Higher adherence to the Mediterranean Diet is associated with better academic achievement in Spanish university students: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

The objective was to assess the association of the overall score and different items of the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) questionnaire with academic achievement in Spanish university students. We hypothesized that university students with greater adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) would have better academic achievement. A cross-sectional study was performed involving 266 first-year students from the University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain, during the 2017-2018 academic year. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was evaluated with the 14-item MEDAS questionnaire. As an indicator variable for academic achievement, the average marks of the examinations required for access to Spanish universities were used. A total of 63 participants (23.6%) adhered to MedDiet recommendations. Analysis of covariance models showed that participants with higher adherence to the MedDiet had significantly higher scores on academic achievement than their peers with low adherence (P < .001) after controlling for potential confounders. Additionally, the evaluation of each item of the MEDAS questionnaire showed that a diet rich in olive oil, vegetables, fruits, legumes, fish and shellfish, and a low consumption of sweets and carbonated beverages were positively associated with academic achievement; nevertheless, wine intake was inversely associated. This study showed that Spanish university students had a low prevalence of good adherence to the MedDiet. Additionally, our results suggested that higher adherence to the MedDiet is associated with better academic achievement in Spanish university students. From a public health perspective and because of low adherence, it is important to continue to focus on promoting adherence to the MedDiet as part of a healthy lifestyle pattern to improve the academic performance of young university students.

Short-Term Effects of Vestibular Training on Gross Motor Function in Children and Youth with Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

AIMS: To review the literature on the effects of vestibular training on motor function and balance in children and youth with cerebral palsy. METHODS: Eight databases (MEDLINE-PubMed, PEDro, Cochrane Library, OTSeeker, Web of Science, Scopus Database, CINAHL and SPORTDiscus.) were searched up to May 15th, 2023. Studies comparing vestibular training with other types of interventions. The DerSimonian and Laird method was employed using random effects models to calculate the pooled estimate of the effect size with confidence intervals of 95%. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration's tool and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach was used to judge the certainty of the evidence for all outcomes. RESULTS: Eight studies were included comprising 226 participants with cerebral palsy. The meta-analyses demonstrated significant standardized mean differences in favor of vestibular training program compared to other technique(s) for Gross Motor Function Measure (-0.471; 95% confidence intervals: -0.919 to -0.023) and balance (-0.546; 95% confidence intervals: -0.916 to -0.176). CONCLUSIONS: Vestibular training has potential benefits in the short-term as a therapeutic approach for improving gross motor function and the balance in children and youth with cerebral palsy, but further research is needed.

Is more always better? Effectiveness of constraint-induced movement therapy in children with high-risk or unilateral cerebral palsy (0-6 years): Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: While constraint-induced movement therapy is strongly recommended as an intervention for infants with unilateral cerebral palsy, the optimal dosage remains undefined. This systematic review aims to identify the most effective level of intensity of constraint-induced movement therapy to enhance manual function in infants at high risk of asymmetric brain lesions or unilateral cerebral palsy diagnosis. METHODS: This systematic review with meta-analysis encompassed a comprehensive search across four electronic databases to identify articles that met the following criteria: randomised controlled trials, children aged 0-6 with at high risk or with unilateral cerebral palsy, and treatment involving constraint-induced movement therapy for upper limb function. Studies with similar outcomes were pooled by calculating the standardised mean difference score for each subgroup, and subgroups were stratified every 30 h of total intervention dosage (30-60, 61-90, >90 h). Risk of bias was assessed with Cochrane Collaboration's tool. RESULTS: Seventeen studies were included. Meta-analyses revealed significant differences among subgroups. The 30-60 h subgroup showed a weak effect for spontaneous use of the affected upper limb during bimanual performance, grasp function, and parents' perception of how often children use their affected upper limb. Additionally, this subgroup demonstrated a moderate effect for the parents' perception of how effectively children use their affected upper limb. CONCLUSIONS: Using a dosage ranging from 30 to 60 h when applying a constraint-induced movement therapy protocol holds promise as the most age-appropriate and cost-effectiveness approach for improving upper limb functional outcomes and parent's perception.