The gut microbiota-brain axis has been associated with the pathogenesis of numerous disorders, but the mechanism(s) underlying these links are generally poorly understood. Accumulating evidence indicates the involvement of gut microbe-derived metabolites. Circulating levels of the gut microbe/host co-metabolite -cresol sulfate (pCS) correlate with cerebrovascular event risk in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but whether this relationship is mechanistic is unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe pervasiveness of anxiety and stress among college students necessitates the investigation of potential alternative and accessible interventions which can be implemented into existing curricular and student-support programming to improve students' mental health. Mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT) smartphone applications have shown promising outcomes in alleviating anxiety and stress. However, it is essential to gain insight into the feasibility and efficacy of such an interventional approach in a collegiate population, as well as explore potential underlying mechanisms, which could be better targeted to enhance the efficacy of future interventions for promoting mental health and well-being.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHigher cardiorespiratory fitness has been associated with improved cognitive control in preadolescent children, with various studies highlighting related brain health benefits. This cross-sectional study aimed to provide novel insights into the fitness-cognition relationship by investigating task-related changes in effective connectivity within two brain networks involved in cognitive control: the cingulo-opercular and fronto-parietal networks. Twenty-four higher-fit and twenty-four lower-fit preadolescent children completed a modified flanker task that modulated inhibitory control demand while their EEG and task performance were concurrently recorded.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimer's Disease (AD), responsible for 62% of all dementia cases, is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that leads to cognitive dysfunction. The prevalence of AD is consistently higher in women suggesting they are disproportionately affected by this disease. Despite this, our understanding of this female AD vulnerability remains limited.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aimed to evaluate whether cerebral oxygenation of the prefrontal cortex and associative-dissociative focus while completing the task mediate changes in cognition during exercise. Seventy-five young college-aged adults participated in this within-subjects randomized cross-over two-arm experimental design. During each session, participants completed a Stroop task four separate times: at baseline, two times during the exercise session, and at post-test.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF(Poly)phenols are a group of naturally occurring phytochemicals present in high amounts in plant food and beverages with various structures and activities. The impact of (poly)phenols on brain function has gained significant attention due to the growing interest in the potential benefits of these dietary bioactive molecules for cognitive health and neuroprotection. This review will therefore summarise the current knowledge related to the impact of (poly)phenols on brain health presenting evidence from both epidemiological and clinical studies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDietary fiber has been shown to have multiple health benefits, including a positive effect on longevity and the gut microbiota. In the present study, has been chosen as an model organism to study the health effects of dietary fiber supplementation (DFS). DFS extended the mean half-life of male and female flies, but the absolute lifespan only increased in females.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Mediterranean diet (MD) and its bioactive constituents have been advocated for their neuroprotective properties along with their capacity to affect gut microbiota speciation and metabolism. Mediated through the gut brain axis, this modulation of the microbiota may partly contribute to the neuroprotective properties of the MD. To explore this potential interaction, we evaluated the neuroprotective properties of a novel bioactive blend (Neurosyn240) resembling the Mediterranean diet in a rodent model of chronic low-grade inflammation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAs the population ages, the incidence of age-related neurodegenerative diseases is rapidly increasing, and novel approaches to mitigate this soaring prevalence are sorely needed. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of gut microbial homeostasis and its impact on brain functions, commonly referred to as the gut-brain axis, in maintaining overall health and wellbeing. Nonetheless, the mechanisms by which this system acts remains poorly defined.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhysical activity and sedentary behavior may differentially impact health-related quality of life in adults with cerebral palsy. The present investigation assessed the independent relationships between aspects of physical activity and sedentary behavior related to health related quality of life in adults with cerebral palsy. Through a cross-sectional online survey of 118 adults with cerebral palsy, participants self-reported the extent of their functional impairments using the Gross Motor Function Classification System, Manual Ability Classification System, and Communication Function Classification System; while mental and physical health-related quality of life were assessed using the RAND-36.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOver recent decades, dietary patterns have changed significantly due to the increasing availability of convenient, ultra-processed refined foods. Refined foods are commonly depleted of key bioactive compounds, which have been associated with several deleterious health conditions. As the gut microbiome can influence the brain through a bidirectional communication system known as the 'microbiota-gut-brain axis', the consumption of refined foods has the potential to affect cognitive health.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of the present study was to examine the effects of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) -related psychostimulant use in the context of concussion risk and symptom recovery. Data were obtained from the National Collegiate Athletic Association Department of Defense Grand Alliance Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (NCAA-DOD CARE) Consortium from 2014 to 2017. Relative to individuals without diagnosed ADHD (i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is prevalent among student-athletes when compared to the general population. Mental health disruptions (i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiets and dietary constituents that we consume have a considerable impact on disease risk. Intriguingly these effects may be modulated to some extent by sex. Lack of female representation in nutritional studies as well as a lack of stratification by sex has and continues to limit our understanding of these sex × diet interactions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Clin Health Psychol
August 2023
It is well-documented in the literature that high levels of regular physical activity (PA), low levels of sedentary behavior (SB), and high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are associated with superior cognitive functioning, especially with regard to older populations. However, concerning other age groups (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlterations in intestinal mucin glycosylation have been associated with increased intestinal permeability and sensitivity to inflammation and infection. Here, we used mice lacking core 3-derived O-glycans (C3GnT) to investigate the effect of impaired mucin glycosylation in the gut-brain axis. C3GnT mice showed altered microbial metabolites in the caecum associated with brain function such as dimethylglycine and N-acetyl-L-tyrosine profiles as compared to C3GnT littermates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe apolipoprotein E4 () genotype is predictive of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The brain is highly enriched with the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n3-PUFA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA's metabolism is defective in carriers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough dry and hybrid-style electrode technology has been well validated, systems utilizing these electrodes have not been widely adopted. One reason for this may be that the systems incorporating such technology present limitations that are fundamental to the EEG approach. The g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: There is a growing interest to understand the neurobiological mechanisms that drive the positive associations of physical activity and fitness with measures of cognitive performance. To better understand those mechanisms, several studies have employed eye-based measures (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChild Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health
March 2023
Background: Evidence-based 24-h movement behavior (24-HMB) guidelines have been developed to integrate recommendations for the time spent on physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep. For children and adolescents, these 24-HMB guidelines recommend a maximum of two hours of recreational screen time (as part of sedentary behavior), a minimum of 60 min per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and an age-appropriate sleep duration (9-11 h for 5 to 13-year-olds; 8-10 h for 14 to 17-year-olds). Although adherence to the guidelines has been associated with positive health outcomes, the effects of adhering to the 24-HMB recommendations have not been fully examined in children and adolescents with attention eficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) continues to be a major health problem. A ketogenic diet (KD), characterized by a very low carbohydrate and high fat composition, has gained attention for its anti-tumor potential. We evaluated the effect and mechanisms of feeding a strict KD alone or in combination with gemcitabine in the autochthonous LSL-Kras; LSL-Trp53 ; Pdx1-Cre (KPC) mouse model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTreatment of anxiety and depression predominantly centres around pharmacological interventions, which have faced criticism for their associated side effects, lack of efficacy and low tolerability. Saffron, which is reportedly well tolerated in humans, has been recognised for its antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties. Indeed, we previously reported upon the efficacy of saffron extract supplementation in healthy adults with subclinical anxiety.
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