ECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH20
INTRODUCTION As global populations live longer, understanding the factors that contribute to cognitive decline in healthy ageing is increasingly important. Even in the absence of neuropathology, ageing is associated with wide-ranging cognitive difficulties, yet the rate and severity of decline vary across individuals. This variability may be explained by an interplay between brain-based and lifestyle factors, such as cardiorespiratory fitness. While research has examined these factors in isolation, here, we integrate their joint contributions to neurocognitive ageing. We employed commonality analysis that combined multimodal neuroimaging and fitness-based measures to explain variability in tip-of-the-tongue states—a prototypical cognitive problem in ageing which involves a temporary failure in producing a known word. METHODS The study involved 78 neurologically healthy older adults (mean age = 65.53 [4.94], range 60–81, 39 female) who underwent structural, functional, and perfusion MRI alongside a maximal, treadmill-based cardiorespiratory fitness test that was used to quantify VO2Peak. Structural (T1-weighted anatomical) and perfusion (pseudo-continuous arterial spin labelling) imaging were used to estimate global grey matter density and cerebral blood flow, respectively, while functional imaging captured blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) signal during a cognitive task designed to elicit tip-of-the-tongue states. RESULTS Replicating prior work, we first confirmed that there was a positive association between age and tip-of-the-tongue rates (r = .288, p = .014). Examining the functional MRI in isolation, we found that tip-of-the-tongue states recruited a broad language network within the brain, namely precuneus, bilateral angular gyri, and superior and middle frontal gyri. Next, using commonality analysis—a statistical technique that partitions variance in an outcome variable to identify unique and shared contributions of multiple predictors—we examined how age-related tip-of-the-tongue states were jointly explained by cardiorespiratory fitness together with brain structure, function, and perfusion. We found that tip-of-the-tongue occurrences were best predicted by a shared effect of age, fitness, and the functional recruitment of language-related brain regions (t = 1.842, p = .002). CONCLUSION These findings suggest that brain health and fitness work together to shape individual differences in age-related cognitive decline. Our results align with classic models of neurocognitive ageing, such as compensation, maintenance, and reserve by demonstrating that brain function is modified by both age and fitness levels. This interdisciplinary evidence underscores the importance of lifestyle factors, particularly aerobic fitness, in mitigating cognitive decline. By integrating neuroscience and exercise physiology, we highlight the potential for targeted fitness interventions to promote cognitive resilience in ageing populations.
Read CV Foyzul RahmanECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH20
This study examined differences in violence experienced by athletes from teammates and coaches. The sample consisted of 2,633 Mexican athletes (M = 21.17, SD = 5.03), with 53.4% men and 46.6% women, and an average of 7.80 years of experience in their discipline (SD = 5.80). The instrument used was the Violence Towards Athletes Questionnaire (VTAQ; Parent et al., 2019). The overall results show significant differences in psychological violence (M = -0.31, SD = .43, T = - 3.72, p < .001) and physical violence (M = -0.16, SD = .37, T = -2.20, p < .05). No significant differences were found in sexual violence scores (M = 0.001, SD = .25, T = 0.24, p = .81). Regarding gender differences, women reported significantly higher levels of psychological violence from teammates than men (T = -3.87, p < .001), with women scoring higher (M = 1.20, SD = .45) than men (M = 1.14, SD = .41). Likewise, physical violence by the coach showed significant differences (T = 2.88, p < .01), being higher in men (M = 1.11, SD = .42) than in women (M = 1.07, SD = .32). These results suggest that athletes are more frequently subjected to psychological violence (e.g., threats, ridicule) by teammates (mainly women) than by coaches. Additionally, they have also been victims of physical violence (e.g., hitting, pushing), predominantly by their coaches (mainly men), with the difference being minor in both cases. These findings highlight the need for prevention and intervention strategies targeting both athletes and coaches. Reference Parent, S., Fortier, K., Vaillancourt-Morel, M. P., Lessard, G., Goulet, C., Demers, G., Paradis, H., & Hartill, M. (2019). Development and initial factor validation of the Violence Toward Athletes Questionnaire (VTAQ) in a sample of young athletes. Loisir et Société/Society and Leisure, 42(3), 471-486.
Read CV Orlando Reyes-HernándezECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH20
INTRODUCTION: Exercise training in hypoxia has been shown to cause greater improvements of fat reduction (Wiesner et al. 2010), insulin sensitivity (Haufe et al. 2008) and muscle strength (Park et al. 2019) compared with the same training in normoxia. Although majority of previous studies utilized short- or middle- term (< 24 wk) of moderate-intensity exercise training, long-term effects (> 24 wk) of low-intensity exercise in hypoxia in the elderly remains unclear. Especially, how the long-term exercise training in hypoxia affects mental health has not been fully elucidated. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of 1 year of low-intensity exercise training in hypoxia on mental health, sleep quality and cognitive function in the elderly. METHODS: Twenty-two elderly (mean ± SD; 72.8 ± 6.1 yrs) were recruited. They were divided into either “group with exercise training in hypoxia (HYP, n=15)” or “group without exercise training (CON, n = 7)”. HYP performed low-intensity exercise session for 60 min under moderate hypoxia (FiO2; 16.4 %), while CON did not join the exercise training session and maintained normal lifestyle. The exercise training was conducted twice per week for 1 year. Before and after the intervention period, all subjects answered questionnaires to assess depression status (Geriatric depression scale15 [GDS15], The depression anxiety stress scales [DASS21]), health related quality of life (SF8), cognitive function (Mini-mental state examination [MMSE]) and sleep quality (Pittsburgh sleep quality index [PSQI]). Physical fitness levels were also evaluated before and after the intervention period. RESULTS: In HYP, average SpO2 during training session was constant during the intervention period (1st month: 92.6 ± 1.7%, 12fth month: 94.6 ± 2.2%). The pulse rate during training session was around 90 bpm (1st month: 88 ± 10 bpm, 12fth month: 90 ± 10 bpm). The score of GDS15 presented significant interaction (group × period, p = 0.035), and it was significantly lowered after the intervention period only in the HYP (p = 0.021). The score of MMSE presented significant main effect of period (p = 0.002), but no significant interaction or main effect of group was found. The score of PSQI did not change significantly in both groups. In HYP, systolic blood pressure was decreased significantly after the intervention period (pre: 129 ± 17 mmHg, post: 120 ± 11 mmHg. p = 0.015). For physical fitness levels, number of sit-ups, (pre: 10.6 ± 6.5, post: 12.9 ± 7.1, p=0.025), and time for 10m obstacle walk (pre: 6.1 ± 1.2 s , post: 5.4 ± 1.5 s , p=0.02) were significantly improved. CONCLUSION: A 1 year of low-intensity exercise training under moderate hypoxic environment decreased depression score with improved physical fitness levels and systolic blood pressure in the elderly. REFERENCES Wiesner et al. (2010). Obesity, 18(1):116-20 Haufe et al. (2008). Med Sci Sports Exerc, 40(11):1939-44. Park et al. (2019). Geriatrics Gerontology Int, 19(4), 311-6.
Read CV Saaya TaniguchiECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH20