Role of Educational Status in Explaining the Association between Body Mass Index and Cognitive Function

Cognitive functioning and its associated factors among breast cancer patients on chemotherapy at Tikur Anbessa specialized hospital, Addis Ababa Ethiopia: an institution-based comparative cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in the world. It is the commonest type of cancer in Ethiopia. Cognitive problems are common among breast cancer patients. The study aimed to assess cognitive functioning and its associated factors among breast cancer patients at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2020.

METHODS

Institution-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted. Study subjects were 117 breast cancer patients on chemotherapy and 117 women without breast cancer who volunteered for the study. Data was collected from May-June 2020. The Mini-mental status exam (MMSE) was used to assess cognitive functioning. Data were entered into Epi Data version 4.6.0.2 and analyzed using STATA version 14 software. Univariable and multivariable linear regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with cognitive functioning. A two-tailed p-value less than 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance.

RESULTS

Among the total breast cancer patients 41.9% were diagnosed with earlier sage of the diseases (stage I and II), while the rest 58.1% were diagnosed with stage III and stage IV breast cancer. A significant difference in the MMSE score was observed among breast cancer patients and controls (19.76 ± 5.29, 25.18 ± 4.68 p <  0.0001) respectively. In multivariable linear regression analysis being non-breast cancer (Adjusted beta coefficient (Adj.β.coff). = 3.34, 95% CI (1.92-4.76) p <  0.001), hemoglobin gm/dl (Adj.β.coff =0.34, 95% CI (0.04-0.63) p = 0.02), and primary education (Adj.β.coff =2.98 95%CI (1.16-4.96) p = 0.001) secondary level and more education (Adj.β.coff = 5.47, 95%CI (3.51-7.28) p < 0.001) were significantly associated with MMSE cognitive score.

CONCLUSION

Breast cancer patients had lower mean MMSE scores when compared to non-breast cancer women. Higher hemoglobin level and higher level of education increase the MMSE cognitive score. Clinicians should incorporate routine screening of cognitive functioning for breast cancer patients and further study is required to evaluate cognitive impairment among breast cancer patients in Ethiopia.

The relationship between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and executive function among individuals with schizophrenia: differences by illness duration

OBJECTIVE

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness characterized by positive and negative symptoms. Cognitive impairment continues to be a core and consistent deficit. Previous studies have shown that physical activity (PA) is positively associated with cognitive performance. Thus, it may play a supportive role in mitigating cognitive impairments among individuals with schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and executive function among adults with schizophrenia.

METHODS

The weekly amount of MVPA (assessed using accelerometers) and executive function (as per Brief Neurocognitive Assessment for Schizophrenia) of 78 adults with schizophrenia (mean [SD] age 42.4 [11.4] years; illness duration 17.0 [11.0] years; 58.2% male) were assessed in this cross-sectional study. Pearson correlations were calculated, followed by a linear regression. Participants were first analyzed together and then dichotomized on the basis of illness duration.

RESULTS

There was no significant association between MVPA and executive function, independent of the duration of illness. For individuals with < 15 years of illness, there was a significant association between weekly MVPA and working memory performance.

CONCLUSION

PA appears to be associated with executive function in some, but not all, individuals with schizophrenia.