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Impact Of Prolonged Sitting On Cognitive Function: Implications For Cardio-Metabolic Risk, Sabina Miller

Master's Theses

Purpose: To determine if prolonged sitting negatively impacts cognitive function, cerebral perfusion, and central cardiovascular hemodynamics; and secondly, to test whether weight or physical activity status alters this response. Methods: Participants (N=20, age=26±7; BMI=30±7 kg/m²; 7 female) were taken through 3 hrs of sitting followed by a 10-min walk (treadmill). Cognitive function was assessed during sitting (10, 60, 120, and 180 mins) and following the walk using a color/word Stroop test. Cerebral perfusion was measured via near infrared spectroscopy (total hemoglobin—tHb). Central cardiovascular hemodynamics and aortic stiffness (pulse wave velocity—PWV) were measured using the SphygmoCor XCEL device before, …