Improvement In Working Memory Research Articles

Association between poverty, low educational level and smoking with adolescent's working memory: cross lagged analysis from longitudinal data.

Working memory is a crucial element of cognitive function. Previous cross-sectional studies have identified various determinants of working memory in children and adolescents. Nonetheless, no study has yet demonstrated the causal relationship of social determinants with working memory in adolescents. This study explores the causal link between the level of education, smoking, and other factors with adolescent's working memory. This study analyzed secondary data from waves 4 and 5 of the Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS), utilizing cross-lagged analysis in Jamovi version 2.4.8. The variables included working memory score, maternal education, household income, stress, educational level, smoking, urbanicity, and physical activity. These variables were extracted from IFLS waves 4 and 5, and each dependent variable in IFLS wave four was controlled by the same dependent variables in IFLS 5. Then, we used cross-lagged analysis to assess the causality between each dependent variable and a working memory score in IFLS wave 5. The findings indicate that level of education had a positive impact on working memory in adolescents aged 15-18 years, with a Beta value of 0.18 (95% CI 0.81-0.2; p < 0.001). Smoking and age were negatively associated with working memory, with Beta values of -0.07 (95% CI -0.65 -0.04; p < 0.029) and - 0.10 (95% CI -0.25 -0.05; p < 0.003), respectively. No evidence was found for a significant correlation between poverty and adolescents's working memory. The findings indicate that increased education levels are associated with improved working memory in adolescents aged 15-18. At the same time, smoking has a negative impact on working memory in this age group.

Effects of cognitive-motor intervention for pediatric posterior fossa tumor survivors: results of a pilot study.

The purpose of this prospective pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility and effects of cognitive-motor intervention on the cognitive and motor abilities of pediatric survivors of posterior fossa tumors. The study involved patients aged 7 to 18 years with cognitive deficits who had completed primary treatment for posterior fossa tumors. 25 participants (Mage=11.3 ± 2.93, 64% male; 17 medulloblastoma, 1 ependymoma, 1 desmoplastic medulloblastoma, 6 piloid astrocytoma; 22 in remission (Mmonths =45), 3 in stabilization (Mmonths=49)) were recruited from the Research Institute for Brain Development and Peak Performance. The intervention consisted of two phases with a 3-month break for home training, and a total duration of 6 months. Each phase lasted 7 weeks and included two assessment procedures (pre- and post-intervention) and 10 training sessions over a period of 5 weeks (two 3-hour sessions per week). At baseline and pre- and post-intervention, all participants underwent a battery of cognitive and motor tests. Each training session included gross motor training (GMT), graphomotor training (GT), and cognitive-motor training (CMT). Statistical analysis was performed using the Friedman test for repeated measures and post-hoc Durbin-Conover test. The results indicated significant improvements in visuospatial working memory, visual attention, eye-hand coordination, semantic verbal fluency, auditory-motor synchronization, reaction time, and a decrease in the rate of ataxia. These improvements remained stable even in the absence of direct intervention. The findings demonstrate positive effects and feasibility of the intervention and suggest the need for further research in this area including randomized controlled feasibility studies with a larger sample.

Phasic alertness and working memory improvements following lumbar puncture in iNPH patients differ from other age-associated cognitive syndromes.

Phasic alertness and working memory improvements following lumbar puncture in iNPH patients differ from other age-associated cognitive syndromes.

Effectiveness of Electroencephalography Neurofeedback for Improving Working Memory and Episodic Memory in the Elderly: A Meta-Analysis.

Background and Objective: Existing evidence indicates the potential benefits of electroencephalography neurofeedback (NFB) training for cognitive function. This study aims to comprehensively review all available evidence investigating the effectiveness of NFB on working memory (WM) and episodic memory (EM) in the elderly population. Material and Methods: A systematic search was conducted across five databases to identify clinical trials examining the impact of NFB on memory function in healthy elderly individuals or those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The co-primary outcomes focused on changes in WM and EM. Data synthesis was performed using a random-effects meta-analysis. Results: Fourteen clinical trials (n = 284) were included in the analysis. The findings revealed that NFB was associated with improved WM (k = 11, reported as Hedges' g = 0.665, 95% confidence [CI] = 0.473 to 0.858, p < 0.001) and EM (k = 12, 0.595, 0.333 to 0.856, p < 0.001) in the elderly, with moderate effect sizes. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that NFB had a positive impact on both WM and EM, not only in the healthy population (WM: k = 7, 0.495, 0.213 to 0.778, p = 0.001; EM: k = 6, 0.729, 0.483 to 0.976, p < 0.001) but also in those with MCI (WM: k = 6, 0.812, 0.549 to 1.074, p < 0.001; EM: k = 6, 0.503, 0.088 to 0.919, p = 0.018). Additionally, sufficient training time (totaling more than 300 min) was associated with a significant improvement in WM (k = 6, 0.743, 0.510 to 0.976, p < 0.001) and EM (k = 7, 0.516, 0.156 to 0.876, p = 0.005); however, such benefits were not observed in groups with inadequate training time. Conclusions: The results suggest that NFB is associated with enhancement of both WM and EM in both healthy and MCI elderly individuals, particularly when adequate training time (exceeding 300 min) is provided. These findings underscore the potential of NFB in dementia prevention or rehabilitation.

Can we enhance working memory? Bias and effectiveness in cognitive training studies.

Meta-analyses have found that working memory (WM) can be improved with cognitive training; however, some authors have suggested that these improvements are mostly driven by biases in the measurement of WM, especially the use of similar tasks for assessment and training. In the present meta-analysis, we investigated whether WM, fluid intelligence, executive functions, and short-term memory can be improved by cognitive training and evaluated the impact of possible sources of bias. We performed a risk of bias assessment of the included studies and took special care in controlling for practice effects. Data from 52 independent comparisons were analyzed, including cognitive training aimed at different cognitive functions. Our results show small improvements in WM after training (SMD = 0.18). Much larger effects were observed when the analysis was restricted to assessment tasks similar to those used for training (SMD = 1.15). Fluid intelligence was not found to improve as a result of training, and improvements in WM were not related to changes in fluid intelligence. Our analyses did however indicate that cognitive training can improve specific executive functions. Contrary to expectations, a set of meta-regressions indicated that characteristics of the training programme, such as dosage and type of training, do not have an impact on the effectiveness of training. The risk of bias assessment revealed some concerns in the randomization process and possible selective reporting among studies. Overall, our results identified various potential sources of bias, with the most significant being the choice of assessment tasks.

Comparable Efficacy of Repeated Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Their Combination in Improvement of Cold and Hot Cognitive Functions and Amelioration of Depressive Symptoms.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of repeated transcranial direct current stimulation (rtDCS), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and their combination (rtDCS-CBT) in the treatment of cognitive dysfunction, social cognition, and depressive symptoms in women diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD). A total of 40 female participants with MDD were randomly assigned to one of four groups: rtDCS, CBT, rtDCS-CBT, and a control group. The participants' depressive symptoms, executive functions, and social cognition were assessed at baseline, preintervention, postintervention, and during a 1-month follow-up. The rtDCS group received 10 sessions of anodal dorsolateral and cathodal ventromedial prefrontal cortex (2 mA for 20 minutes). The CBT group received 10 sessions of traditional CBT, whereas the combined group received CBT after the tDCS sessions. The results of the analysis of variance indicated that all intervention groups demonstrated significant improvements in depressive symptoms, cognitive dysfunction, and social cognition compared with the control group (all p < 0.001). Furthermore, the rtDCS-CBT group exhibited significantly greater reductions in depressive symptoms when compared with each intervention alone (all p < 0.001). Notably, working memory improvements were observed only in the rtDCS group ( p < 0.001). In conclusion, this study suggests that both CBT and tDCS, either individually or in combination, have a positive therapeutic impact on enhancing executive functions, theory of mind, and depressive symptoms in women with MDD.

Meta-modeling the effects of anodal left prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation on working memory performance

Abstract Numerous studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of anodal prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on working memory. However, a large variability exists in the applied tDCS parameters and working memory outcome measures. Using a meta-modeling approach, we investigated the relationship between tDCS electric fields in the left prefrontal cortex and improvements in working memory performance. Using this approach, a vector of outcome measures is correlated with the tDCS-related electric fields across several studies. These performance-electric field correlations (PEC) are calculated for each spatial location of the grey matter. Extracting 354 data points from 67 studies, we compared the spatial maps of tDCS effects on I) working memory accuracy and speed (regardless of working memory type and time of assessment), II) verbal and visuospatial working memory (regardless of performance measurement and time of assessment), and III) performance during and after stimulation (regardless of performance measurement and working memory type). We found that accuracy improves when anodal tDCS is applied to inferior frontal regions (Brodmann area 47) while working memory speed benefits from stimulation to dorsolateral and anterior prefrontal areas (Brodmann areas 9/10). Furthermore, the beneficial effects of left prefrontal tDCS are exclusive to verbal working memory, with no improvements in visuospatial working memory. We also observed region-specific effects only for task performance during, but not after, stimulation. The results of this study elucidate the causal involvement of prefrontal regions in working memory and can help guide tDCS placement for therapeutic application in disorders that involve working memory deficits.

Effects of 12-week aerobic exercise with different frequencies on executive function in preschool children: a cluster randomized controlled trial

Objective To explore the effects of a 12-week aerobic exercise program with different frequencies on executive functions (EFs) in preschool children. Method Four kindergartens, comprising 126 preschool children in Shanghai, were enrolled in this 12-week cluster randomized controlled trial with a 12-week follow-up period. Kindergartens were allocated to high-frequency (three times a week) or low-frequency (once a week) exercise groups using stratified block randomization. Three core sub-EFs, including inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility, were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and the 12-week follow-up. Results Compared to baseline, both groups showed significant improvements in inhibition and working memory after the intervention and at the 12-week follow-up. However, only the high-frequency exercise group demonstrated a significant improvement in cognitive flexibility after the follow-up period. Nonetheless, there were no significant differences in the core sub-functions of EFs between the two groups at the end of the intervention or the follow-up periods. Conclusion A 12-week aerobic exercise of three times a week was insufficient to significantly improve EFs in preschool children compared to once a week. Future studies are needed to examine the dose-response relationship of aerobic exercise on EFs and to verify the effects of different exercise modalities on EFs in preschool children.

Working and episodic memory trajectories over time following bilateral oophorectomy in early midlife women

AbstractBackgroundEarly ovarian hormone deprivation due to bilateral salpingo‐oophorectomy (BSO; ovarian and fallopian tube removal) is a risk for late‐life AD, but estradiol replacement therapy (ERT) may be protective (Rocca et al., 2007). Working and episodic memory decrements have been observed without ERT soon after surgery (Sherwin et al., 1988) and on average 5 years post‐BSO in midlife compared to premenopausal controls (Gervais et al., 2020). Unknown is whether memory continues to decrease over time in early midlife, a critical period for understanding cognitive trajectories that presage AD. We investigated memory changes in early midlife over time post‐BSO, and whether those taking ERT had different trajectories than those without.MethodParticipants with BSO taking ERT (BSO+ERT: M age = 44.5y; n = 71) were compared to those not taking ERT (BSO: M age = 43.2y; n = 55), recruited from Toronto and Montreal, Canada, and Linköping, Sweden, and completed up to four yearly visits. Episodic memory was evaluated using Logical Memory Task (LM) percent forgetting and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) total learning. Working memory was assessed using Spatial Working Memory Task (SPWM) trial 1 errors, Digit Ordering Task (DOT) errors, and Digit Span Backward Task (DSB) span length. Multilevel models were used to examine whether ERT influenced memory over time post‐BSO and disaggregate within‐ and between‐person effects. Estimated marginal means (Aiken and West, 1991) were calculated to delineate significant interactions.ResultThere were no significant changes over time post‐BSO on LM or RAVLT. The DSB showed significant within‐ and between‐person effects; the BSO group showed decreases in span length over time post‐BSO, while the BSO+ERT group showed increases and had significantly longer span lengths at seven years post‐BSO and beyond (Fig.1A&amp;B). The SPWM Task showed a significant within‐person effect; the BSO group had stable errors over time post‐BSO, while the BSO+ERT group had working memory improvements and made fewer errors (Fig.1C).ConclusionFindings suggest that immediate verbal episodic memory declines we observed previously may stabilize. They also reveal that without ERT, most women have working memory declines post‐BSO. These data support ERT administration post‐BSO for working memory preservation. If ERT is contraindicated, cognitive training or lifestyle interventions may mitigate working memory declines.

Comparing the effectiveness of CBT and low-frequency rTMS in reducing symptom severity and depression and improving working memory in adults with OCD: a clinical trial

Objective This study aims to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and low-frequency (LF) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in reducing symptom severity and depression and improving working memory in adults with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Methods This is a randomized clinical trial conducted on 24 adults with OCD, randomly assigned into two groups of CBT (n = 12, received CBT with exposure and response prevention (ERP) individually at 20 sessions) and rTMS (n = 12, received LF (1-Hz) rTMS over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) at 10 sessions). They completed the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and two N-Back tasks before, immediately, and 1 month after interventions. Results Results showed a significant difference between the two methods in reducing the severity of OCD symptoms (p < 0.05) and depression (p = 0.002) immediately after interventions where the CBT with ERP was more effective, but no significant difference was found in terms of working memory (p > 0.05). No significant difference was found between groups in any study variables 1 month after interventions. Conclusion Individual CBT with ERP is superior to LF rTMS for reducing the severity of symptoms and depression in OCD patients. However, there is no difference between them in improving working memory.

The impact of mindfulness on working memory-related brain activation in breast cancer survivors with cognitive complaints.

Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) has been associated with altered brain activation after chemotherapy in areas related to working memory. Hence, improving working memory capacity and associated brain activation might aid in the recovery of CRCI. In this study, we investigated the potential of a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) to impact working memory-related brain activation. Female breast cancer survivors reporting cognitive complaints (N=117) were randomized into a mindfulness (n=43; MBI), physical training (n=36; PT), or waitlist control condition (n=38; WL). Participants completed MRI scans before the intervention, immediately after, and three months post-intervention. Task-based functional MRI was used to measure differences between groups over time in working memory-related brain activation while performing a visual-verbal n-back task. Data of 83 participants (32/26/25 MBI/PT/WL) was included. Compared to the waitlist group, MBI participants showed reduced task-related activation in the right middle frontal and angular gyrus and increased activation in the right dorsal posterior cingulate cortex over time. Compared to the physical training group, MBI participants showed reduced brain activation in the bilateral superior parietal lobule and right dorsal anterior cingulate cortex over time. No differences between physical training and no intervention were identified. This study showed that an 8-week mindfulness-based intervention can significantly alter brain activation across brain regions involved in working memory, attentional control, and emotion processing during performance of a working memory task. This might aid in the recovery of CRCI. Mindfulness might alter brain activation patterns while performing a working memory task, which might ultimately aidin restoring higher order cognitive functions.

Low-dose lithium adjunct to atypical antipsychotic treatment nearly improved cognitive impairment, deteriorated the gray-matter volume, and decreased the interleukin-6 level in drug-naive patients with first schizophrenia symptoms: a follow-up pilot study

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of long-term low-dose lithium adjunct to antipsychotic agent use on the cognitive performance, whole-brain gray-matter volume (GMV), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) level in drug-naive patients with first-episode schizophrenia, and to examine relationships among these factors. In this double-blind randomized controlled study, 50 drug-naive patients with first-episode schizophrenia each took low-dose (250 mg/day) lithium and placebo (of the same shape and taste) adjunct to antipsychotic agents (mean, 644.70 ± 105.58 and 677.00 ± 143.33 mg/day chlorpromazine equivalent, respectively) for 24 weeks. At baseline and after treatment completion, the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) was used to assess cognitive performance, 3-T magnetic resonance imaging was performed to assess structural brain alterations, and serum IL-6 levels were quantified by immunoassay. Treatment effects were assessed within and between patient groups. Relationships among cognitive performance, whole-brain GMVs, and the IL-6 level were investigated by partial correlation analysis. Relative to baseline, patients in the lithium group showed improved working memory, verbal learning, processing speed, and reasoning/problem solving after 24 weeks of treatment; those in the placebo group showed only improved working memory and verbal learning. The composite MCCB score did not differ significantly between groups. The whole-brain GMV reduction was significantly lesser in the lithium group than in the placebo group (0.46% vs. 1.03%; P < 0.001). The GMV and IL-6 reduction ratios correlated with each other in both groups (r = −0.17, P = 0.025). In the lithium group, the whole-brain GMV reduction ratio correlated with the working memory improvement ratio (r = −0.15, P = 0.030) and processing speed (r = −0.14, P = 0.036); the IL-6 reduction ratio correlated with the working memory (r = −0.21, P = 0.043) and verbal learning (r = −0.30, P = 0.031) improvement ratios. In the placebo group, the whole-brain GMV reduction ratio correlated only with the working memory improvement ratio (r = −0.24, P = 0.019); the IL-6 reduction ratio correlated with the working memory (r = −0.17, P = 0.022) and verbal learning (r = −0.15, P = 0.011) improvement ratios. Both treatments implemented in this study nearly improved the cognitive performance of patients with schizophrenia; relative to placebo, low-dose lithium had slightly greater effects on several aspects of cognition. The patterns of correlation among GMV reduction, IL-6 reduction, and cognitive performance improvement differed between groups.

The Effectiveness of Home-Based Exergames Training on Cognition and Balance in Older Adults: A Comparative Quasi-Randomized Study of Two Exergame Interventions

Abstract Background and Objectives The effectiveness of exergames on fall risk and related physical and cognitive function in older adults is still unclear, with conflicting findings. The discrepancy in these results could be due to the different components and task-specific demands of individual exergame interventions. This open-label quasi-randomized study aimed to compare the efficacy of 2 different home-based dual-task exergame treatments on cognition, mobility, and balance in older people. Research Design and Methods Fifty older adults (65–85 years of age) were allocated to one of two 8-week exergame interventions: Cognitive-Intensive Exergame Training (CIT) or Physical-Intensive Exergame Training (PIT). Cognitive functions, balance, and mobility were assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks. Group × time interaction was measured by repeated-measure ANOVA, and both intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses were performed to assess the effectiveness of exergame interventions. Results ITT analyses showed that improvement in visual processing speed and visuospatial working memory was greater in the CIT group, with a medium effect size (p = .04; η2 = 0.09 and p = .01; η2 = 0.12). The improvement in verbal memory and attention was significant within both groups (p &amp;lt; .05), but this improvement was not different between the groups (p &amp;gt; .05). A significant improvement in balance was also observed in the PIT group, with a medium effect size (p = .04; η2 = 0.09). Although mobility improved significantly in both groups (p &amp;lt; .01), there was no significant difference between groups (p = .08). These results were largely supported by the PP analysis. Discussion and Implications Dual-task exergame training can improve mobility and cognition in older adults. However, the different cognitive and physical demands of these interventions may have varying impacts on fall risk and related physical or cognitive functions. Therefore, a training program that includes both cognitive and physical domains with appropriate intensity is essential for the development of tailored exergame interventions to reduce fall risk in older adults.

Identifying the Relationships between Types of Leisure Activities and Cognitive Functions in Older Adults

Objectives: We investigated the relationship between types of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) activities, intellectually stimulating activities, and community-based activities and the cognitive functions of older adults. Methods: We extracted 3,767 samples from the 2020 Health and Retirement Study (N=15,723). We defined cognitive functions as: (1) memory as assessed by both immediate and delayed recall tests, (2) working memory measured by a subtraction-by-7 test, and (3) attention and processing speed assessment through the use of the counting backward test. We used hierarchical regression analysis to assess the relationships between types of leisure and cognitive functions. Results: LTPA, intellectual leisure, and community-based leisure were significantly associated with improved memory function. Intellectual activity was significantly associated with improved working memory, and improved attention and processing speed. Conclusion: These findings provide data-based implications for the design and implementation of various types of leisure activities for older adults by healthcare providers and therapists.

Development and Standardization of Low-Verbal Material for Assessment of Central Auditory Processing in Arabic Language

Development and Standardization of Low-Verbal Material for Assessment of Central Auditory Processing in Arabic Language

LON GITUDINAL STUDIES OF WORKING MEMORY CAPACITY IN SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETING STUDENTS

Simultaneous interpreting is one of the most difficult cognitive tasks where the comprehension, processing and production of speech occur almost at the same time. In addition to linguistic competencies, simultaneous interpreting involves many cognitive mechanisms, including working memory (WM). One of the main issues in studying the correlation of simultaneous interpreting and WM is confirming the hypothesis about the interpreters’ advantage in working memory (controversial data are presented), as well as identifying its cause — if it is a natural phenomenon or acquired by virtue of learning certain skills and professional experience. The purpose of this article is to analyze a number of works that reflect longitudinal studies of working memory in students studying simultaneous interpreting. This approach to the study of WM among simultaneous interpreters is relatively new and still relevant. Usually, such studies compare students at the beginning and at the end of their training, while control groups may or may not be included. As for the results of longitudinal studies, the following fact can be noted: the advantage of interpreting students is not observed at the very beginning of training. The rest of the results are very inconsistent. Thus, some works demonstrate indicators in favor of WM improvement, while others cast doubt on this. Also, short-term memory can be measured in parallel with WM at the beginning and end of training, but not all research is able to confirm its improvement in simultaneous interpreters after training. The main reasons for the conflicting results lie in the different samples of participants and control groups, as well as varying methods of conducting memory tests. It seems promising for future longitudinal studies to take into account the experience and errors of previous experiments, in order to be able to present subsequent meta-analyses and identify the statistical significance of the results.

Music Therapy as a Low-Cost Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease

Introduction Alzheimer's disease affects over 55 million people globally, projected to double by 2030 and triple by 2050. It ranks among the top 10 causes of death, necessitating urgent treatment and cures. Music therapy positively impacts brain development and plasticity, particularly in the medial temporal lobe. It shows promise as a therapeutic approach for enhancing neuroplasticity in the hippocampus, benefiting individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Materials and Methods This review explores music therapy as a cost-effective and side-effect-free avenue for patients to alleviate neurodegenerative symptoms based on the analysis of 21 other articles published by renowned authors. Discussion Alzheimer's disease causes hippocampal abnormalities and cognitive decline. Music, with musical mnemonics and enhanced working memory, shows promise for memory improvement. Music therapy induces neuroplasticity, potentially treating hippocampal neuron loss. Vocal training improves psychomotor speed and reduces dementia symptoms. Further exploration of music therapy may offer novel strategies for alleviating Alzheimer's symptoms and benefiting neurological disorders. Mechanisms underlying therapeutic benefits require further investigation. Music therapy holds inherent potential for Alzheimer's and related neurodegenerative diseases. Conclusion Empirical evidence shows musical training enhances hippocampal plasticity and gray matter volume, suggesting music therapy may treat hippocampal neuron loss in Alzheimer's disease, improving working memory. It holds promise for Alzheimer's and related neurodegenerative disorders by enhancing hippocampal function, but further research on underlying mechanisms is needed.

Total choline intake and working memory performance in adults with phenylketonuria

BackgroundDespite early diagnosis and compliance with phenylalanine (Phe)-restricted diets, many individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU) still exhibit neurological changes and experience deficits in working memory and other executive functions. Suboptimal choline intake may contribute to these impairments, but this relationship has not been previously investigated in PKU. The objective of this study was to determine if choline intake is correlated with working memory performance, and if this relationship is modified by diagnosis and metabolic control.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study that included 40 adults with PKU and 40 demographically matched healthy adults. Web-based neurocognitive tests were used to assess working memory performance and 3-day dietary records were collected to evaluate nutrient intake. Recent and historical blood Phe concentrations were collected as measures of metabolic control.ResultsWorking memory performance was 0.32 z-scores (95% CI 0.06, 0.58) lower, on average, in participants with PKU compared to participants without PKU, and this difference was not modified by total choline intake (F[1,75] = 0.85, p = 0.36). However, in a subgroup with complete historical blood Phe data, increased total choline intake was related to improved working memory outcomes among participants with well controlled PKU (Phe = 360 µmol/L) after adjusting for intellectual ability and mid-childhood Phe concentrations (average change in working memory per 100 mg change in choline = 0.11; 95% CI 0.02, 0.20; p = 0.02). There also was a trend, albeit nonsignificant (p = 0.10), for this association to be attenuated with increased Phe concentrations.ConclusionsClinical monitoring of choline intake is essential for all individuals with PKU but may have important implications for working memory functioning among patients with good metabolic control. Results from this study should be confirmed in a larger controlled trial in people living with PKU.

Availability, accessibility, and use of green spaces and cognitive development in primary school children

Green spaces may have beneficial impacts on children's cognition. However, few studies explored the exposure to green spaces beyond residential areas, and their availability, accessibility and uses at the same time. The aim of the present study was to describe patterns of availability, accessibility, and uses of green spaces among primary school children and to explore how these exposure dimensions are associated with cognitive development. Exposures to green space near home, school, commuting route, and other daily activity locations were assessed for 1607 children aged 6–11 years from six birth cohorts across Europe, and included variables related to: availability (NDVI buffers: 100, 300, 500 m), potential accessibility (proximity to a major green space: linear distance; within 300 m), and use (play time in green spaces: hours/year), and the number of visits to green spaces (times/previous week). Cognition measured as fluid intelligence, inattention, and working memory was assessed by computerized tests. We performed multiple linear regression analyses on pooled and imputed data adjusted for individual and area-level confounders. Availability, accessibility, and uses of green spaces showed a social gradient that was unfavorable in more vulnerable socioeconomic groups. NDVI was associated with more playing time in green spaces, but proximity to a major green space was not. Associations between green space exposures and cognitive function outcomes were not statistically significant in our overall study population. Stratification by socioeconomic variables showed that living within 300 m of a major green space was associated with improved working memory only in children in less deprived residential areas (β = 0.30, CI: 0.09,0.51), and that more time playing in green spaces was associated with better working memory only in children of highly educated mothers (β per IQR increase in hour/year = 0.10; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.19). However, studying within 300 m of a major green space increased inattention scores in children in more deprived areas (β = 15.45, 95% CI: 3.50, 27.40).

Repeated Photobiomodulation Induced Reduction of Bilateral Cortical Hemodynamic Activation during a Working Memory Task in Healthy Older Adults.

Transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) is an emerging non-invasive light-based neuromodulation technique that shows promising potential for improving working memory (WM) performance in older adults. However, the neurophysiological mechanisms associated with tPBM that underlie the improvement of WM and the persistence of such improvement have not been investigated. Sixty-one healthy older adults were recruited to receive a baseline sham stimulation, followed by one-week active tPBM (12 min daily, 1064-nm laser, 250 mW/cm2) and three-week follow-ups. N-back WM task was conducted on post-stimulation of the baseline, the first (Day 1) and seventh (Day 7) days of the active treatment, and at the follow-ups. During the task, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) imaging was employed to record the cortical hemodynamic changes. Brain activations during the active and follow-up sessions were compared with the baseline to determine how tPBM had changed cortical hemodynamic activity and how long these changes persisted. We found that tPBM stimulation on Day 1 induced significantly decreased activation in the right hemisphere during the 3-back. The decreased activation expanded from only the right hemisphere on Day 1 to both hemispheres on Day 7. The decreased activation persisted for one week in the right supramarginal gyrus and the left angular gyrus and two weeks in the left somatosensory association cortex. These activation changes were accompanied by significantly improved task accuracy during the N-back. These findings provide important evidence for understanding neural mechanisms underlying cognitive enhancement after tPBM.