Changes in EEG Activity and Cognition Related to Physical Activity in Older Adults: A Systematic Review.

Aging is generally associated with a decline in important cognitive functions that can be observed in EEG. Physical activity in older adults should be considered one of the main strategies to promote health and prevent disease in the elderly. The present study aimed to systematically review studies of EEG activity and cognitive function changes associated with physical activity in older adults. Records from PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCO databases were searched and, following the PRISMA guidelines, nine studies were included in the present systematic review. A risk of bias assessment was performed using the National Institute of Health Quality Assessment Tool for Case-control Studies instrument. The studies analyzed used two main strategies to determine the effects of physical activity on cognition and EEG: (1) multiscale entropy and power frequencies; and (2) event-related potentials. In terms of EEG activity, it can be concluded that exercise-induced neuroplasticity underlies improvements in cognitive function in healthy older adults.

[Cognitive, Emotional and Dependency Level on Institutionalized Older Adults]. / Estado cognitivo, emocional y nivel de dependencia en personas adultas y mayores institucionalizadas.

INTRODUCTION: It is necessary to analyze the aging process in institutionalized older people. For this purpose, a descriptive and analytical epidemiological study was carried out in nursing homes for older adults before the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: Provide an in-depth insight into cognitive (MEC), emotional (Geriatric Depression Scale), and functional (Barthel Scale) status within the older adult participants. METHOD: A sample of 973 participants analyzed the relationship between cognitive status, vulnerability to depression, and autonomous performance in Daily Day Activities (DDA) to predict the impact of the comorbidity of these variables. Therefore, in addition to the general distribution of the sample in the previously mentioned dimensions, differences were analyzed according to gender, age, educational level, and geographic area. RESULTS: The results confirm the hypothesis that a more impaired cognitive state is associated with higher levels of depression and lower functional capacity. The MEC scores have positive and highly significant correlations with Barthel and Yesavage. The relationship between dementia and autonomy is observed for both sexes, while the relationship between dementia and depression is only observed in women. The educational level influences the MEC scores (the more education, the better performance) and the Barthel scores (the less education, the greater dependency). Statistically significant differences were also found depending on the area of residence location. CONCLUSIONS: The more deteriorated cognitive state will be associated with a higher level of depression and lower functional capacity in daily life activities.

Tele neuropsychological exploratory assessment of indicators of mild cognitive impairment and autonomy level in Mexican population over 60 years old.

Due to the cognitive decline associated with aging, it is necessary to determine the variables involved in this process to implement preventive actions to avoid or help slow the progression of cognitive decline to dementia in older adults. This is a priority in the current pandemic situation, due to the consequences of periods of confinement due to COVID-19. To address these challenges, this study was conducted through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), by adapting an in-person assessment protocol into an online Tele neuropsychological consultation. The correlation between autonomy and cognitive performance variables is analyzed in 47 Mexican subjects over 60 years of age. The results of the statistical analyses suggest a moderate correlation between the level of autonomy and cognitive performance (with MOCA and Clock Drawing Test), significant correlation values are outlined in some of the variables reviewed, and interesting data were found in the correlation of cognitive reserve with cognitive decline and the educational level from the participants. Finally, future analysis is proposed of the sensitivity of screening tests (CDT) to find indicators of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) in this population that is not detected in classical tests (MOCA). Developing ICT-based screening protocols for the elderly may be a key tool in these coronavirus times or under any given circumstances.

The complete mitochondrial and plastid genomes of the invasive marine red alga Caulacanthus okamurae (Caulacanthaceae, Rhodophyta) from Moss Landing, California, USA.

Caulacanthus okamurae is an invasive red alga that forms extensive mats in sheltered marine habitats around the world. To determine its genomic structure and genetic relationship to native and other non-native populations of C. okamurae, high-throughput sequencing analysis was performed on an introduced specimen from Bennett Slough, Moss Landing, California, USA. Assembly of 23,146,595 filtered 150 bp paired-end Illumina sequencing reads yielded its complete mitogenome (GenBank accession MT193839) and plastid genome (GenBank accession MT193838). The mitogenome is 25,995 bp in length and contains 50 genes. The plastid genome is 173,516 bp and contains 234 genes. Comparison of the organellar chromosomes to other Gigartinales revealed a high-level of gene synteny. BLAST analysis of marker sequences (rbcL, cox1, cox2) of C. okamurae from Moss Landing identified four identical DNA sequences: one from a specimen from a native population of C. okamurae from South Korea and three from specimens representing invasive populations from France, Spain, and the USA. These genetic results confirm the presence of C. okamurae in central California, USA, and represent the first complete mitogenome and plastid genome from the Caulacanthaceae.