Effects of 2-year dietary and physical activity intervention on cognition in children-a nonrandomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of a combined dietary and PA intervention on cognition in children and whether changes in diet quality, PA, sedentary behavior (SB), and sedentary time (ST) are associated with changes in cognition. METHODS: We conducted a 2-year nonrandomized controlled trial in 504 children aged 6-9 years at baseline. The children were allocated to a combined dietary and PA intervention group (n = 237) or a control group (n = 160) without blinding. INTERVENTIONS: The children and their parents allocated to the intervention group had six dietary counseling sessions of 30-45 min and six PA counseling sessions of 30-45 min during the 2-year intervention period. The children were also encouraged to participate in after-school exercise clubs. Cognition was assessed by the Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices. We assessed dietary factors by 4 days food records and computed the Baltic Sea Diet Score (BSDS) as a measure of diet quality. PA and ST were assessed by a combined heart rate and body movement monitor, types of PA and SB by a questionnaire. RESULTS: The intervention had no effect on cognition. Increased BSDS and consumption of low-fat milk and decreased consumption of red meat and sausages were associated with improved cognition over 2 years. Increased organized sports, ST, and reading were positively, while unsupervised PA, computer use, and writing were negatively associated with cognition. CONCLUSION: Combined dietary and PA intervention had no effect on cognition. Improved diet quality and increased organized sports and reading were associated with improved cognition.

Childhood Physical Fitness as a Predictor of Cognition and Mental Health in Adolescence: The PANIC Study.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive and mental health problems are highly prevalent in adolescence. While higher levels of physical fitness may mitigate these problems, there is a lack of long-term follow-up studies on the associations of physical fitness from childhood with cognition and mental health in adolescence. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the associations of physical fitness from childhood to adolescence over an 8-year follow-up with cognition and mental health in adolescence. METHODS: The participants were 241 adolescents (112 girls), who were 6-9 years at baseline and 15-17 years at 8-year follow-up. Average and change scores for cardiorespiratory fitness (maximal power output [Wmax]; peak oxygen uptake [VO2peak]), motor fitness (10 × 5-m shuttle run), and muscular fitness (standing long jump; hand grip strength) were calculated. Global cognition score was computed from six individual cognitive tasks, and perceived stress and depressive symptoms were assessed at the 8-year follow-up. The data were analysed using linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, and parental education. RESULTS: Average motor fitness was positively associated with global cognition score (standardised regression coefficient [ß] - 0.164, 95% confidence interval [CI] - 0.318 to - 0.010) and inversely with perceived stress (ß = 0.182, 95% CI 0.032-0.333) and depressive symptoms (ß = 0.181, 95% CI 0.028-0.333). Average cardiorespiratory fitness was inversely associated with perceived stress (Wmax: ß = - 0.166, 95% CI - 0.296 to - 0.036; VO2peak: ß = - 0.149, 95% CI - 0.295 to - 0.002) and depressive symptoms (Wmax: ß = - 0.276, 95% CI - 0.405 to - 0.147; VO2peak: ß = - 0.247, 95% CI - 0.393 to - 0.102). A larger increase in cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with lower perceived stress (Wmax: ß = - 0.158, 95% CI - 0.312 to - 0.003; VO2peak: ß = - 0.220, 95% CI - 0.395 to - 0.044) and depressive symptoms (Wmax: ß = - 0.216, 95% CI - 0.371 to - 0.061; VO2peak: ß = - 0.257, 95% CI - 0.433 to - 0.080). CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of motor fitness in childhood and adolescence were associated with better cognition in adolescence. Higher levels of and larger increases in cardiorespiratory fitness from childhood to adolescence were associated with better mental health in adolescence.

Associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, and blood pressure with arterial stiffness in adolescent, young adult, and middle-aged women.

Few studies have investigated whether higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) or favourable body composition are related to lower arterial stiffness in women. We therefore investigated the associations of CRF, body fat percentage (BF%), fat free mass index (FFMI), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) with arterial stiffness in 146 women aged 16-58 years. CRF was assessed by a maximal exercise test with respiratory gas analysis either on a cycle ergometer or a treadmill. Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao), augmentation index (AIx%), and MAP were assessed by a non-invasive oscillometric device and BF% and FFMI by a bioelectrical impedance or DXA device. CRF was inversely associated with PWVao (ß = - 0.004, 95% CI - 0.005 to - 0.002) and AIx% (ß = - 0.075, 95% CI - 0.102 to - 0.048) and these associations remained similar after adjustment for BF% or MAP, but not after the adjustment for age. FFMI was inversely associated with PWVao (ß = - 0.010, 95% CI - 0.019 to - 0.002) and MAP directly associated with PWVao (ß = 0.005, 95% CI 0.003 to 0.006) and AIx% (ß = 0.092, 95% CI 0.069 to 0.116) and the associations with PWVao also remained after further adjustments for BF% and age. In conclusion, a higher FFMI and a lower MAP were independently associated with lower arterial stiffness.

Associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, adiposity, and arterial stiffness with cognition in youth.

PURPOSE: To investigate the associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, adiposity, and arterial stiffness with cognition in 16- to 19-year-old adolescents. METHODS: Fifty four adolescents (35 girls; 19 boys) participated in the study. Peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak ) and peak power output (Wmax ) were measured by the maximal ramp test on a cycle ergometer and ventilatory threshold (VT) was determined with ventilation equivalents. Lean mass (LM) and body fat percentage (BF%) were measured using a bioelectrical impedance analysis. Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao) and augmentation index (AIx%) were measured by a non-invasive oscillometric device. Working memory, short term memory, visual learning and memory, paired-associate learning, attention, reaction time, and executive function were assessed by CogState tests. RESULTS: V̇O2peak /LM (ß = 0.36 p = .011) and Wmax /LM (ß = 0.30 p = .020) were positively associated with working memory. Wmax /LM was also positively associated with visual learning (ß = 0.37, p = .009). V̇O2 at VT/LM was positively associated with working memory (ß = 0.30 p = .016), visual learning (ß = 0.31 p = .026), and associated learning (ß = -0.27 p = .040). V̇O2 at VT as % of V̇O2peak , BF%, PWVao, and AIx% were not associated with cognition. CONCLUSION: Cardiorespiratory fitness was related to better cognitive function, while BF% and arterial stiffness were not associated with cognition in adolescents.