Resilient Individuals Research Articles

Age-related progression of Alzheimer disease neuropathologic change (ADNC) in cognitively normal individuals: Toward a definition of resilience and resistance.

An intriguing group of individuals, termed "resilient", demonstrate neuropathologic changes consistent with Alzheimer disease (AD), yet display no cognitive impairment. Neuropathologic studies have reported less neuronal loss overall, less gliosis, and fewer comorbidities in these individuals. We sought to investigate the unique clinical characteristics of this subgroup as well as individuals who are "resistant" to AD neuropathologic change. Utilizing data from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) Uniform Data Set (UDS) and Neuropathology Data Set, we demonstrate the age-related progression of AD neuropathologic changes in all individuals (cognitively impaired and normal, n=6,144) as well as in only cognitively normal individuals (CDR = 0, n=662). With plots generated from these data, we have established standard lines that may be used to measure the extent to which an individual's AD pathology varies from the estimated normal range of pathology. We have also defined levels of AD neuropathologic change above which an individual could be considered "resilient" against the neuropathologic changes and levels below which an individual could be considered "resistant" to the neuropathologic changes. With this definition, we have identified 43 resilient and 23 resistant individuals and have analyzed the UDS for any significant clinical variations in these subgroups of individuals. Our plots demonstrate that although Braak stage and Thal phase increase with age in cognitively normal individuals, CERAD neuritic plaque score and ADNC remain at low levels, suggesting a critical role for neuritic plaques in the development of cognitive decline. Analyses of NACC UDS and NP datasets comparing resilient to other CDR = 0 individuals revealed significant differences in medication use, as well as comorbid pathologies. When comparing resistant individuals to other cognitively normal individuals, we found variations in blood pressure, as well as neuropsychiatric differences and subjective differences in the clinical impression of an individual's cognition without CDR scores indicating MCI. In conclusion, we are able to identify resilient and resistant individuals based off of a linear model of Braak stage progression with age. These individuals display differences that could provide insight into the protective mechanisms by which they evade the neuropathologic changes and/or associated cognitive decline observed in AD.

Genome‐wide association for protective variants in Alzheimer’s disease in the Midwestern Amish

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurological disease that leads to atrophy of the brain and cognitive decline. There are many factors that play a role in the risk of AD, such as age, smoking, gender, and genetics. the genetic influence on AD is strong, with heritability estimates between 40-60%. Identifying genetic factors that either increase or decrease AD risk are critical in the understanding of this disease. Here, we studied a homogeneous, isolated population - the Ohio and Indiana Amish - to identify protective genetic factors for AD. Our previous studies in the Amish documented numerous individuals who are cognitively normal at advanced ages.Here, we have completed a genome wide association study (GWAS) on Amish individuals who are at high risk for AD (i.e., have an affected sibling and are over 76 years of age), but are cognitively normal. We have genotypes on 2096 individuals, 921 of which are being analyzed for association, in which we have a complex 5,000-person, 13-generation pedigree to help inform our results. MEGAex and GSA chips were used for genotyping. Both KING and GENESIS software were used for quality control and association analyses since they control for both population structure and kinship in evaluating association via a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM).We included 601 cognitively normal (CN), 320 cognitively impaired (CI) individuals. Association analysis was done on a total of 921 individuals, with 256,978 SNPs. We had a total of four SNPs reach a significance threshold of p ≤ 5 x 10-5 to also include suggestive association loci in our examination. (Nearest genes: DISC1, IQGAP2, and LOC401478 on chromosomes 1, 5 and 8. One SNP on chromosome 13, rs1556774, has no gene association currently known, and no known gene within 80kb.) These loci are currently under further examination.We studied cognitively resilient individuals from a founder population to identify potential protective genetic variants for AD. We identified four SNPs associated with CN in at-risk adults over 75. These loci might influence cognitive resilience. Here we have shed some light on possible genetic factors that may contribute to protection from cognitive decline.

Transcriptomic score: A biomarker index of Alzheimer’s risk and resilience

AbstractBackgroundOne definition of resilience is the absence of disease despite high levels of risk. And in most cases, risk itself is best quantified by a multivariate profile rather than a single risk factor. Thus, multivariate risk profiles may be most appropriate for defining risk and resilience. RNA expression may serve as a risk biomarker, but no method has been proposed to build a whole‐transcriptome risk index of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that could identify resilient individuals at the highest transcriptomic risk. Here, we derived a novel method for transcriptome‐wide gene expression data called “transcriptomic risk score” (TRS). We also employed the algorithm to build a “transcriptomic resilience score” (TReS) that offsets that risk.MethodAnalogous to a polygenic risk score, TRS is a weighted rank‐sum statistic that represents a subject’s relative expression level across the transcriptome, where the standardized beta coefficients are used as weights. We leveraged the TRS approach on peripheral blood gene expression profiles of 364 normal controls and 188 AD cases from ADNI and AddNeuroMed batch 1. Using TRSas a means of risk quantification, we then identified resilient normal controls as those with the highest percentiles of risk. High‐risk AD cases with matched TRSs range were retained for comparison. Expression levels of individual transcripts not included in the best‐fit TRS were contrasted between the high‐risk normal controls and high‐risk AD cases using mixed‐effect linear models. A TReS was derived using the residual transcriptomic variation that buffers against the transcriptomic risk. The association between TReS and case status was evaluated using a logistic regression model.ResultThe derived TReS differentiated resilient subjects (high‐risk normal controls) and high‐risk AD cases in independent replication samples (216 normal controls and 223 AD cases), with significant differentiation seen at all evaluated p‐value bins and a maximum of 3% variance accounted for at a p‐value threshold of 0.1.ConclusionThis analysis indicated that TRS and TReS analysis of blood has the potential of facilitating the understanding of phenotypic variability and improving clinically useful biomarker profiles for AD.

Resilience Predicts Lower Anxiety and Depression and Greater Recovery after a Vicarious Trauma.

This study validated the French version of the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS-F) and tested the protective role of resilience in the context of vicarious trauma (22 March 2016 terrorist attacks in Brussels) regarding anxiety and depression symptoms. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated a single-factor structure of the BRS-F. Investigation of convergent validity showed that the BRS-F was positively correlated with usual outcomes such as subjective happiness, acceptance, and sense of coherence, and negatively correlated with anxiety and depression symptoms. Lastly, the results of the study showed that resilience protected against the effect of vicarious trauma in two ways. First, at the time of exposure, the more resilient individuals reported lower levels of anxiety and depression symptoms. Second, after three months, the more resilient individuals recovered from these symptoms, whereas no significant effect was found for less resilient individuals. Theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.

The role of resilience in alcohol use, drinking motives, and alcohol-related consequences among Hispanic college students

ABSTRACT Background: Hispanic college students experience minority stressors and are therefore at greater risk of experiencing alcohol-related consequences. Resilience may protect against problem drinking and related consequences, yet its relationship to drinking motives remains unexplored. Given that drinking motives precede both alcohol use and its consequences, investigating the role of resilience in such associations may inform interventions to reduce alcohol-related health disparities. Objectives: The current study investigated whether greater resilience predicted fewer drinking motives, lower alcohol consumption, and reduced the negative impact of drinking motives on alcohol consequences among Hispanic college students. Methods: Resilience, drinking motives and alcohol consequences were assessed among 443 students living on the U.S./Mexico border recruited via e-mail (68% female; Mage = 22.6 years, SD = 5.09). Linear regressions assessed whether drinking motives (i.e., coping, conformity, social, enhancement) and resilience predicted alcohol consumption. A linear regression also assessed resilience, drinking motives, and alcohol consumption as potential predictors of alcohol consequences. Lastly, linear regressions tested the moderating effects of resilience between each drinking motive and alcohol consumption as well as alcohol consequences. Results: Greater resilience predicted fewer alcohol-related consequences (β = −.024, p = .028). Additionally, resilience moderated the relationships social (β = −.095, p = .050) and enhancement drinking motives (β = −.084, p = .050) had with alcohol consequences. Higher social and enhancement motives were not associated with alcohol consequences among resilient individuals. Conclusion: Strengthening resilience among Hispanic students whose drinking is motivated by a desire for socialization or mood enhancement may protect against alcohol-related consequences.

MEF2 is a key regulator of cognitive potential and confers resilience to neurodegeneration.

Recent increases in human longevity have been accompanied by a rise in the incidence of dementia, highlighting the need to preserve cognitive function in an aging population. A small percentage of individuals with pathological hallmarks of neurodegenerative disease are able to maintain normal cognition. Although the molecular mechanisms that govern this neuroprotection remain unknown, individuals that exhibit cognitive resilience (CgR) represent a unique source of therapeutic insight. For both humans and animal models, living in an enriched, cognitively stimulating environment is the most effective known inducer of CgR. To understand potential drivers of this phenomenon, we began by profiling the molecular changes that arise from environmental enrichment in mice, which led to the identification of MEF2 transcription factors (TFs). We next turned to repositories of human clinical and brain transcriptomic data, where we found that the MEF2 transcriptional network was overrepresented among genes that are most predictive of end-stage cognition. Through single-nucleus RNA sequencing of cortical tissue from resilient and nonresilient individuals, we further confirmed up-regulation of MEF2C in resilient individuals to a subpopulation of excitatory neurons. Last, to determine the causal impact of MEF2 on cognition in the context of neurodegeneration, we overexpressed Mef2a/c in the PS19 mouse model of tauopathy and found that this was sufficient to improve cognitive flexibility and reduce hyperexcitability. Overall, our findings reveal a previously unappreciated role for MEF2 TFs in promoting CgR, highlighting their potential as biomarkers or therapeutic targets for neurodegeneration and healthy aging.

COVID-19: the first Homo Salus syndemic? Lessons of inclusion and social justice in the aftermath of SARS-CoV-2

Abstract Issue COVID-19 has been considered a pandemic. Nevertheless, following Merrill Singer et al, we could gain new insights if COVID-19 could be considered a syndemic. For too long Homo Sapiens has driven us towards un-sustainable achievements that are strongly reflected in the outbreak of the virus. A new perspective based in salutogenesis would call for the Homo Salus takeover, towards a more inclusive society. Description A syndemic perspective addresses biological and social interactions that are relevant for health policy and therefore that may affect prognosis, treatment, prevention and sustainability (sustainability at the environment, social and cultural levels). Analyzing, reducing and ensuring against risks, is a whole-of-society and whole-of-government endeavor. But more is needed than this risk perspective. Promoting health and pro-actively engaging the resilient individual is the sustainable perspective to be triggered. For this, Homo Salus must step in and move humanity forward to a new age. Results It is today well documented that policy should not be limited to the harm caused by SARS-CoV-2 addressing a response that only deals with the spread of the virus or curative measures to face the treat. Far more implications are found on NCDs, socioeconomic inequality citizens' susceptibility & health literacy. More than a comorbidity, this syndemic is determined basically by social interactions. In this very sense, the “one health” perspectives, inclusive of health promotion, becomes of utmost importance for future health action and policy. Lessons Focus the response to SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in biological characteristics will only deepen inequalities and foster the health gap even further. It is urgent to re-frame and establish a foundation that not only will deal with the scars of the present syndemic but that will help humanity to face next treats. Only then we may insure social justice, inclusion and human dignity.

Census of heat tolerance among Florida's threatened staghorn corals finds resilient individuals throughout existing nursery populations.

The rapid loss of reef-building corals owing to ocean warming is driving the development of interventions such as coral propagation and restoration, selective breeding and assisted gene flow. Many of these interventions target naturally heat-tolerant individuals to boost climate resilience, but the challenges of quickly and reliably quantifying heat tolerance and identifying thermotolerant individuals have hampered implementation. Here, we used coral bleaching automated stress systems to perform rapid, standardized heat tolerance assays on 229 colonies of Acropora cervicornis across six coral nurseries spanning Florida's Coral Reef, USA. Analysis of heat stress dose-response curves for each colony revealed a broad range in thermal tolerance among individuals (approx. 2.5°C range in Fv/Fm ED50), with highly reproducible rankings across independent tests (r = 0.76). Most phenotypic variation occurred within nurseries rather than between them, pointing to a potentially dominant role of fixed genetic effects in setting thermal tolerance and widespread distribution of tolerant individuals throughout the population. The identification of tolerant individuals provides immediately actionable information to optimize nursery and restoration programmes for Florida's threatened staghorn corals. This work further provides a blueprint for future efforts to identify and source thermally tolerant corals for conservation interventions worldwide.

Genetics and Cognitive Vulnerability to Sleep Deprivation in Healthy Subjects: Interaction of ADORA2A, TNF-α and COMT Polymorphisms.

Several genetic polymorphisms differentiate between healthy individuals who are more cognitively vulnerable or resistant during total sleep deprivation (TSD). Common metrics of cognitive functioning for classifying vulnerable and resilient individuals include the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT), Go/noGo executive inhibition task, and subjective daytime sleepiness. We evaluated the influence of 14 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on cognitive responses during total sleep deprivation (continuous wakefulness for 38 h) in 47 healthy subjects (age 37.0 ± 1.1 years). SNPs selected after a literature review included SNPs of the adenosine-A2A receptor gene (including the most studied rs5751876), pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL1-β, IL-6), catechol-O-methyl-transferase (COMT), and PER3. Subjects performed a psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) and a Go/noGo-inhibition task, and completed the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) every 6 h during TSD. For PVT lapses (reaction time >500 ms), an interaction between SNP and SDT (p < 0.05) was observed for ADORA2A (rs5751862 and rs2236624) and TNF-α (rs1800629). During TSD, carriers of the A allele for ADORA2A (rs5751862) and TNF-α were significantly more impaired for cognitive responses than their respective ancestral G/G genotypes. Carriers of the ancestral G/G genotype of ADORA2A rs5751862 were found to be very similar to the most resilient subjects for PVT lapses and Go/noGo commission errors. Carriers of the ancestral G/G genotype of COMT were close to the most vulnerable subjects. ADORA2A (rs5751862) was significantly associated with COMT (rs4680) (p = 0.001). In conclusion, we show that genetic polymorphisms in ADORA2A (rs5751862), TNF-α (rs1800629), and COMT (rs4680) are involved in creating profiles of high vulnerability or high resilience to sleep deprivation. (NCT03859882).

The long-term consequences of parental death in childhood on mortality and the role of socioeconomic status: evidence from Sweden at the turn of the 20th century

ABSTRACT The death of a parent during childhood is a major traumatic event. While there is a good understanding of the early-life effects of parental loss, the evidence regarding its impact on adult mortality is still scarce. Accordingly, the aim of this article is to study the long-term consequences of parental loss on mortality with a particular focus on differences by socioeconomic status (SES) of the family. We use data from 1880, 1890, 1900, and 1910 Swedish censuses that have been linked to the Swedish Death Index, which contain records for the deaths occurred in Sweden between 1860 and 2016. We run a series of OLS regressions to estimate the mean age at death of orphans adjusting for a set of parental and household characteristics. In addition, we account for children’s own socioeconomic position and marital status in adulthood. The findings suggest that parental death in childhood has long-lasting detrimental consequences later in life even though it decreases substantially as individuals get older. We explain the decreasing magnitude of the association with age as likely to be due to an increased selection with the more resilient individuals surviving to older ages. The presence of stepparents is associated with a survival advantage, but we do not find support for an interaction effect between parental death and family SES. Accordingly, the detrimental consequences of parental death are equally observed among all social classes. Including adulthood characteristics slightly attenuates the relationship between parental death in childhood and adulthood mortality, but the results remain significant.

Exploring the Grieving Process and Coping Strategies of Meranao Mothers over their Children’s Death

Death of one’s child is an unfathomable painful situation that a mother may feel. While literature reports different coping strategies across cultures, there has no research yet that explored the grieving process that Meranao mothers go through when they lost a child. Hence, this study explored the grieving process of the bereaved Meranao mothers from the Southern Philippines over the loss of their children and the strategies they used to cope with the feelings of grief. The study was conducted at different barangays located in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, Philippines. The participants lost children with age range of 18-30 years old. It was discovered that these bereaved mothers ask several questions to themselves emerging after the death of their children. Nonetheless, it was found that after the mothers had worked through their grief brought by their child’s death, they were able to restore their life and become stronger and resilient individuals. This paper concludes that bereaved mothers go through a tedious journey wherein the existence of pain, longing, sadness, guilt and anger were felt, but these emotions only strengthen them as mothers.

Bridging the Gap 2021- Summary Report

Differential Attainment&#x0D; &#x0D; Healthcare professionals are among the most respected, valued members in any society- and also the most regulated. It attracts some of the most talented, innovative and resilient individuals who are keen to do good. Respect, job satisfaction and autonomy are fundamental to the experience of any professional, and often valued above financial or material reward. Doctors are no different.&#x0D; Education and training of the healthcare workforce is a lengthy and resource intense process. No nation-state can be truly self-sufficient. Hence workforce migration is a reality where various pull and push factors lead to professionals moving across countries and continents, in the service of populations.&#x0D; Society is divided along many lines and steeped with structural inequalities. Many of these are the result of thousands of years of history, legacy and societal wrongs. Healthcare services and professionals reflect similar patterns of the 'big society'.&#x0D; The phenomenon of differential attainment (DA), which is the subject of this report is simply a manifestation of such structural inequalities. DA or differential outcomes for doctors due to their age, race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability, socio-economic deprivation or influenced by migrant status - rather than motivation, ability, effort or enterprise.&#x0D; DA is fundamentally unfair. Those affected by DA are either unaware or unable to counteract the influence on their careers. DA leads to demoralisation, disengagement and poor outcomes for professionals and their patients. It takes its toll not only on careers but on lives and livelihoods. DA leads to a huge under-utlisation of human resources- a true waste of talent and enterprise.&#x0D; This report- BTG21 focuses on DA in the medical profession exploring the career cycle through the themes of recruitment, assessments, career progression, research &amp; academia, leadership roles, awards and professionalism.&#x0D; BTG21 is people-centred and in tackling inequalities offers solutions on career fulfillment and wellbeing- by an ideological shift of hearts and minds.&#x0D; &#x0D; Thematic Synthesis&#x0D; &#x0D; BTG21 summary report is the culmination of a thematic synthesis of evidence covering the full spectrum of medical careers. It presents lived experiences (collected through mixed method approaches) capturing patterns in peoples experiences through an online survey, and in-depth qualitative interviews with a purposive sample of professionals from across the career cycle, range of ethnic heritage, medical specialism and country of origin.&#x0D; Followed by consensus developed through workshops by a triumvirate of experts, stakeholders and grassroots professionals.&#x0D; There are 5 primary causes of DA- bias, social class &amp; deprivation, immigration status, geographical and individual factors and impacts every stage of medical professional careers.&#x0D; The thematic synthesis reviews are published in the Sushruta Journal of Health Policy.&#x0D; &#x0D; Recommendations&#x0D; &#x0D; The Workshop discussions, recommendations (the 10-point plan) include policy enablers, immediate actions and research questions in the following areas;&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Tackling bias&#x0D; Embracing diversity &amp; inclusion&#x0D; Celebrating the contribution of migrants&#x0D; Leveling the playing field&#x0D; Inclusive leadership &amp; accountability&#x0D; Removing structural barriers&#x0D; Review-Reform-Rethink assessments&#x0D; Redefining professionalism&#x0D; Disaggregation-intersectionality-benchmarking of data&#x0D; Support-flexibility &amp; Wellbeing&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Probiotic Effects Upon Resilience And Recovery

The presence of microbiota, functionally in the role of therapeutic probiotics, exerts fundamental actions upon the induction, shaping, training, and function of the host immune system, e.g. among humans. In exchange, the host immune system has largely evolved as a means to maintain and develop the symbiotic relationship of the host with these highly diverse and evolving microbes, such as yeast cells. When operating optimally, this immune system-microbiota alliance allows the induction of protective responses to inflammatory agents and pathogens and the maintenance of regulatory pathways involved in the preservation of tolerance to innocuous antigens thereby promoting both cellular and functional resilience. Resilience presents the process(s) through which individuals are enhanced in their adaptation to their resistance to adverse conditions and enabled in their capacity recover from them. Resilient individuals possess a different immunophenotype from those presenting stress susceptibility and disease-propensity.

Association of Psychological Resilience With Healthy Lifestyle and Body Weight in Young Adulthood

PurposeChildhood adversity is associated with adverse health outcomes, in part owing to its effects on healthy lifestyle. We examined whether psychological resilience to adversity may promote healthier behaviors and body weight in young adulthood. MethodsData are from the Growing Up Today Study, a longitudinal cohort of young adults (n = 3,767) who are children of participants of the Nurses' Health Study II, a separate longitudinal cohort. After characterizing psychological resilience as per levels of adversity exposure before the age of 18 years and young adult psychological health (defined by a composite of low psychological distress and high positive affect), we derived a categorical measure by cross-classifying adversity (exposed vs. unexposed) and psychological health (high vs. lower). We considered five outcomes self-reported at baseline (2010) and five years later: healthy body weight and four healthy lifestyle components including being a nonsmoker, moderate alcohol consumption, regular physical activity, and healthy diet. Poisson regression models evaluated associations of each outcome with psychological resilience, comparing psychologically resilient individuals with those who were not resilient or who were unexposed to adversity, adjusting for relevant covariates. ResultsWe did not identify differences between psychologically resilient individuals and those unexposed to adversity who were psychologically healthy with respect to meeting recommendations for most healthy lifestyle components and associations were largely stable over time. Across most outcomes, nonresilient individuals were less likely to be healthy relative to resilient individuals. ConclusionsPsychological resilience may disrupt negative effects of childhood adversity on having a healthy lifestyle in young adulthood.

Identifying the Main Functional Pathways Associated with Cognitive Resilience to Alzheimer's Disease.

Understanding the mechanisms involved in cognitive resilience in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents a promising strategy to identify novel treatments for dementia in AD. Previous findings from our group revealed that the study of aged-Tg2576 cognitive resilient individuals is a suitable tool for this purpose. In the present study, we performed a transcriptomic analysis using the prefrontal cortex of demented and resilient Tg2576 transgenic AD mice. We have been able to hypothesize that pathways involved in inflammation, amyloid degradation, memory function, and neurotransmission may be playing a role on cognitive resilience in AD. Intriguingly, the results obtained in this study are suggestive of a reduction of the influx of peripheral immune cells into the brain on cognitive resilient subjects. Indeed, CD4 mRNA expression is significantly reduced on Tg2576 mice with cognitive resilience. For further validation of this result, we analyzed CD4 expression in human AD samples, including temporal cortex and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Interestingly, we have found a negative correlation between CD4 mRNA levels in the periphery and the score in the Mini-Mental State Exam of AD patients. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the role of the immune system on the development of neurodegenerative diseases and points out to the infiltration of CD4+ cells in the brain as a key player of cognitive dysfunction in AD.

Effect and Response of Quercus ilex subsp. ballota [Desf.] Samp. Seedlings From Three Contrasting Andalusian Populations to Individual and Combined Phytophthora cinnamomi and Drought Stresses.

Quercus ilex L. is the dominant species in the Mediterranean forest and agrosilvopastoral ecosystem “dehesa.” Currently, this forest species is threatened by natural and anthropogenic agents, especially by the decline syndrome, which is caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi and drought periods. Although the morphological and physiological responses of Q. ilex to combined stress (P. cinnamomi and drought) have been examined already, little is known at the molecular level. In this study, we studied the effect and response of 8-month seedlings from three contrasting Andalusian populations (Seville [Se], Granada [Gr], and Almeria [Al]) to the individual and combined stresses of P. cinnamomi and drought from morphological, physiological, biochemical, and proteomics data. Whereas, seedling damage (leaf chlorosis and necrosis) and mortality were greater under the combined stresses in the three populations, the effect of each individual stress was population-dependent. Resilient individuals were found in all the populations at different percentages. The decrease in leaf chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthetic activity, and stomatal conductance observed in undamaged seedlings was greater in the presence of both stresses, the three populations responding similarly to drought and P. cinnamomi. Biochemical and proteomic analyses of undamaged seedlings from the two most markedly contrasting populations (Se and Al) revealed the absence of significant differences in the contents in photosynthetic pigments, amino acids, and phenolics among treatments. The Se and Al populations exhibited changes in protein profile in response to the different treatments, with 83 variable proteins in the former population and 223 in the latter. Variable proteins belonged to 16 different functional groups, the best represented among which were protein folding, sorting and degradation, carbohydrate, amino acid, and secondary metabolism, photosynthesis, and ROS scavenging. While photosynthetic proteins were mainly downaccumulated, those of stress-responsive were upaccumulated. Although no treatment-specific response was observed in any functional group, differences in abundance were especially marked under the combined stresses. The following variable proteins are proposed as putative markers for resilience in Q. ilex, namely, aldehyde dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, 50S ribosomal protein L5, and α-1,4-glucan-protein synthase [UDP-forming].

Subgroup Analysis of Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis Showing Cognitive Resilience.

Cognitive dysfunction is known to occur in many individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, little is currently known about MS patients without cognitive impairment, including protective factors associated with intact cognition. The present study considered these issues in a sample of MS patients screened for intact subjective and objective cognitive functioning. Two MS participant groups from a larger sample were derived: i) participants within 1 standard deviation of controls on measures of objective cognition, subjective cognition, and informant-observed subjective cognition [cognitively resilient MS group (MScr)], and ii) those classified as not cognitively resilient (MSncr). Both groups were compared with age- and gender-matched controls. Findings indicated that the MScr group was similar to the MSncr group on most disease and demographic variables, and level of fatigue. The MScr group showed higher estimated baseline intellectual ability and reported less anxiety, subclinical depressive symptoms, and pain interference. MScr participants also showed a trend toward more reported compensatory cognitive strategy use than MSncr participants. The MScr group showed comparable reading recognition and pain symptoms to controls. Our findings provide preliminary information on factors associated with cognitive resilience in MS. Future research should examine resilient individuals with MS to further clarify positive outcomes in this condition.

Science education for and as resiliency through indoor agriculture

AbstractThe COVID‐19 pandemic has highlighted the need to adapt to and rebound from unexpected change and uncertainty. The increasing climate chaos of the Anthropocene additionally underscores the necessity of resilient societies and individuals. Individuals able to problem‐solve in emergent situations are integral to a resilient society, and science education can develop these competencies both individually and collectively. We use the concept of resiliency to argue for science education that enables learners to adapt and respond in the face of disruption, unrest, and disaster. We focus specifically on the ways in which learning how to grow plants indoors can develop resilience on multiple levels while authentically facilitating science and engineering principles. This study seeks to explore how indoor agriculture might support science education for resiliency. We examine a higher‐education project, the “Grow Pod,” involving shipping container agriculture with first‐year undergraduates. We argue that inclusion of indoor agriculture within science education has the potential to support both learning for and as resiliency. In our analysis, we note how the Grow Pod project supports a science education for resiliency through collective learning that helps learners understand plant basics and how to grow food, and a science education as resiliency which includes learning through and rebounding from challenges/mistakes, learning resourcefulness, and experiencing restorative benefits of working with plants.

Psychological resilience predicting cardiometabolic conditions in adulthood in the Midlife in the United States Study

Early adversity is associated with poor cardiometabolic health, potentially via psychological distress. However, not everyone exposed to adversity develops significant distress. Psychological resilience and positive psychological health despite adversity may protect against unfavorable cardiometabolic outcomes that are otherwise more likely. We examined early adversity, psychological resilience, and cardiometabolic risk among 3,254 adults in the Midlife in the United States Study. Psychological resilience was defined according to both early psychosocial adversity and adult psychological health (characterized by low distress and high wellbeing) at Wave 1 (1994 to 1995). Categorical resilience was derived by cross-classifying adversity (exposed versus unexposed) and psychological health (higher versus lower). We also assessed count of adversities experienced and psychological symptoms as separate variables. Incident cardiometabolic conditions (e.g., heart attack, stroke, and diabetes) were self-reported at Waves 2 (2004 to 2005) and 3 (2013 to 2014). Secondary analyses examined biological cardiometabolic risk using a composite of biomarkers available within a Wave-2 subsample. Logistic and Poisson regressions evaluated associations of resilience with cardiometabolic health across 20 follow-up y, adjusting for relevant covariates. In this initially healthy sample, nonresilient (adversity-exposed, lower psychological health) versus resilient (adversity-exposed, high psychological health) individuals had 43% higher odds of cardiometabolic conditions (95% CI 1.10 to 1.85). Odds of cardiometabolic conditions were similar among resilient versus unexposed, psychologically healthy individuals. More adversity experiences were associated with increased odds, while better psychological health with decreased odds of cardiometabolic conditions, and effects were largely independent. Patterns were similar for objectively assessed cardiometabolic risk. Psychological resilience in midlife may protect against negative cardiometabolic impacts of early adversity.

Too Much of a Good Thing? Resilience as a Predictor of Academic Commitment in (Un)Challenging Times

Addressing the problem of the demand for STEM jobs outstripping the supply has stimulated particular investigations of the “leaky pipeline” at early stages, that is, the vocational qualification of STEM professionals. In a longitudinal study, we investigate the development of affective commitment to STEM disciplines in students (N = 234). Given that both the academic life in, and the working context of, STEM disciplines are particularly challenging, resilience appears to be an important resource in STEM careers. By pursuing an interactionist approach, we investigate the question of if and under which circumstances resilience is particularly useful in maintaining affective commitment. Consistent with our theorizing, the results of latent growth curve modeling show the relationship between resilience as the personal ability to overcome adverse events and the development of commitment over time to be curvilinear. Whereas high levels of resilience prove beneficial in the face of adverse conditions, a too-much-of-a-good-thing effect is observed for highly resilient individuals in non-challenging environments. Our findings offer important practical and theoretical implications for addressing the leaky pipeline early by enhancing the affective commitment to STEM disciplines in students.