cognitive function

Schizophrenia involves cognitive deficits, including working memory impairments. Researches indicate tau protein abnormalities may contribute to cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia. While transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) shows promise in improving cognitive function, its effects on tau protein and working memory in schizophrenia remain unclear.

Forty participants were randomly assigned to receive either tDCS or sham treatment in this randomized clinical trial. The tDCS group received anodal stimulation over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) for 20 minutes, while the sham group received a placebo. Serum tau levels and working memory were assessed before and after using ELISA and the digit span task.

The results showed that the tDCS group had a significantly higher increase in phosphorylated tau protein serum levels compared to the sham group (5.53 ± 3.67 vs. 1.49 ± 3.90, P < 0.05). There was no significant mean change difference in serum levels of total tau protein between the groups. Females displayed higher increase in both total tau (1.88 ± 0.66 vs. 1.43 ± 0.80, P = 0.664) and p-tau levels (4.92 ± 0.88 vs. 2.11 ± 0.64, P = 0.014). The tDCS group also showed significantly higher improvement in working memory than the sham group (P < 0.05). Correlations between tau changes and memory enhancements approached significance (r(total tau) = 0.30; P = 0.051, r(p-tau ) = 0.27; P = 0.063).

These findings reveal the tDCS impact on tau markers, shedding light on the disorder's molecular pathways and sex influences. Enhanced memory, linked to tau changes, suggests its potential as a treatment indicator.

Adropin, a peptide hormone has role in various various physiological processes, including metabolic regulation and cardiovascular health. This systematic review aimed to synthesize findings from observational studies on the involvement of adropin in neurological disorders and cognitive performance.

An extensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, CORE, and Google Scholar using terms such as "adropin," "Neurological Disorders," "cognitive function," "Alzheimer's disease," "Parkinson's disease," "cognition," and "brain function." Studies published from 2020 to 2024 were selected and reviewed. The search and selection process adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Out of 127 screened articles, 5 met the inclusion criteria for this review.

The combined research findings suggest a consistent link between decreased adropin levels and a range of neurological disorders and cognitive impairments. In particular, reduced adropin levels were seen in individuals with dementia, cognitive impairment, bipolar disorder, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis. These findings highlight adropin's potential role in modulating neurological health and cognitive function.

This systematic review underscores the importance of adropin in neurological health and its potential as a therapeutic agent. Based on the observed connections, adropin might serve as a new focus for treating neurological disorders, prompting the need for more research and trials.

The present study aims to determine the relationship between maternal characteristics during pregnancy and postpartum cognitive function in mothers referring to health centers in Khorramabad, Iran. This descriptive-cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 mothers attending their first postpartum visit to health centers in Khorramabad during 2022-23. Data were collected using a demographic form and Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination, and analyzed using SPSS version 25 software. Descriptive statistics and the calculation of central and dispersion indices were utilized to describe the data and provide quantitative variables. In addition, frequency and percentage were applied for qualitative variables. Independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation, and univariate and multivariate linear regression were employed to analyze the data and determine the relationship between the variables. Finally, P≤0.05 was regarded as the significance level of the tests. A relationship was found between the mother's occupation and education demographic variables with the total cognitive function score (P<0.01). The results revealed that demographic characteristics such as occupation and education level affect postpartum cognitive disorder.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of volleyball exercises on executive function and daily living skills in schizophrenia.  In this randomized study, 28 individuals with schizophrenia participated. The intervention was volleyball exercises for two months. The Functional Independence Measure, The Lawton instrumental activities of daily living scale‏, and Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment battery tests were used in this study. Repeated measures and effect size were utilized for analysis.  Volleyball exercises improve cognitive function and Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) in the intervention group in the following: group effect, time effect, and group and time interaction. They were significant respectively (p-value1=0.041, p-value2=0.001, p-value3=0.001, Cohen’s d=1.267,1.266), (p-value1=0.001, p-value2=0.001, p-value3= 0.001, Cohen’s d=3.967,3.749). With this intervention, no significant difference was observed between the control and intervention groups in instrumental activities of daily Living. Volleyball exercises improve executive function and ADLs in individuals with schizophrenia.

Dementia is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and a significant healthcare concern increasing worldwide. The modulation of the gut-brain axis by gut microbiota might have favorable effects on ameliorating cognitive decline. We aimed to investigate whether synbiotics administration could enhance cognition and function in older adults with non-severe Alzheimer’s disease (AD). 

This study was designed as a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial to test the effects of synbiotic supplementation for 90 days (between August 2019 and February 2021). A synbiotics formulation or placebo was randomly allocated to older outpatients with mild to moderate AD. The intervention group took two capsules daily containing a mixture of 7 bacterial strains as probiotics and a prebiotic for 12 weeks. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Barthel index evaluated participants’ cognition and functional status. Pre-intervention and post-intervention fasting blood samples were obtained to compare their serum albumin (Alb), fasting blood sugar (FBS), 25(OH) vitamin D, and lipid profile.

A total of 60 patients with a mean age of 77 years were recruited. After 12 weeks of synbiotic supplementation, no significant improvement was detected in the MMSE score (P=0.53) and Barthel index (P=0.43). Furthermore, metabolic parameters including FBS (P=0.92), triglyceride (P=0.48), total cholesterol (P=0.74), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (P=0.54), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (P=0.79), serum Alb (P=0.28) and 25(OH) vitamin D levels (P=0.67) were not different before and after synbiotic administration. 

This study does not support the idea that short-term synbiotic supplementation could enhance cognitive and physical function in older patients with mild to moderate AD.

Understanding the associations between cognitive function and chronic exercise has gained significant attention in the last decade. This overview aims to consolidate current knowledge and shed light on potential benefits of long-term exercise on cognitive abilities.

Relevant databases, including Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science, were searched through predefined keywords related to chronic exercise and cognitive function. We included all relevant systematic-reviews and meta-analysis in our data-synthesizing.

We identified 74 references across PubMed (33), Scopus (35), and Web of Sciences (6). After deduplication, 52 unique references remained. Screening by title and abstract yielded 28 relevant studies. Full-text review based on inclusion criteria resulted in nine eligible articles. Most were meta-analyses, examining 10 to 71 randomized controlled trials on executive functions across various age groups and health statuses. Both acute and chronic exercises demonstrated small to moderate positive effects on cognitive functions, with chronic exercise outcomes influenced by type, duration, frequency, session length, age, and cognitive status.

Extensive research underscores a robust and compelling link between involving in regular, long-term physical exercise and enhancement of cognitive functioning. This connection emphasizes the critical role that consistent physical activity plays in safeguarding mental well-being and maintaining sharp cognitive abilities throughout various life stages. Positive effect of sustained physical exercise on cognitive functioning serves as a compelling reason to integrate exercise as a fundamental component of a holistic approach to mental wellness and cognitive longevity.

Growing the human brain requires all necessary nutrients to form and maintain, so the development of cognitive functions of infants and children depends on adequate nutrition. Children whose mothers had inadequate nutrition are at high risk for cognitive dysfunction. The objective of the present study was to review the studies conducted on “the relationship between nutrient intake during pregnancy and the development of cognitive functions in toddlers”. The present study was conducted by systematic review method using PRISMA checklist items.

To conduct this study, the keywords “maternal nutrition”, “pregnancy diet”, “pregnancy supplement”, “IQ”, “intelligence quotient”, “neurodevelopment”, “cognitive function”, “toddler”, “early years” and “infant” were searched based on the Mesh database in scientific databases including Scopus, SID, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct to find articles related to the effect of nutrition during pregnancy on the development of the cognitive function of toddlers and its components in Persian and English. Finally, 17 articles were selected for review in this study.

The results showed that taking a supplement of iron, saturated fatty acids, vitamins B and D, and folic acid improved the cognitive functions of toddlers. On the other hand, taking supplements containing iodine and zinc had no significant effect on the development of cognitive functions. Diets containing seafood during pregnancy had a beneficial effect on the cognitive functions of children.

The study results highlighted the importance of adequate nutrition during pregnancy and showed that maternal nutrition played an important role in the development of cognitive functions of toddlers.

 Cognitive function is crucial during aging. This study assessed the cognitive function of European adults aged 50 and over in relation to handgrip strength and physical inactivity.

Study Design: 

This was a cross-sectional survey.

 Data were collected from 41,395 adults from 27 European countries participating in the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) during 2019-2020. Cognitive function was assessed based on five tests, and cognitive impairment was defined using 3+tests. Handgrip strength and physical inactivity were also correlated through the analysis of covariance using a complex study design.

 The majority of participants were female (56.6%), with a mean age of 70.9 years, and 22.6% presented multimorbidity. Furthermore, 51.1% had a normal cognitive function, while 13.3% had cognitive impairment (The estimated population was 21,944,722). Moreover, cognitive impairment was more prevalent in females than in males (14.4% vs. 12.0%, P<0.001) in patients with no years of education (P<0.001) and origin from southern European countries (P<0.001). Additionally, participants with cognitive impairment had lower mean handgrip strength compared to those with cognitive impairment in 1-2 criteria or with normal cognitive function (29.3 vs. 33.4 and 35.1 kg, respectively, P<0.001). Physically inactive participants had higher odds ratio (OR) of cognitive impairment than those engaging in moderate/vigorous physical activity, both in 1-2 tests (OR:1.73, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.32-2.26) and in 3+tests (OR: 3.36, 95% CI: 2.57-4.40).

 Cognitive impairment presented low prevalence and was associated with low levels of handgrip strength and physical inactivity. These specific factors may play a special role in early detection, diagnosis, and treatment or may slow down the progression of cognitive impairment.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of death globally and one of the most important diseases indicated by the World Health Organization (WHO). Several studies have concluded that brain damage can dramatically increase functional connectivity (FC) in the brain. The effects of this hyper-connectivity are not yet fully understood and are being studied by neuroscientists. Accordingly, this study identifies areas of the brain where, after brain injury, an acute increase in FC in such areas is observed.

The data used in this study were downloaded from the accessible open functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) site. The data included fMRI of 14 patients with severe TBI and 12 healthy individuals. The longitudinal model of variance components investigated the difference between FC in the baseline effect and the longitudinal trend between the TBI and control groups.

After fitting the longitudinal model of variance components, no difference was observed between the FC of the two groups due to the baseline effect. However, in the longitudinal trend of FC, there was a statistically significant difference between the three pairs of cerebellum left, cerebellum right, superior frontal gyrus left, superior frontal gyrus right, thalamus left, and thalamus right in the TBI group compared to the control group.

The results showed that FC was sharply increased in 3 pairs of areas in people with TBI. This hyper-connectivity can affect individuals' cognitive functions, including motor and sensory functions. The exact extent of this effect is unclear and requires further investigation by neuroscientists.

Visualization is a practical method to determine a scientific field’s underlying intellectual framework. This study aims to conduct a scientometric analysis of selected scientific literature to assess research trends regarding the association between physical activity exercise, and cognitive function domains. The objective is to present a summary of the findings and identify the trending topics between 1970 and 2023 for this field of study.

In the current bibliometric analysis, relevant documents based on a reliable search strategy taken from the Web of Science (WOS) database were checked and evaluated using Excel, VOSviewer, and the bibliometrix R-package.ss

The hot topics included Physical Activity, Exercise, Cognition, Aging, Dementia, Depression, Alzheimer’s disease, and Rehabilitation. “Frontiers in Psychology” and “International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health” were the most active journals in this research area. Also, developed countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Germany were the most productive countries. In addition, the top organizations which produced the most scientific documents were from Europe, Oceania, and North America. In the same vein, Arthur F Kramer was identified as the most active author. The study results will greatly contribute to future interdisciplinary articles by showing common trends in this research area.

The combination of PA and cognitive function is still a hot zone of future research. According to this study, the majority of literature on PA and cognitive function is from developed countries, and other cognition topics such as executive function, memory, and anxiety have obtained less attention from researchers.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disabling mental condition. Many studies have shown that OCD patients have cognitive deficits in various aspects of their cognition, which is a worsening factor of symptom severity, a potential endophenotype, insight predictor, and prognostic indicator of OCD. We designed this systematic review to evaluate the clinical efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation in cognitive deficits and symptom severity of patients with OCD following the PRISMA guidelines.

We searched PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library using the MeSH terms and keywords of ‘cognitive rehabilitation’ and ‘obsessive-compulsive disorder’. The database search identified 200 records of interest, and then 105 duplicates were removed from them. From 95 remaining studies, six articles were eligible for the study and met the inclusion criteria. The six articles described individual RCT studies representing a wide variety of study designs. 

The six included studies investigated the effect of “organizational training”, “cognitive remediation”, “attention splitting” and “goal management training” on cognitive impairments and symptom severity of OCD patients.There are a small number of studies with different designs and some biases that have examined the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation in OCD patients, with conflicting results regarding the effect of cognitive rehabilitation on OCD symptom severity or cognitive deficit. 

According to the results, we cannot conclude about the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation in adults with OCD. Considering the importance of cognitive deficits in OCD patients, it is necessary to design and conduct standard trials to investigate the role of cognitive rehabilitation in these disorders.

Dementia is recognized as a neurodegenerative disease that gradually causes serious cognitive, motor, and functional impairments in affected individuals. This study explored the impact of a meaningful task-oriented intervention on independence in activities of daily living, cognitive status, and physical abilities, including gait speed and balance, among elderly patients diagnosed with mild to moderate dementia. In this randomized controlled trial, 40 participants aged 60-70, with a Functional Assessment Staging Tool (FAST Scale) score of 1-5, were recruited. They were randomly assigned to either a control group (n=20) receiving standard care, including medication and routine consultation, or an intervention group (n=20) receiving standard care along with eight 45–60-minute sessions of task-oriented interventions. These interventions were centered around familiar daily life activities in the home environment and were conducted twice a week. The primary outcome measure was the participants' independence in activities of daily living, assessed using the Barthel Index. Secondary outcome measures included cognitive function, evaluated using Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-Revised, and physical performance, assessed through the Timed Up and Go test, 10 Meter Walk Test, and Berg Balance Scale. The meaningful task-oriented intervention demonstrated significant improvements in independence in activities of daily living (p<0.01) compared to the control group. Additionally, improvements were observed in cognitive function and physical performance, including balance, lower limb strength, and walking speed (p<0.05). The integration of meaningful task-oriented interventions centered around familiar activities within the home environment appears to offer significant benefits for elderly patients with dementia. By engaging in tasks that resonate with their daily routines, these interventions can support the maintenance of essential skills and foster a sense of independence among affected individuals.