Dataset Information

Baseline Cognitive Performance Moderates the Effects of Physical Activity on Executive Functions in Children.

ABSTRACT: Findings regarding the effects of regular physical activity on cognition in children have been inconsistent due to a number of demographic factors and experimental considerations. The present study was designed to examine baseline cognitive performance and executive function demands, as possible factors underlying the lack of consensus in the literature, by investigating the moderating role of those factors on the effects of physical activity on cognition. We reanalyzed data from three randomized controlled trials, in which the effects of regular physical activity intervention on cognition were examined using executive function tasks that included at least two task conditions requiring variable executive function demands, with a cumulative total of 292 participants (9-13 years). The results indicate that cognitive improvements resulting from physical activity intervention were greater in children with lower baseline cognitive performance. The main analysis revealed that beneficial effects of physical activity intervention on cognitive performance were generally observed across executive function conditions. However, secondary analyses indicated that these general effects were moderated by baseline performance, with disproportionately greater effects for task conditions with higher executive function demands. These findings suggest that baseline cognitive performance is an individual difference variable that moderates the beneficial effects of physical activity on executive functions.

SUBMITTER: Ishihara T

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7408917 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Baseline Cognitive Performance Moderates the Effects of Physical Activity on Executive Functions in Children.

Ishihara Toru T Drollette Eric S ES Ludyga Sebastian S Hillman Charles H CH Kamijo Keita K

Journal of clinical medicine 20200701 7

Findings regarding the effects of regular physical activity on cognition in children have been inconsistent due to a number of demographic factors and experimental considerations. The present study was designed to examine baseline cognitive performance and executive function demands, as possible factors underlying the lack of consensus in the literature, by investigating the moderating role of those factors on the effects of physical activity on cognition. We reanalyzed data from three randomize ...[more]

PMID: 32630268

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Project description:Background/Purpose: Prior studies show an independent association between greater physical activity and lower inflammatory markers among adults in the general population, but the impact of physical activity on systemic inflammation in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) hasn’t been thoroughly investigated. We therefore aimed to determine whether physical activity behavior associates with differential expression of inflammatory genes in RA. Methods: Data derive from baseline assessments for a prospective observational cohort of patients with RA. At each study visit, we obtained detailed clinical information, collected peripheral whole blood for subsequent RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), and provided participants with actigraphs (GT9X ActiGraph Link device) to objectively measure physical activity by wearing the device at home for 7 consecutive 24-hour periods. Participants were categorized into three physical activity groups based on the highest (“active”), middle (“intermediate”), and lowest (“inactive”) tertiles for percentage of time spent in moderate/vigorous physical activity (metabolic equivalent (MET) level ≥2.00) across the sample. Results: There were 35 patients with complete clinical, actigraphy, and transcriptomic data available for analysis. The participants had a mean age of 56 years, were 90% female, and self-reported the following racial/ethnic identities: 32% white, 11% African American, 8% Asian, 40% Hispanic. Participants spent 48%, 41%, and 12% of time awake in sedentary, light, and moderate physical activity, respectively. None of the participants achieved vigorous activity. The patients in the most active group were younger but did not otherwise significantly differ by clinical and demographic characteristics compared to the other physical activity groups. However, in the differential gene expression analysis comparing the highest versus lowest physical activity tertiles, there were 365 up- and 402 down-regulated genes at an adjusted P value < 0.1. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that the most physically active patients exhibited downregulation of diverse innate and adaptive immune signaling pathways. Assessment of upstream cytokine activation states demonstrated inhibition of type I, II and III interferons and activation of EPO in the highest physical activity tertile patients. Conclusion: Among a racially and ethnically diverse RA cohort, participants who spent more time in moderately intense physical activity had down-regulation of genes involved in both innate and adaptive immune signaling compared to those who were more sedentary. These findings provide mechanistic evidence to support a disease-modifying effect of physical activity in RA.

Project description:A growing number of studies support the theory that physical activity can effectively foster the cognitive function of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The present study examines the effect of acute moderate physical activity on the executive functions and attention performance of (1) typically developing children (without psychological, psychiatric or neurological diagnosis and/or associated treatment stated in their medical history); (2) treatment-naïve ADHD children; and (3) medicated children with ADHD. In the current study, a total sample of 150 (50 non-medicated, 50 medicated, and 50 typically developing) children between the ages of 6 and 12 took part in the experiment. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents (MINI Kid) was used to measure ADHD and the child version of the Test of Attentional Performance (KiTAP) was applied to evaluate the children's attentional and executive function performance before and after two types of intervention. In order to compare the effects of physical activity and control intervention, half of the children from each group (25 participants) took part in a 20-min long, moderately intense physical activity session on the 60-80% of their maximum heart rate, while watching a cartoon video. In the control condition, the other half of the children (25 participants) from each group watched the same cartoon video for 20 min while seated. Physical activity (compared to the just video watching control condition) had a significantly positive influence on 2 out of 15 measured parameters (median reaction time in the alertness task and error rates in the divided attention task) for the medicated group and on 2 out of the 15 measured variables (number of total errors and errors when distractor was presented, both in the distractibility task) regarding the treatment-naïve group. Future studies should focus on finding the optimal type, intensity, and duration of physical activity that could be a potential complementary intervention in treating deficits regarding ADHD in children.

Dataset Information

Baseline Cognitive Performance Moderates the Effects of Physical Activity on Executive Functions in Children.

Publications

Baseline Cognitive Performance Moderates the Effects of Physical Activity on Executive Functions in Children.

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