Background. Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) in older individuals has been implicated as a possible precursor to Alzheimer’s disease. Poor sleep quality and anxiety/depressive symptoms have been ...linked to the progression of SCD, but these associations and older adults’ worries have yet to be fully established in the Chinese older adult population, which is one of the largest in the world. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between sleep quality, anxiety/depression symptoms, and worries, and SCD prevalence among Chinese community-dwelling older individuals. Methods. A total of 707 adults aged between 60 and 99 from Shanghai, China, completed self-report questionnaires that covered their cognitive and mental well-being, as well as demographic information. Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) was evaluated using the memory/cognition syndromes of the old adult self-report (OASR). Sleep quality, anxiety/depression, and worries were measured from their respective sections of the OASR. Results. The general linear regression models showed that poorer sleep quality was associated with an increased prevalence of anxiety/depression symptoms, worries, and SCD among older adults. As suggested by the mediation analysis, anxiety/depression and worries were significant mediators in the relationship between sleep quality and SCD prevalence, and these two factors also have a serial mediation effect between sleep quality and SCD prevalence. Conclusions. Poorer sleep quality is associated with a higher rate of SCD among older adults, and a higher prevalence of anxiety/depression and worries mediate this relationship, suggesting possible mechanism pathways that lead to SCD. These factors may provide the basis for early, targeted interventions for older adults’ mental health preservation and improved quality of life.
This study presents data on the factor structure of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) and sex and cultural differences in WPPSI test scores among 5- and 6-year-olds ...from China, Japan, and the United States. Results show the presence of a verbal and nonverbal factor structure across all three countries. Sex differences on the 10 subtests were generally consistent, with a male advantage on a subtest of spatial abilities (Mazes). Males in the Chinese sample obtained significantly higher Full Scale IQ scores than females and had lower variability in their test scores. These observations were not present in the Japan and United States samples. Mean Full Scale IQ score in the Chinese sample was 104.1, representing a 4-point increase from 1988 to 2004.
High iron intake has been shown to be associated with poor cognition. We aimed to examine the association between iron-related dietary pattern (IDP) and cognitive function in Chinese adults.
...Longitudinal study data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) during 1991-2006 were used (N = 4852, ≥55 years old). Dietary intake was obtained from a 3-day food record during home visits. Reduced rank regression was used to construct IDP with iron intake as a response variable. Cognitive function was assessed in 1997, 2000, 2004 and 2006. Multivariable mixed linear regression and logistic regression were used in the analyses.
IDP was characterised by high intake of fresh vegetable, wheat, legume, beverage, offal, rice and whole grain. High IDP intake was associated with poor cognition. In fully adjusted models, across the quartiles of IDP, the odds ratio (95% CI) for poor cognitive function were: 1.00, 1.06 (0.86-1.30), 1.24 (0.99-1.54), and 1.50 (1.17-1.93), respectively. There was a borderline significant interaction between IDP and meat intake (p interaction 0.085). The association between high IDP and poor cognition was only observed among those with no or low intake of meat. With the adjustment of carbohydrate or iron intake, the IDP and cognition association became non-significant. IDP was positively associated with lead intake. The association between IDP and poor cognition was partly mediated by lead intake.
Iron-related dietary pattern is associated with poor cognition in Chinese adults, partly due to high intake of carbohydrate, iron and lead.
An anticorrelated relationship in the spontaneous fluctuations between the default mode network (DMN) and dorsal attention network (DAN) is a robust feature of intrinsic brain organization in healthy ...individuals. Prior studies have reported a decreased anticorrelation between the DMN and the DAN in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, it is unclear how this anticorrelation changes as MCI progresses to AD. We hypothesized that dysfunctional connectivity between the DMN and DAN may reflect the gradual decline from MCI to AD. To test this hypothesis, we investigated alterations in functional connectivity between the DMN and DAN in subtypes of amnestic MCI (aMCI) by comparing with the same functional pattern in healthy elderly individuals and patients with AD. We retrospectively collected brain imaging and neuropsychological data from 20 AD participants, 22 participants with multiple-domain aMCI (aMCI-m), 29 participants with single-domain aMCI (aMCI-s) and 23 sex-matched normal controls in this study. Resting-state functional connectivity analysis revealed that aMCI-s and aMCI-m groups demonstrated different magnitudes of increased anticorrelation between the DMN and DAN relative to the AD group. Furthermore, in aMCI-s, aMCI-m and AD participants, hypoconnectivity was found in specific regions within the DMN, including the precuneus and angular gyrus, and hyperconnectivity was found in areas outside the typical DMN networks, including the middle occipital gyrus, lingual gyrus and visual cortex, which indicated disease-related adaptations of brain networks. Our findings suggest that DMN-DAN anticorrelation may shed light on the understanding of the adaptations in brain function during the progression from MCI to AD and may serve as a potential biomarker to detect AD in the preclinical stage.
We aim to assess the relationship between nutrition status, physical exercise, and cognitive function and particularly examine how happiness modifies and mediates the relationship, among 699 seniors ...aged 60 and above in Shanghai, China. Linear regression models were used to validate the effects of nutrition and exercise on cognitive function and to test their interaction effects with happiness. When the interactions were significant, stratified analyses in sub-groups were conducted. Mediation effects of happiness were examined using two-step causal mediation models. We confirmed that better nutrition (
< 0.001) and exercise (
= 0.009) were significantly associated with less cognitive decline. Furthermore, the effects of nutrition and exercise on cognitive decline were significant in the unhappy (happiness < 20) (
< 0.001) and younger (age < 74) sub-groups (
= 0.015). Happiness partially mediated 11.5% of the negative association of cognitive decline with nutrition (
= 0.015) and 23.0% of that with exercise (
= 0.017). This study suggests that happiness moderates and partially mediates the effects of exercise and nutrition on cognitive status. The beneficial effects of exercise and nutrition were stronger in less happy or younger seniors. Future intervention studies are required to confirm this path relationship.
We aimed to examine the association between chili intake and cognitive function in Chinese adults. This is a longitudinal study of 4852 adults (age 63.4 ± 7.7) attending the China Health and ...Nutrition Survey during 1991 and 2006. Cognitive function was assessed in 1997, 2000, 2004 and 2006. In total, 3302 completed cognitive screening tests in at least two surveys. Chili intake was assessed by a 3-day food record during home visits in each survey between 1991 and 2006. Multivariable mixed linear regression and logistic regression were used. Chili intake was inversely related to cognitive function. In fully adjusted models, including sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, compared with non-consumers, those whose cumulative average chili intake above 50 g/day had the regression coefficients (and 95% CI) for global cognitive function of -1.13 (-1.71-0.54). Compared with non-consumers, those with chili consumption above 50 g/day had the odds ratio (and 95% CI) of 2.12(1.63-2.77), 1.56(1.23-1.97) for self-reported poor memory and self-reported memory decline, respectively. The positive association between chili intake and cognitive decline was stronger among those with low BMI than those with high BMI. The longitudinal data indicate that higher chili intake is positively associated with cognitive decline in Chinese adults in both genders.
Catechins are crucial in determining the flavour and health benefits of tea, but it remains unclear that how the light intensity regulates catechins biosynthesis. Therefore, we cultivated tea plants ...in a phytotron to elucidate the response mechanism of catechins biosynthesis to light intensity changes. In the 250 mumol*m.sup.- 2*s.sup.- 1 treatment, the contents of epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin gallate and total catechins were increased by 98.94, 14.5 and 13.0% respectively, compared with those in the 550 mumol*m.sup.- 2*s.sup.- 1 treatment. Meanwhile, the photosynthetic capacity was enhanced in the 250 mumol*m.sup.- 2*s.sup.- 1 treatment, including the electron transport rate, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and expression of related genes (such as CspsbA, CspsbB, CspsbC, CspsbD, CsPsbR and CsGLK1). In contrast, the extremely low or high light intensity decreased the catechins accumulation and photosynthetic capacity of the tea plants. In this study, the catechin content and photosynthetic capacity of tea plants increased under appropriately high light intensities (250 mumol*m.sup.- 2*s.sup.- 1 and 350 mumol*m.sup.- 2*s.sup.- 1) but decreased under extremely low or high light intensities (150 mumol*m.sup.- 2*s.sup.- 1 or 550 mumol*m.sup.- 2*s.sup.- 1). We found that the control of catechin accumulation by light intensity in tea plants is mediated by the plant photosynthetic capacity. The research provided useful information for improving catechins content and its light-intensity regulation mechanism in tea plant.
The wide application of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) brings along with it various safety problems, such as fire and explosion accidents. Aiming at the thermal runaway (TR) and fire problems of LIBs, ...we reviewed the evolution of TR within LIB and the release of TR gases and their hazards, as well as the research progress in recent years in the area of fire separation of LIBs. To begin with, physical, electrical, and thermal abuse are the three main factors leading to TR and the thermal stability of aging batteries significantly deteriorates. Furthermore, the decomposition of the electrolyte and the reaction between the active materials generates CO, CO2, H2, HF, and a variety of hydrocarbons. These TR gases have serious toxic and explosive hazards. In addition, fire separation can effectively delay the occurrence and propagation of TR within LIB modules. As a good heat-absorbing material, phase-change materials are widely used in the thermal management system and have a great prospect of wide applications in the fire separation of LIBs. Finally, the research on the TR gases’ hazards of aging LIB and safer and more effective fire separation are prospected.
Emerging studies support that RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play critical roles in human biology and pathogenesis. RBPs are essential players in RNA processing and metabolism, including pre-mRNA ...splicing, polyadenylation, transport, surveillance, mRNA localization, mRNA stability control, translational control and editing of various types of RNAs. Aberrant expression of and mutations in RBP genes affect various steps of RNA processing, altering target gene function. RBPs have been associated with various diseases, including neurological diseases. Here, we mainly focus on selected RNA-binding proteins including Nova-1/Nova-2, HuR/HuB/HuC/HuD, TDP-43, Fus, Rbfox1/Rbfox2, QKI and FMRP, discussing their function and roles in human diseases.
Though TDP-43 protein can be translocated into mitochondria and causes mitochondrial damage in TDP-43 proteinopathy, little is known about how TDP-43 is imported into mitochondria. In addition, ...whether mitochondrial damage is caused by mitochondrial mislocalization of TDP-43 or a side effect of mitochondria-mediated TDP-43 degradation remains to be investigated. Here, our bioinformatical analyses reveal that mitophagy receptor gene FUNDC1 is co-expressed with TDP-43, and both TDP-43 and FUNDC1 expression is correlated with genes associated with mitochondrial protein import pathway in brain samples of patients diagnosed with TDP-43 proteinopathy. FUNDC1 promotes mitochondrial translocation of TDP-43 possibly by promoting TDP-43-TOM70 and DNAJA2-TOM70 interactions, which is independent of the LC3 interacting region of FUNDC1 in cellular experiments. In the transgenic fly model of TDP-43 proteinopathy, overexpressing FUNDC1 enhances TDP-43 induced mitochondrial damage, whereas down-regulating FUNDC1 reverses TDP-43 induced mitochondrial damage. FUNDC1 regulates mitochondria-mediated TDP-43 degradation not only by regulating mitochondrial TDP-43 import, but also by increasing LONP1 level and by activating mitophagy, which plays important roles in cytosolic TDP-43 clearance. Together, this study not only uncovers the mechanism of mitochondrial TDP-43 import, but also unravels the active role played by mitochondria in regulating TDP-43 homeostasis.
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