; WPI phases showed the effect of a stress-free habituated environment in developing BPC and strengthening of BPC by oral infusions of probiotic microorganisms (PM). WiPI and WPI behavioral analysis were used in this study to validate BPC in a laboratory-controlled environment. Infusion of probiotic microorganisms through oral passage may have a more significant impact on the synthesis, production, and transmission of neurotransmitter precursor compounds (NPC) from the gut to the central nervous system (CNS) through the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Increased transmission of the NPC strengthens the formed plasticity changes, which results in the formation of cognitive memory functions. Thus, the present study proved that probiotic microorganisms may play a major role in cognition development through the BPC.

Literature Review Exposure To Electric Cigarette Smoke (Vape) On Cerebrum And Rat Behavior

E-cigarettes are a modern form of conventional cigarettes, many have used them because they contain nicotine and various flavors so that young people like them. This literature aims to determine the effects of exposure to e-cigarettes containing nicotine or not on the cerebrum and behavior of experimental animals. The method of making literature in the form of literature review with a comprehensive approach. By searching for articles or journals in research journal databases, internet, articles. The database search used was Google Scholar, Pubmed, Proquest. Exposure to e-cigarette smoke can cause damage to the cerebrum, such as inflammation to necrosis, besides it can cause decreased cognitive abilities, behavior to emotional. E-cigarettes contain various components that are dangerous if consumed for a long time can cause dependence, decreased cognitive memory function and emotional changes. Exposure to secondhand smoke also causes inflammation, damage or necrosis. Nicotine also plays a role in this.

CPT1C is required for synaptic plasticity and oscillatory activity that supports motor, associative and non-associative learning.

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1c (CPT1C) is a neuron-specific protein widely distributed throughout the CNS and highly expressed in discrete brain areas including the hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala and different motor regions. Its deficiency has recently been shown to disrupt dendritic spine maturation and AMPA receptor synthesis and trafficking in the hippocampus, but its contribution to synaptic plasticity and cognitive learning and memory processes remains mostly unknown. Here, we aimed to explore the molecular, synaptic, neural network and behavioural role of CPT1C in cognition-related functions by using CPT1C knockout (KO) mice. CPT1C-deficient mice showed extensive learning and memory deficits. The CPT1C KO animals exhibited impaired motor and instrumental learning that seemed to be related, in part, to locomotor deficits and muscle weakness but not to mood alterations. In addition, CPT1C KO mice showed detrimental hippocampus-dependent spatial and habituation memory, most probably attributable to inefficient dendritic spine maturation, impairments in long-term plasticity at the CA3-CA1synapse and aberrant cortical oscillatory activity. In conclusion, our results reveal that CPT1C is not only crucial for motor function, coordination and energy homeostasis, but also has a crucial role in the maintenance of learning and memory cognitive functions. KEY POINTS: CPT1C, a neuron-specific interactor protein involved in AMPA receptor synthesis and trafficking, was found to be highly expressed in the hippocampus, amygdala and various motor regions. CPT1C-deficient animals exhibited energy deficits and impaired locomotion, but no mood changes were found. CPT1C deficiency disrupts hippocampal dendritic spine maturation and long-term synaptic plasticity and reduces cortical γ oscillations. CPT1C was found to be crucial for motor, associative and non-associative learning and memory.

Vitamin E modified polyamidoamine dendrimer for piperine delivery to alleviate Aβ1–42 induced neurotoxicity in Balb/c mice model

In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amyloid beta (Aβ1-42) aggregate formation and neurofibrillary tangles are major pathological hallmarks which are related to neurodegeneration in the brain. To alleviate Aβ1-42 fibrils toxicity vitamin E derivative tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) was conjugated with polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer through carbodiimide reaction to synthesize TPGS-PAMAM. This TPGS-PAMAM was employed to entrap neuroprotective agent piperine (PIP) through an anti-solvent technique to prepare PIP-TPGS-PAMAM. The dendrimer conjugate was prepared to reduce Aβ1-42 induced neurotoxicity and increase acetylcholine levels in AD mice models. The synthesis of dendrimer conjugate was characterized through proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid assay (TNBS). Physical characterization of dendrimers conjugates were done through various spectroscopic, thermal and microscopy based techniques. PIP-TPGS-PAMAM showed 43.25 nm particle size with PIP percentage encapsulation efficiency of 80.35%. Further Aβ1-42 fibril disaggregation effect of nanocarrier was evaluated using Thioflavin–T (ThT) assay and circular dichroism (CD). The neuroprotection studies for PIP-TPGS-PAMAM was evaluated against neurotoxicity induced using Aβ1–42 intracerebroventricular (ICV) injected in Balb/c mice. The group of mice administered with PIP-TPGS-PAMAM exhibited an increase in the proportion of random alternations in T-maze test and novel object recognition test (NORT) exhibited an increase in working memory cognitive functions. The biochemical and histopathological analysis revealed PIP-TPGS-PAMAM treated groups enhanced acetylcholine levels, reduced ROS and Aβ1-42 content significantly. Our findings imply that PIP-TPGS-PAMAM enhanced memory and reduced cognitive deficit in mice brain induced by Aβ1-42 toxicity.

Cognitive Performance Deficits Are Associated with Clinically Significant Depression Symptoms in Older US Adults

Accumulating research has described cognitive impairment in adults with depression, however, few studies have focused on this relationship during older adulthood. Our cross-sectional study investigated the association between cognitive function performance and clinically significant depression symptoms in older adults. We analysed the data from the 2011 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey on older (aged 60 years and above) US adults. Cognitive function was assessed as a composite score and on a test-by-test basis based on the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Word List Learning Test, the Word List Recall Test, and Intrusion Word Count Test, the Animal Fluency Test, and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). Depression was defined as clinically significant depression symptoms based on the standard cut-off point of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score of 10 or greater. Adjusted-logistic regression analysis was employed using survey weights to examine the former relationships. Sociodemographic factors, in addition to medical history and status in terms of self-reported chronic illness and the incidence of stroke or memory-cognitive function loss, were considered as covariates. Among 1622 participants of a survey-weighted 860,400 US older adults, cognitive performance was associated with clinically significant depression symptoms (p = 0.003) after adjustment. Most prominently, older adults with significant cognitive deficits had approximately two and a half times (OR: 2.457 [1.219-4.953]) higher odds for a PHQ-9 score above threshold compared to those with the highest performance. Particularly, those with lowest DSST score had increased odds of almost four times (OR: 3.824 [1.069-13.678]). Efforts to decipher the underlying aetiology of these negative disparities may help create opportunities and interventions that could alleviate the risks from depression, cognitive impairment, and associated consequences in older adults at a population level.

Novel naringin tablet formulations of agro-resides based nano/micro crystalline cellulose with neuroprotective and Alzheimer ameliorative potentials

This study aimed to prepare micro/nanocrystalline cellulose-loaded naringin (NAR) tablets and evaluate their neuro-protective/therapeutic potentials in Alzheimer's disease (AD) model. Micro/nanocellulose was prepared from different agro-wastes, and the different cellulose preparations were then used to formulate eight oral tablets of naringin micro/nanoparticles by direct compression. AD-like symptoms were induced in adult male Sprague Dawley rats by co-administration of 150 mg/kg AlCl3 and 300 mg/kg D-galactose (oral administration/one week), and NAR tablets were assessed for neuroprotective/therapeutic potentials in terms of behavioral changes, levels of neurodegenerative and inflammatory markers, brain redox status, neurotransmitter tones, and cortex/hippocampus histopathological alterations. NAR treatments have significantly reversed the neurotoxic effect of AlCl3 as demonstrated by improved spatial and cognitive memory functions and promoted antioxidant defense mechanisms in treated AD animals. Also, the neurodegeneration was markedly restrained as reflected by marked histopathological enhancement, and prevention/amelioration of neuropsychiatric disorders, besides the restorative effect on dysregulated neurotransmitters tone. Both NAR tablet forms showed an overall higher ameliorative effect compared to the DPZ reference drug. The formulated tablets represent promising neuroprotective/therapeutic agents for Alzheimer's disease.

Effects of 2.45 GHz Non-Ionizing Radiation on Anxiety-Like Behavior, Gene Expression, and Corticosterone Level in Male Rats.

Introduction: The effects of short-term and long-term exposures to 2.45 GHz radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) on anxiety-like behavior, corticosterone level, and gene expression were investigated. The goal of this study was to explore the effect of electromagnetic fields of 2.45 GHz on clinical signs such as body weight and anxiety-like behavior, including the elevated plus maze test and open-field test, and also on messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of Bax (Bcl2-associated x) and Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma 2) genes on the cognitive memory functions in an animal model of rats. Methods: The animals were classified into eight groups, sham groups and exposed groups for short-term and long-term exposures to the same dose of RF-EMR for one hour daily. The Wi-Fi equipment in the sham control group was not turned on during the experiment. Both genes were further confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The semi-quantitative PCR method of electromagnetic fields in the 2.45 GHz range impacted the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 genes in the rat's memory. Results: The present study exhibited that short-term radiation could decrease the percentage of entry into the open arm and the percentage of time spent, while there were no substantial impacts on the long-term radiation effect. Our data support the hypothesis that short-term exposure worked as a systemic stressor, raising plasma corticosterone and changing glucocorticoid receptor expression in the hippocampus. Conclusion: Additional research on this specific frequency and amount of radiation is required to discover strategies for protecting the nervous system from the detrimental effects of RF-EMR radiation.

ODP406 Effects of hormone replacement therapy on memory cognitive function in postmenopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Objective To investigate the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on memory cognitive function in postmenopausal women. Methods PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM)and web of ClinicalTrials.gov were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials comparing the effect of HRT on memory function in postmenopausal women to Placebo. The primary outcome of interest is memory cognitive function (measured by tests used in the study). We assessed pooled data by using random-effects model. Results Ten studies with 2818 participants were finally eligible for inclusion in the analysis. Compared with placebo, HRT showed no significant differences on logical memory including both immediate (weighted mean difference [WMD] 0.34, 95% CI: -0.73, 1.40) and delayed(0.99, 95% CI: -0.51, 2.48) recall in postmenopausal women, also no differences on short-delay (-0. 00, 95% CI: -0.37, 0.37) or long-delay (-0.19, 95% CI: -0.69, 0.31) recall of California Verbal Learning Test, but yielded an a mean reduction in digit span forward of -0.20 (95%CI: -0.36,-0. 03), with no significant difference in digit span total scores (-0.67, 95% CI: -1.58, 0.24) or backward (-0.10, 95%CI: -0.26, 0. 05). In women within 5 years of menopause, HRT still shows no harmful or beneficial effects on immediate (WMD 0.45, 95% CI: -0.75, 1.65) or delayed recall (WMD 1. 03, 95% CI: -0.93, 3. 00) of logical memory, but no detrimental effects on digit span forward (WMD -0.11, 95% CI: -0.72, 0.50). Conclusion This review suggests that HRT do not improve verbal memory in postmenopausal women, may even impair some domains of short-term memory. HRT may thus not be a potential therapeutic strategy to prevent memory decline in postmenopausal women. Presentation: No date and time listed

Chronic corticosterone administration in adolescence enhances dorsolateral striatum-dependent learning in adulthood.

Previous evidence indicates a link between early life stress (ELS) in humans and a predisposition to psychopathologies that are characterized in part by maladaptive habitual behaviors. Stress and anxiety influence the relative use of mammalian memory systems implicated in these disorders. Specifically, cognitive memory functions of the hippocampus are typically impaired by stress/anxiety, whereas habit memory functions of the dorsolateral striatum (DLS) are enhanced. A stress/anxiety bias toward habit memory has largely been demonstrated in adult rodents and humans, and the effects of ELS on the later use of DLS-dependent habit memory in adult rodents have not been extensively examined. The present study addressed this question by chronically elevating corticosterone (CORT) during adolescence, and investigated the effects of this treatment on DLS-dependent habit learning in adulthood. In experiment 1, adolescent rats received a single daily injection of either CORT (5 mg/kg) or vehicle (cVEH) over 5 days and then matured undisturbed before training as adults in a DLS-dependent water plus-maze task. Rats administered CORT injections during adolescence displayed a strong trend toward enhanced learning during adulthood relative to vehicle-treated rats. Adolescent CORT administration also increased anxiety-like behavior in adulthood in an elevated plus-maze. In experiment 2, adolescent CORT administration enhanced task acquisition in adulthood, and this effect was blocked by concurrent administration of the glucocorticoid antagonist mifepristone (30 mg/kg). Taken together, these findings suggest that chronic elevation of glucocorticoids during adolescence are sufficient to facilitate habit learning in adulthood, and indicate that glucocorticoid function may be a potential underlying mechanism by which ELS influences subsequent habitual behaviors.

Using a virtual reality path integration task to investigate entorhinal functioning in individuals with and without subjective cognitive decline

AbstractBackgroundThe entorhinal cortex (EC) contains spatially modulated cells, so called grid cells, and plays a central role in spatial navigation. Studies show that tauopathy in the EC is already observed in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is responsible for impairments in spatial memory performance. Moreover, recent studies demonstrate that young, healthy volunteers with the APOE‐ε4‐allele, a genetic risk factor for AD, show impaired grid‐like representations in the EC and reduced path integration performance in environments without spatial cues. People with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) perceive a subjective deterioration in their cognitive memory performance with unimpaired performance on standardized neuropsychological tests. SCD corresponds to the recently defined stage 2 of AD and is also a risk factor for dementia. Here, we tested whether subjects with SCD show path integration impairment, presumably related to malfunctioning in the EC.Method68 participants (31 SCD patients recruited through a memory clinic, age: 68.8 ± 9.2; 37 controls without SCD, age: 69.1 ± 7.9) performed a path integration task on a laptop. In addition, a neuropsychological test (CERAD+) was carried out to rule out an objective cognitive impairment.ResultThe two groups did not differ in age, sex, medical history and number of educational years. We replicated previous findings indicating better path integration performance with spatial cues such as boundaries and landmarks (F(2,128) = 20.83, P &lt; 0.001). In addition, we showed that women performed worse than men (F(1,64) = 6.00, P = 0.017) and that path integration performance declined with increasing age (F(1,64) = 32.14, P &lt; 0.001). There was no significant difference in performance between SCD and controls (F(1,64) = 2.20, P = 0.143).ConclusionGenerally, SCD was not associated with lower path integration performance. We are in the process of characterizing the sample based on plasma amyloid beta 42/40, NFL, pTau and APOE genotype to test, if AD biomarkers and genetic risk factors are associated with path integration performance.

An Evaluation of Visual Perception Visual Memory Cognitive Functions and Emotional Status among Genders in Elderly Subjects

Background: Gender differences in visual memory and perception and cognitive test performance have been significantly influenced by factors like sex&#x0D; Objective: The current study aimed to evaluate the gender differences in patterns of cognitive test performance and visual perception in healthy elderly individuals.&#x0D; Methods: Cognitive functions and visual perception was analyzed using clock drawing test and picture identification test in 20 elderly men and women (10 each) and their emotional status was assessed using depression scale&#x0D; Results: The results revealed that females had a better visual memory and depth perception compared to men and the value was statistically significant at p&lt;0.05. Females performed better than men on tests of Picture identification and were better in phonemic verbal skills compared to male men and the value was statistically significant at p&lt;0.05&#x0D; Conclusion: The present study concluded an innovative finding that women were better in their performance related to visual depth perception and cognitive functions.

Stratification Tools for Disease-Modifying Trials in Prodromal Synucleinopathy.

ABSTRACTBackgroundDopamine transporter single photon‐emission computed tomography (DAT‐SPECT) is the strongest risk factor for phenoconversion in patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement (REM)‐sleep behavior disorder (iRBD). However, it might be used as a second‐line stratification tool in clinical trials, because it is expensive and mini‐invasive.ObjectiveAim of the study is to investigate whether other cost‐effective and non‐invasive biomarkers may be proposed as first‐line stratification tools.MethodsForty‐seven consecutive iRBD patients (68.53 ± 7.16 years, 40 males) underwent baseline clinical and neuropsychological assessment, olfaction test, resting electroencephalogram (EEG), and DAT‐SPECT. All patients underwent 6 month‐based clinical follow‐up to investigate the emergence of parkinsonism and/or dementia. Survival analysis and Cox regression were used to estimate conversion risk.ResultsSeventeen patients developed an overt synucleinopathy (eight Parkinsonism and nine dementia) 32.8 ± 22 months after diagnosis. The strongest risk factors were putamen specific to non‐displaceable binding ratio (SBR) (hazard ratio [HR], 7.3), attention/working memory cognitive function (NPS‐AT/WM) (HR, 5.9), EEG occipital mean frequency (HR, 2.7) and clinical motor assessment (HR, 2.3). On multivariate Cox‐regression analysis, only putamen SBR and NPS‐AT/WM significantly contributed to the model (HR, 6.2, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9–19.8). At post‐hoc analysis, the trail‐making test B (TMT‐B) was the single most efficient first‐line stratification tool that allowed to reduce the number of eligible subjects to 76.6% (sensitivity 1, specificity 0.37). Combining TMT‐B and DAT‐SPECT further reduced the sample to 66% (sensitivity 0.88, specificity 0.47).ConclusionThe TMT‐B seems to be a cost‐effective and efficient first‐line screening tool, to be used to select patients that deserve DAT‐SPECT as second‐line screening tool for disease‐modifying clinical trials. © 2021 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society

“How learning doesn't work” Children evaluate their cell phone use – An empirical pilot study

In our increasingly digitally organized society, we enjoy great benefits from easier working conditions and the acceleration of developmental processes. Children are expected to be prepared for this and to receive a tablet or cell phone as early as possible. This, however, poses a huge risk because a child’s brain must initially organize itself in an analog fashion. This means that the spatial-modular building of neural networks and the rhythmic timing of brain activities mature very slowly through upbringing and school education to support memory formation and thinking. Once this foundation has been established, a digital workplace will be easily accessible to any young adult. To investigate in more detail the impacts of private cell phone use on the learning abilities of children, we designed a cognitive test that, among other things, measures spatiotemporal abilities and memory performance. A total of 54 third-grade students (aged 8 and 9) were subjected to the testing at an elementary school in the Rhein-Neckar-Kreis/Baden Württemberg region from December 2019 to March 2020. The intensity of private cell phone use was measured with a nonverbal method, the evidence-based water glass method. Prior to testing, we evaluated the children’s ability to evaluate themselves with this nonverbal method and designed a lie item, which allowed us to filter out those children who were unable to evaluate themselves. Due to the high data quality, variance analysis was used to analyze the quantified data statistically. The results showed that prefrontal cortex skills such as spatial perception, concentration, and anticipation were significantly poorer in third-graders with heavy cell phone use compared to those with little or no cell phone use. The heavier the cell phone use, the less well developed was their cognitive memory performance if it included a time delay. Furthermore, we observed a significant impact of the intensity of cell phone use on the motivation to go to school. The frequency of sports activities, playing outdoors, friendships, and homework was not significantly affected by cell phone use. The reason for this could be that modern schoolchildren only have rather limited control over the timing of these activities. Overall, the data suggest that other cognitive and emotional-motivational abilities such as spelling and handwriting are also adversely affected by heavy cell phone use. This could be verified by an investigation with a larger sample size. The findings of this pilot study should be a warning: with the digital transformation, our society could cause severe and also irreversible cognitive damage to the young generation. The discussion shows that brain research findings from the past half century provide comprehensive evidence for this

Comparison of digital games as a cognitive function assessment tool for current standardized neuropsychological tests

ObjectiveCognitive dysfunction may occur postoperatively. Fast and efficient assessment of Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction (POCD) can minimize loss of quality of life, and therefore, a study comparing a digital game with standard neuropsychological tests to assess executive, mnemonic, and attention functions to evaluate POCD seems to be relevant both for research and clinical practice. MethodsA battery of standardized tests and a digital game (MentalPlus®) were administered to 60 patients at the Central Institute of Hospital das Clínicas in São Paulo (36 women and 24 men), with ages between 29 and 82 years, pre- and post-surgery performed under anesthesia. Correlation and linear regression model were used to compare the scores obtained from the standardized tests to the scores of the six executive and cognitive functions evaluated by the game (short- and long-term memory, selective and alternating attention, inhibitory control, and visual perception). ResultsAfter correlation analysis, a statistically significant result was found mainly for the correlation between the scores from the phase of the digital game assessing the visuoperception function and the scores from the A and B cards of the Stroop Test (p < 0.001, r = 0.99 and r = 0.64, respectively), and the scores from TMTA (p = 0.0046, r = 0.51). We also found a moderate correlation between the phase of the game assessing short-memory function and VVLT (p < 0.001, r = 0.41). No statistically significant correlations were found for the other functions assessed. ConclusionThe digital game provided scores in agreement with standardized tests for evaluating visual perception and possibly short-term memory cognitive functions. Further studies are necessary to verify the correlation of other phases of the digital game with standardized tests assessing cognitive functions.

Tianma Formula Alleviates Dementia via ACER2-Mediated Sphingolipid Signaling Pathway Involving Aβ

Objective To reveal the molecular mechanism of the antagonistic effect of traditional Chinese medicine Tianma formula (TF) on dementia including vascular dementia (VaD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to provide a scientific basis for the study of traditional Chinese medicine for prevention and treatment of dementia. Method The TF was derived from the concerted application of traditional Chinese medicine. We detected the pharmacological effect of TF in VaD rats. The molecular mechanism of TF was examined by APP/PS1 mice in vivo, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) in vitro, ELISA, pathological assay via HE staining, and transcriptome. Based on RNA-seq analysis in VaD rats, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and then verified by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and ELISA. The molecular mechanisms of TF on dementia were further confirmed by network pharmacology and molecular docking finally. Results The Morris water maze showed that TF could improve the cognitive memory function of the VaD rats. The ELISA and histological analysis suggested that TF could protect the hippocampus via reducing tau and IL-6 levels and increasing SYN expression. Meanwhile, it could protect the neurological function by alleviating Aβ deposition in APP/PS1 mice and C. elegans. In the RNA-seq analysis, 3 sphingolipid metabolism pathway-related genes, ADORA3, FCER1G, and ACER2, and another 5 nerve-related genes in 45 key DEGs were identified, so it indicated that the protection mechanism of TF was mainly associated with the sphingolipid metabolism pathway. In the qPCR assay, compared with the model group, the mRNA expressions of the 8 genes mentioned above were upregulated, and these results were consistent with RNA-seq. The protein and mRNA levels of ACER2 were also upregulated. Also, the results of network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking were consistent with those of RNA-seq analysis. Conclusion TF alleviates dementia by reducing Aβ deposition via the ACER2-mediated sphingolipid signaling pathway.

Identifying circRNA- and lncRNA-associated-ceRNA networks in the hippocampi of rats exposed to PM2.5 using RNA-seq analysis

Non-coding RNAs appear to be involved in the regulation of the nervous system. However, no competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network related to PM2.5 damage in the hippocampal function has yet been constructed. Herein, we used whole-transcriptome sequencing technology to systematically study the ceRNA network in rat hippocampi after PM2.5 exposure. We identified 100 circRNAs, 67 lncRNAs, 28 miRNAs, and 539 mRNAs and constructed the most comprehensive ceRNA network to date, to our knowledge. Gene Ontology and KEGG analyses showed that the network molecules are involved in synapses, neural projections, and neural development and involve signal pathways such as the synaptic vesicle cycle. Finally, the expression of the differentially expressed RNAs confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR was consistent with the sequencing data. This study systematically dissected the ceRNA atlas related to cognitive memory function in the hippocampal tissue of PM2.5-exposed rats for the first time, to our knowledge, and promotes the development of potential new treatments for cognitive impairment.

The efficacy of cognitive-cycling dual-task training in patients with early-stage Parkinson's disease: A pilot study.

Recent studies have suggested that cognitive-motor dual-task (DT) training might improve gait performance, locomotion automaticity, balance, and cognition in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). We aimed to investigate the efficacy of cognitive-cycling DT training in patients with early-stage PD. Participants were scheduled to perform cognitive tasks simultaneously with the cycling training twice per week for eight weeks for a total of 16 sessions during their on-states. Clinical assessments were conducted using the unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS), modified Hoehn and Yahr stage, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, gait and cognitive performances under dual-task paradigm, the new freezing of gait questionnaire, Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living scale, 39-item Parkinson's disease questionnaire, and cognitive performance. Thirteen eligible patients were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 60.64±5.32 years, and the mean disease duration was 7.02±3.23 years. Twelve PD patients completed 16 serial cognitive-cycling sessions for two months. After 16 sessions of training (T2), the UPDRS III scores improved significantly in both the off- and on-states, and TUG were significantly less than those at pretraining (T0). During both the single-task and the DT situations, gait performance and spatial memory cognitive performance significantly improved from T0 to T2. The present study demonstrated that cognitive-cycling DT training improves the motor functions, gait and cognitive performances of PD patients.

Is it better to sit down, stand up or walk when performing memory and arithmetic activities?

It is now accepted that performing a cognitive task impacts postural control (Polskaia and Lajoie 2016; Vuillerme et al. Neurosci Lett 291: 77-80, 2000). However, the reverse impact of posture on cognitive performance is less documented. The present study investigated performance in two cognitive activities (memory and arithmetic) performed in three different postural conditions (sitting, standing, and walking). Overall, our data suggest that the posture adopted during a task can improve cognitive performance with a better answer for arithmetic in the sitting position than during walking but more correctly recalled words while walking. This study, thus, suggests that there could be preferential association between cognition and posture, i.e., memory cognitive performance can be improved when walking and mental arithmetic while sitting.

EEG Variations During Measurement of Cognitive Functions Using Biosignal Acquisition Toolkit

The occurrence of serious traffic accidents due to driving error has recently become a social issue. The decline in cognitive functions is considered a factor particularly among elderly drivers, for which some corrective measures are urgently needed. Currently, as a measure dealing with elderly drivers, drivers aged 75 years are required by law to examine their cognitive functions when they renew their driver’s license. This examination is conducted to measure memory and power of judgment. In the present study, we used a device that allows simple measurements and attached electrodes to the frontal pole, where it is easy to attach; measure electroencephalograms for the cognitive functions of memory, mental calculations (thinking), and memory recall; and examine the changes in the power spectra to determine how they vary in young and elderly individuals.