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India-Aldana S, Rundle AG, Quinn JW, Clendenen TV, Afanasyeva Y, Koenig KL, Liu M, Neckerman KM, Thorpe LE, Zeleniuch-Jacquotte A, Chen Y. Long-Term Exposure to Walkable Residential Neighborhoods and Risk of Obesity-Related Cancer in the New York University Women's Health Study (NYUWHS). ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:107001. [PMID: 37791759 PMCID: PMC10548871 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Living in neighborhoods with higher levels of walkability has been associated with a reduced risk of obesity and higher levels of physical activity. Obesity has been linked to increased risk of 13 cancers in women. However, long-term prospective studies of neighborhood walkability and risk for obesity-related cancer are scarce. OBJECTIVES We evaluated the association between long-term average neighborhood walkability and obesity-related cancer risk in women. METHODS The New York University Women's Health Study (NYUWHS) is a prospective cohort with 14,274 women recruited between 1985 and 1991 in New York City and followed over nearly three decades. We geocoded residential addresses for each participant throughout follow-up and calculated an average annual measure of neighborhood walkability across years of follow-up using data on population density and accessibility to destinations associated with geocoded residential addresses. We used ICD-9 codes to characterize first primary obesity-related cancers and employed Cox proportional hazards models to assess the association between average neighborhood walkability and risk of overall and site-specific obesity-related cancers. RESULTS Residing in neighborhoods with a higher walkability level was associated with a reduced risk of overall and site-specific obesity-related cancers. The hazards ratios associated with a 1-standard deviation increase in average annual neighborhood walkability were 0.88 (95% CI: 0.85, 0.93) for overall obesity-related cancer, 0.89 (95% CI: 0.84, 0.95) for postmenopausal breast cancer, 0.82 (95% CI: 0.68, 0.99) for ovarian cancer, 0.87 (95% CI: 0.76, 0.99) for endometrial cancer, and 0.68 (95% CI: 0.49, 0.94) for multiple myeloma, adjusting for potential confounders at both the individual and neighborhood level. The association between neighborhood walkability and risk of overall obesity-related cancer was stronger among women living in neighborhoods with higher levels of poverty compared with women living in areas with lower poverty levels (p Interaction = 0.006 ). DISCUSSION Our study highlights a potential protective role of neighborhood walkability in preventing obesity-related cancers in women. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11538.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra India-Aldana
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Andrew G. Rundle
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - James W. Quinn
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Tess V. Clendenen
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yelena Afanasyeva
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Karen L. Koenig
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mengling Liu
- Department of Environmental Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kathryn M. Neckerman
- Columbia Population Research Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lorna E. Thorpe
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Anne Zeleniuch-Jacquotte
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yu Chen
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Environmental Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
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Jägerbrink V, Glaser J, Östenberg AH. Extracurricular Pulse Activities in School: Students' Attitudes and Experiences. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15051. [PMID: 36429770 PMCID: PMC9691175 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192215051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few children and adolescents reach the recommended levels of daily physical activity, which is something that affects their health and wellbeing. Research shows that physical activities could be one factor for improving health and achieving academic goals in children and adolescents. METHODS Eight focus group interviews with students 10-15 years old were conducted at two schools with extracurricular pulse activities (ECPAs) during the school day. RESULTS In general, the interviewed students at both schools expressed positive attitudes toward ECPAs, emphasizing a felt correlation with physical activities out of school. Phenomena such as motivation, concentration and social relations also seem to profit from ECPAs. However, some students display a critical approach to ECPAs. From a gender perspective, girls embrace ECPAs with more enthusiasm than boys. CONCLUSIONS In order to make the best use of positive attitudes and health promotion, schools need to improve structural conditions such as facilities, time pressure, unhygienic conditions, blurry boundaries between ECPAs and Physical Education (PE), uncomprehending teachers, contents and, very importantly, the inclusion of students in the process of planning and implementing ECPAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Jägerbrink
- Department of Sport Science, Malmö University, Nordenskiöldsgatan 10, 211 19 Malmoe, Sweden
- Department of Sport Science, Linnaeus University, 352 95 Växjö-Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Joakim Glaser
- Department of Society Culture and Identity, Malmö University, 205 06 Malmoe, Sweden
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Siersbaek GM, Have M, Wedderkopp N. The Effect of Leisure Time Sport on Executive Functions in Danish 1st Grade Children. CHILDREN 2022; 9:children9101458. [PMID: 36291397 PMCID: PMC9601112 DOI: 10.3390/children9101458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Physical inactivity can influence children’s executive functions with severe impact on wellbeing and academic learning. The objective is to study the effect of leisure time sport on executive functions in Danish 1st grade children, and secondary to explore if socio-economy is a confounder for associations between leisure time sport and executive functions. This study is a sub-study nested within a cluster-randomized controlled trial with two arms (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02488460). 505 children from twelve schools, mean age 7.2 ± 0.3 years participated. Outcomes for executive function were “Modified Eriksen Flanker/Reverse Flanker Task” and “Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function” (BRIEF-P). Parents used SMS-tracking to register their children’s leisure time sport. Multivariate analyzes was performed using mixed linear regression, with adjustment for highest parental education, sex, municipality, and school-type. We found that leisure time sport seems to significantly improve working memory (WM) with nearly 20%, and furthermore it seems to be a significant predictor of ‘Initiate’ (the ability to begin an activity, to generate ideas, responses or problem-solving strategies). Socio-economy was not found to be a confounder. This study lends support to the hypothesis that leisure time sport is related to working memory capacity in children.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mona Have
- Danish School of Education, Campus Emdrup, 2400 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Niels Wedderkopp
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +45-63-48-42-96
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Associations of Device-Measured Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Executive Function in Preadolescents: A Latent Profile Approach. Pediatr Exerc Sci 2022; 35:77-83. [PMID: 35894896 DOI: 10.1123/pes.2022-0016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study investigated the associations between physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, and executive function in preadolescents. METHODS One hundred and twenty preadolescents were recruited from 2 Hong Kong primary schools. PA and sedentary behavior were recorded for 7 consecutive days by accelerometer. Executive function performance, including inhibition (Stroop task and Flanker task) and working memory (Sternberg paradigm task), were measured. Body mass index and cardiorespiratory fitness (multistage fitness test) were tested. Latent profile analysis explored the profiles of PA and sedentary behavior in preadolescents. RESULTS Three distinct profiles were identified: low activity, average activity, and high activity. Participants in low activity performed worse in the accuracy of Stroop task (vs average activity, P = .03; vs high activity, P < .01), Flanker task (vs average activity, P = .02; vs high activity, P < .001), and Sternberg paradigm task (vs average activity, P < .01; vs high activity, P < .01). No significant difference was observed between participants with average and high activities. No significant association was observed for profiles on body mass index and cardiorespiratory fitness. CONCLUSION Supplementing the consensus of the literature that moderate to vigorous PA benefits cognition, the authors conclude that light PA may also enhance preadolescents' executive functioning.
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India-Aldana S, Rundle AG, Zeleniuch-Jacquotte A, Quinn JW, Kim B, Afanasyeva Y, Clendenen TV, Koenig KL, Liu M, Neckerman KM, Thorpe LE, Chen Y. Neighborhood Walkability and Mortality in a Prospective Cohort of Women. Epidemiology 2021; 32:763-772. [PMID: 34347687 PMCID: PMC8969891 DOI: 10.1097/ede.0000000000001406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a paucity of prospective cohort studies evaluating neighborhood walkability in relation to the risk of death. METHODS We geocoded baseline residential addresses of 13,832 women in the New York University Women's Health Study (NYUWHS) and estimated the Built Environment and Health Neighborhood Walkability Index (BEH-NWI) for each participant circa 1990. The participants were recruited from 1985 to 1991 in New York City and followed for an average of 27 years. We conducted survival analyses using Cox proportional hazards models to assess the association between neighborhood walkability and risk of death from any cause, obesity-related diseases, cardiometabolic diseases, and obesity-related cancers. RESULTS Residing in a neighborhood with a higher neighborhood walkability score was associated with a lower mortality rate. Comparing women in the top versus the lowest walkability tertile, the hazards ratios (and 95% CIs) were 0.96 (0.93, 0.99) for all-cause, 0.91 (0.86, 0.97) for obesity-related disease, and 0.72 (0.62, 0.85) for obesity-related cancer mortality, respectively, adjusting for potential confounders at both the individual and neighborhood level. We found no association between neighborhood walkability and risk of death from cardiometabolic diseases. Results were similar in analyses censoring participants who moved during follow-up, using multiple imputation for missing covariates, and using propensity scores matching women with high and low neighborhood walkability on potential confounders. Exploratory analyses indicate that outdoor walking and average BMI mediated the association between neighborhood walkability and mortality. CONCLUSION Our findings are consistent with a protective role of neighborhood walkability in obesity-related mortality in women, particularly obesity-related cancer mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra India-Aldana
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, 5 Fl., New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Andrew G. Rundle
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Anne Zeleniuch-Jacquotte
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, 5 Fl., New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - James W. Quinn
- Columbia Population Research Center, Columbia University
| | - Byoungjun Kim
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Yelena Afanasyeva
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, 5 Fl., New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Tess V. Clendenen
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, 5 Fl., New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Karen L. Koenig
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, 5 Fl., New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Mengling Liu
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, 5 Fl., New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Environmental Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Lorna E. Thorpe
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, 5 Fl., New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Yu Chen
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, 5 Fl., New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Environmental Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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Lee JE, Zeng N, Oh Y, Lee D, Gao Z. Effects of Pokémon GO on Physical Activity and Psychological and Social Outcomes: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10091860. [PMID: 33922978 PMCID: PMC8123321 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10091860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Augmented reality (AR) mobile game, Pokémon GO, leverages gamification and location tracking technology to encourage players to walk in different places to catch Pokémon characters in real-world settings. The systematic review sought to explore the impact Pokémon GO has on players' physical activity (PA), and psychological and social outcomes. Six research databases (PubMed, SPORTDiscus, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Scopus) were used. Study inclusion criteria were: (1) quantitative research published in English; (2) examined the relationships between or impact of Pokémon GO on PA, psychological, and/or social outcomes; and (3) included participants played or exposed to Pokémon GO. Thirty-six studies were included with a total sample of 38,724 participants. Players had significantly greater PA than non-players in terms of daily steps and number of days spent in moderate PA. Pokémon GO game also improved players' social interactions and their mood/affects. Selective attention and concentration improved in adolescents and memory improved in young adults after playing the game. Findings suggest playing Pokémon GO could promote meaningful improvements in walking behavior, as well as psychological and social well-being. More multidimensional research with randomized controlled trial design is needed to identify factors that influence adoption and sustainability of Pokémon GO playing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Eun Lee
- Department of Applied Human Sciences, University of Minnesota-Duluth, Duluth, MN 55803, USA;
- Correspondence: (J.E.L.); (Z.G.)
| | - Nan Zeng
- Prevention Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA;
| | - Yoonsin Oh
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI 54702, USA;
| | - Daehyoung Lee
- Department of Applied Human Sciences, University of Minnesota-Duluth, Duluth, MN 55803, USA;
| | - Zan Gao
- School of Kinesiology, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Correspondence: (J.E.L.); (Z.G.)
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Sember V, Jurak G, Kovač M, Morrison SA, Starc G. Children's Physical Activity, Academic Performance, and Cognitive Functioning: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Public Health 2020; 8:307. [PMID: 32760689 PMCID: PMC7372103 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.00307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Researching the relationship between physical activity and academic performance is becoming an important research topic due to increasing evidence about the positive effect of physical activity on cognitive functioning. The present systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO registration number: CDR132118) is a unique contribution to the recently published reviews since it only includes interventions longer than 6 weeks and acknowledges the influence of the qualifications of practitioners who deliver interventions. After identifying 14,245 records in five databases and selecting 247 full-text articles assessed for eligibility, 44 interventions passed all eligibility criteria. This meta-analysis uses validity generalization in a random effects model, which shows that academic performance itself is not solely caused by increased physical activity. The weighted mean population effect of all included interventions was rw = 0.181. Most of the studies had serious limitations since they did not report physical activity intensity, which is an essential component to achieving positive exercise effects on cognition. In addition, the qualifications of the staff who administer the interventions were largely ignored in existing literature. It was found that 13 out of 20 physical activity interventions with significant positive effects on academic performance were performed by practitioners who held higher qualifications in the field of physical education and exercise science, who could mediate higher physical activity intensities of the given interventions. The population effect in studies where interventions were administered by practitioners with lower qualifications in the field (rw = 0.14) was lower compared to interventions performed by staff with higher qualifications (rw = 0.22). There was also a significant difference in academic performance with regard to staff qualification level (χ = 4.464; p = 0.035). In addition to activity duration, future physical activity intervention studies including those investigating academic performance should focus on the importance of physical activity intensity and include measures of physical fitness as objective indicators to enable more reliable analyses to establish physical activity influence on academic performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vedrana Sember
- Laboratory for the Diagnostics of Somatic and Motor Development, Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gregor Jurak
- Laboratory for the Diagnostics of Somatic and Motor Development, Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marjeta Kovač
- Laboratory for the Diagnostics of Somatic and Motor Development, Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Shawnda A Morrison
- Laboratory for the Diagnostics of Somatic and Motor Development, Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gregor Starc
- Laboratory for the Diagnostics of Somatic and Motor Development, Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Sneck S, Viholainen H, Syväoja H, Kankaapää A, Hakonen H, Poikkeus AM, Tammelin T. Effects of school-based physical activity on mathematics performance in children: a systematic review. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2019; 16:109. [PMID: 31752903 PMCID: PMC6873534 DOI: 10.1186/s12966-019-0866-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The benefits of physical activity (PA) on children's health and wellbeing are well established. However, the benefits of PA on academic performance and particularly on mathematics performance warrant systematic analysis. Mathematics is one of the core subjects in school education globally. METHODS We systematically searched, analysed and synthesized the literature on the effects of school-based PA interventions on mathematics performance in children aged 4-16. A total of 29 studies consisting of randomised trials and other interventions with control groups were identified through a systematic search, and 11 of them provided sufficient data and appropriate design for a meta-analysis. RESULTS Of the 29 studies involving 11,264 participants, positive overall effects of a PA intervention on mathematics performance were found in 13 studies (45%) and neutral overall effects in 15 studies (52%). Only one study reported a significant negative result for a subgroup of children in the first half of the intervention. In a risk-of-bias assessment, 12 studies had low, 17 moderate, and none had a high risk of bias. The meta-analysis of 11 studies suggested an overall small positive effect (ES = 0.23) of the interventions. Only one study in the meta-analysis indicated a negative effect in one of the intervention groups. CONCLUSIONS Adding PA to the school day may enhance children's mathematics performance or has no negative effects on performance. Several types of PA interventions can be recommended to be added to the school day.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Sneck
- LIKES Research Centre for Physical Activity and Health, Rautpohjankatu 8, 40700, Jyväskylä, Finland.
- Faculty of Education, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
| | - H Viholainen
- Department of Education and Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - H Syväoja
- LIKES Research Centre for Physical Activity and Health, Rautpohjankatu 8, 40700, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - A Kankaapää
- LIKES Research Centre for Physical Activity and Health, Rautpohjankatu 8, 40700, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - H Hakonen
- LIKES Research Centre for Physical Activity and Health, Rautpohjankatu 8, 40700, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - A-M Poikkeus
- Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - T Tammelin
- LIKES Research Centre for Physical Activity and Health, Rautpohjankatu 8, 40700, Jyväskylä, Finland
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Sjöwall D, Thorell LB, Mandic M, Westerståhl M. No effects of a long-term physical activity intervention on executive functioning among adolescents. SAGE Open Med 2019; 7:2050312119880734. [PMID: 31632675 PMCID: PMC6778986 DOI: 10.1177/2050312119880734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: We investigated whether a school-based physical activity intervention would lead to improvements in working memory, inhibition and cognitive flexibility in adolescents aged 13–15 years. Methods: The adolescents at the active school (n = 108) participated in an intervention that included increased physical activity for 20 min/day, focused on aerobic activity with low cognitive demands for an entire school year. The adolescents at the control school (n = 59) received no extra physical activity. At the beginning (baseline) and end (follow-up) of the school year, the participants performed tests of executive function (working memory, inhibition and cognitive flexibility) and performed tests of physical fitness and health. Results: There was no change in executive functioning at follow-up when comparing the schools. However, only 46% complied with the intervention. When non-compliers were excluded from the analyses, the results remained the same, except for a small but significant increase in working memory for the active school as compared to the control school. Conclusion: These results indicate that compliance with the intervention was low and that aerobic exercise with low cognitive load does not produce improvements in executive functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Sjöwall
- The Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Habilitation and Health, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lisa B Thorell
- The Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mirko Mandic
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Westerståhl
- Habilitation and Health, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden.,Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Nooijen CFJ, Blom V, Ekblom Ö, Ekblom MM, Kallings LV. Improving office workers' mental health and cognition: a 3-arm cluster randomized controlled trial targeting physical activity and sedentary behavior in multi-component interventions. BMC Public Health 2019; 19:266. [PMID: 30836957 PMCID: PMC6402109 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-6589-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physically inactive and sedentary lifestyles are negatively related to both mental health and cognition. For office-workers, who spend two-thirds of their workday sitting, it is important to improve these lifestyles. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of multi-component interventions, incorporating individual, environmental and organizational changes, to increase physical activity or reduce sedentary behavior among office-workers in order to improve mental health and cognition. METHODS a 3-arm, clustered randomized controlled trial (RCT) with waiting list control group amongst adult office-workers of two large Swedish companies. Cluster teams will be randomized into 6-month interventions or to a passive waiting list control group which will receive the allocated intervention with a 6-month delay. Two multicomponent interventions will be studied of which one focuses on improving physical activity and the other on reducing sedentary behavior. Both interventions include 5 sessions of motivational counselling. In the physical activity intervention persons also get access to a gym and team leaders will organize lunch walks and encourage to exercise. In the sedentary behavior intervention standing- and walking meetings will be implemented and team leaders will encourage to reduce sitting. The recruitment target is 110 office-workers per arm (330 in total). Measurements will be repeated every 6 months for a total intended duration of 24 months. Proximal main outcomes are physical activity measured with accelerometers and sedentary behavior with inclinometers. Distal outcomes are self-reported mental health and a cognition test battery. Additional outcomes will include cardiovascular fitness, body composition, sleep, self-reported physical activity and sedentary behavior, other health habits, physical health, and working mechanisms from blood samples and questionnaires. DISCUSSION This cluster RCT will contribute to the currently available evidence by comparing the effectiveness of multi-component interventions targeting physical activity or sedentary behavior with the end goal of improving mental health and cognition. This study is strong in its cluster randomized design, numerous objective outcome measures and long-term follow-up. The exact content of the interventions has been defined by combining theory with results from a larger research project as well as having a continuous dialogue with the involved companies. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN92968402 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla F. J. Nooijen
- The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences (GIH), Stockholm, Sweden
- The Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Victoria Blom
- The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences (GIH), Stockholm, Sweden
- The Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Örjan Ekblom
- The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences (GIH), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria M. Ekblom
- The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences (GIH), Stockholm, Sweden
- The Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lena V. Kallings
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Motor ability and working memory in Omani and German primary school-aged children. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0209848. [PMID: 30640912 PMCID: PMC6331089 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the motor ability and working memory performance of Omani and German primary school-aged children. One hundred eighty-five children from public schools participated in a gross motor test that integrated whole body coordination, three different ball tasks, and a 20-meter run. Furthermore, they completed four working memory tests (the Digit-Span Test forward and backwards and the Corsi Block-Tapping Test forward and backwards). Two MANOVAS with the different motor and working memory tests and one univariate analysis of the general motor ability with the between-subject factors group and gender were conducted. Additionally, correlations between motor ability and working memory scores were executed. German children outperformed Omani children in the overall measurement of motor ability, (p = .01) and all aspects of working memory, (all p< .015). There were no correlations between motor and cognitive variables, when analyzing the results for the Omani and German children separately. These findings may be a result of different educational styles or socioeconomic status and must be investigated in more detail.
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Singh AS, Saliasi E, van den Berg V, Uijtdewilligen L, de Groot RHM, Jolles J, Andersen LB, Bailey R, Chang YK, Diamond A, Ericsson I, Etnier JL, Fedewa AL, Hillman CH, McMorris T, Pesce C, Pühse U, Tomporowski PD, Chinapaw MJM. Effects of physical activity interventions on cognitive and academic performance in children and adolescents: a novel combination of a systematic review and recommendations from an expert panel. Br J Sports Med 2018; 53:640-647. [PMID: 30061304 DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2017-098136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 211] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 04/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To summarise the current evidence on the effects of physical activity (PA) interventions on cognitive and academic performance in children, and formulate research priorities and recommendations. DESIGN Systematic review (following PRISMA guidelines) with a methodological quality assessment and an international expert panel. We based the evaluation of the consistency of the scientific evidence on the findings reported in studies rated as of high methodological quality. DATA SOURCES PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central, Web of Science, ERIC, and SPORTDiscus. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES PA-intervention studies in children with at least one cognitive or academic performance assessment. RESULTS Eleven (19%) of 58 included intervention studies received a high-quality rating for methodological quality: four assessed effects of PA interventions on cognitive performance, six assessed effects on academic performance, and one on both. All high-quality studies contrasted the effects of additional/adapted PA activities with regular curriculum activities. For cognitive performance 10 of 21 (48%) constructs analysed showed statistically significant beneficial intervention effects of PA, while for academic performance, 15 of 25 (60%) analyses found a significant beneficial effect of PA. Across all five studies assessing PA effects on mathematics, beneficial effects were reported in six out of seven (86%) outcomes. Experts put forward 46 research questions. The most pressing research priority cluster concerned the causality of the relationship between PA and cognitive/academic performance. The remaining clusters pertained to PA characteristics, moderators and mechanisms governing the 'PA-performance' relationship and miscellaneous topics. CONCLUSION There is currently inconclusive evidence for the beneficial effects of PA interventions on cognitive and overall academic performance in children. We conclude that there is strong evidence for beneficial effects of PA on maths performance.The expert panel confirmed that more 'high-quality' research is warranted. By prioritising the most important research questions and formulating recommendations we aim to guide researchers in generating high-quality evidence. Our recommendations focus on adequate control groups and sample size, the use of valid and reliable measurement instruments for physical activity and cognitive performance, measurement of compliance and data analysis. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42017082505.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amika S Singh
- Department of Public and Occupational Health and the Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Emi Saliasi
- Department of Public and Occupational Health and the Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Vera van den Berg
- Department of Public and Occupational Health and the Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Renate H M de Groot
- Welten Institute - Research Centre for Learning, Teaching and Technology, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, The Netherlands
| | - Jelle Jolles
- Centre for Brain & Learning, Faculty of Psychology and Education, LEARN! Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lars B Andersen
- Department of Teacher Education and Sport, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Sogndal, Norway
| | - Richard Bailey
- International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yu-Kai Chang
- Department of Physical Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Adele Diamond
- Program in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Ingegerd Ericsson
- Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Learning and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Jennifer L Etnier
- Department of Kinesiology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
| | - Alicia L Fedewa
- Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Charles H Hillman
- Department of Psychology, Department of Physical Therapy, Movement, & Rehabilitation Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Terry McMorris
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Institute for Sport, University of Chichester, Chichester, UK
| | - Caterina Pesce
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Italian University Sport and Movement "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy
| | - Uwe Pühse
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Mai J M Chinapaw
- Department of Public and Occupational Health and the Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Schaefer S. Embodiment Helps Children Solve a Spatial Working Memory Task: Interactions with Age and Gender. JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE ENHANCEMENT 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s41465-018-0081-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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