Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Impact Of An Educational Cooking Class On Inflammatory Potential Of Diet In Cancer Survivors, Mariah K. Jackson

Theses & Dissertations

Cancer survivors face long-term effects from cancer treatments, with cognitive dysfunction being an important, yet understudied, consequence of cancer treatment. Inflammation is a proposed mechanism for impaired cognition status. As research demonstrates diet is associated with both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects, diet may represent a novel strategy to mitigate cognitive decline in cancer survivors. The purpose of this study was to 1) quantify the impact of an educational cooking class on inflammatory potential of diet (measured by the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII)) in cancer survivors and 2) determine the relationship between dietary changes and cognitive function in cancer survivors. Dietary …

Neuroanatomy In Mild Cognitive Impairment: Relationship To Functional Skills, Treatment Expectancy, And Comorbid Depression, Sara Rushia

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a neurocognitive disorder defined by cognitive decline in older adults. Although MCI has been studied for decades, there remain important areas to be explored in order to adequately characterize aspects of this disorder that provide information valuable for possible interventions and disease progression to dementia, including a better understanding of the neuroanatomical variables relevant to this disorder. Such neuroanatomical variables include cortical thickness, hippocampal volume, and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs). This dissertation consists of three separate studies aimed at addressing gaps in the literature on MCI in relation to brain morphometrics and under-studied characteristics involved …

Interplay Between Shift Work, Psychological Distress, Sleep Quality, And Cognitive Performance, Rea Therese Alonzo

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Shift work schedules are designed to maintain a continuous operation of goods and services. However, engaging in shift work may impact cognitive functioning. This thesis assessed the relationship between shift work and cognitive performance. Using cross-sectional data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, multiple linear regression models were used to investigate the association between shift work and cognitive performance, as well as the moderating effects of psychological distress and sleep quality. Differences by sex and retirement status were also investigated. Shift work was significantly associated with poor performance for executive functioning but not for declarative memory. Poorer cognitive performance …

Misuse Of Prescription Stimulants And Their Effect On Cognition, Zachary Friederichs

Theses and Graduate Projects

Prescription stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin are increasingly being diverted and misused by college students who fail to recognize the potential health risks in an effort to improve academic performance. The main aim of this literature review is to address the prevalence of their misuse, the effects they have on cognition, and adverse side effects that are typically associated with their use. Despite being frequently referred to as "cognitive enhancers" or "smart pills," results from studies on these m􏰗edications remain mixed/unclear as to whether cognitive domains such as memory, executive function, and processing speed are actually enhanced. However, not surprisingly, …

Pain, Severity, And Attentional Capacity Following Acute Musculoskeletal Injury, Rebekah F. Roessler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: As recreational activities grow in popularity, there is a concurrent rise in musculoskeletal injury. Injury severity is determined through clinical evaluation and defined by a grading scale. Pain is included in the definition of each injury grade, despite the lack of any conclusive evidence relating injury severity and the associated pain. Additionally, previous studies report impairments in cognitive performance due to chronic and acute pain. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between the perceived pain intensity and the clinically diagnosed severity of an acute musculoskeletal injury, and to determine if attentional capacity is influenced by …

Concussion In Student Athletes: Prevention, Assessment, And Recovery, Miriam A. Carroll-Alfano

Dissertations

The research presented in this study examines concussion among athletes from the perspectives of prevention, assessment, and recovery. The first study examines concussion education for high school athletes by surveying 157 collegiate athletes, who primarily attended high school in Illinois and Indiana, about the previous concussion education, including whether they received mandated education, the methods and providers of education, and their ability to name a variety of concussion symptoms. This study finds that despite legislative mandates in these states, 20% of student-athletes continue to report not receiving concussion education in high school, with females more likely to report not receiving …

Identifying Cognitive And Postural Deficits Through Re-Baseline Evaluations, Brian J. Mizeski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Baseline evaluations provide vital information for clinicians, as they are a representation of an athlete’s healthy clinical state. It has been recommended when an athlete sustain a concussion, they be administered a re-baseline evaluation, as the effects of a single concussion are not well documented. Limited literature was found which examines re-baseline examinations following a concussion. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate cognitive and postural deficits, in athletes who sustained a concussion, at the conclusion of the athletic season. Methods: 38 concussed athletes (CONC) were matched on sport and gender with 38 healthy …

The Effect Of Increased Sleep On The Circadian Rhythm Of Salivary Cortisol Concentrations, Mariah Jacqueline Scott

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Cortisol is a salivary marker for the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) component of the stress response. The activity of the HPA demonstrates a circadian rhythm. It is well known that sleep deprivation increases cortisol concentrations. In this study, we looked at the effect of an increase of one-hour sleep for one month on the circadian rhythm of the HPA.

Eight college subjects (n=8) collected saliva during their normal sleep wake cycle every 4 hours for 24 hours. Saliva collections were repeated after a month of increase of sleep by 1-hour. The subjects also completed demographic forms that asked for age, sex, …

The Effect Of A Multiple Modality Mind-Motor Exercise Intervention On Single And Dual-Task Gait, Balance, And Executive Function, In Community Dwelling Older Adults With A Subjective Cognitive Complaint: A Randomized Controlled Trial., John P. Bocti

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Cognitive decline disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent, with older adults at increased risk. Combined exercise has been recently explored as an intervention to help to prevent the decline, however cognitive activation in combination with physical activity has yet to be explored. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to determine the effects of multiple modality exercise programs in combination with a mind-motor task and their effects on mobility and cognitive variables. A total of (n=89) older adults (55+ yrs), with subjective cognitive complaints participated in a multiple modality exercise class, three days a week over six months, with the intervention …

Is The Geriatric Impact Ipad Test A Valid Measurement Of Cognitive Function In Older Adults?, Heather Elise O'Dell

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The number of older adults will rapidly increase within the next generation (Brookmeyer, Johnson, Ziegler-Graham, & Arrighi, 2007). Alzheimer’s disease risk increases with age, especially after age 60 (NIA, n.d.). Aging leads to a decrease in functional independence, and this side effect is exacerbated by cognitive decline (Johnson, Lui, & Yaffe, 2007). Executive function is a predictor of Alzheimer’s disease onset and progression (Zhang, Han, Verhaeghen, & Nilsson, 2007). The Geriatric ImPACTTM test is a potential new and more convenient testing methods than traditional methods used. The purpose of this research is to validate the Geriatric ImPACTTM test by comparing …

The Association Of Cognitive Endophenotypes And Risky Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Of Alzheimer's Disease Within The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (Adni) Database, Kyle Joseph Jennette

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) previously associated with Alzheimer's disease on specific domains of cognition, when controlling for Apolipoprotein E gene (APOE), in a sample of individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Methods: The data were drawn from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database, a comprehensive, longitudinal database of controls, persons with mild cognitive impairment, and persons with mild Alzheimer's disease. Each subject has a full neuropsychological assessment, neuroimaging, genetic sequencing, and physical evaluation. For the purposes of this study, individuals were selected based on the presence of the three …

Neuropsychological And Neurophysiological Effects Of Low-Intensity Strengthening Exercise On Cognition, Vadim V. Yerokhin

Honors Theses

With the growing aging population, it’s becoming increasingly important to find ways to either deter or prevent dementia. To date, most research has concentrated on the effects of aerobic exercise on cognition. Unfortunately, a large portion of older adults are often contraindicated to perform aerobic exercise due to different risk factors, which increase with age. Alas, alternate ways of exercise are necessary. Low-intensity strengthening exercise is a type of exercise aimed at improving balance and strengthening muscles without requiring one to overstrain. The current 11-week long exercise study test neuropsychological effects of exercise with a neuropsychological battery and neurophysiological effects …