At the Same Table: A Delphi Consensus-Based Model of Health-Promoting Eating Behaviors.

Eating behaviors and patterns are one of the key behavioral indicators of health, and as such these behaviors are a focus of interest across different areas of scholarship. Yet, to date, work in this area is impeded by the lack of a collective theoretical framework to conceptualize, assess, and intervene upon eating behaviors. The aim of this study was therefore to establish a consensus-based framework for health-promoting eating behaviors using a Delphi methodology. An initial systematic search identified constructs that yielded 150 items grouped into three topic areas: (1) the content, types of food and nutrition provided; (2) eating behaviors; and (3) thoughts and feelings related to eating and foods. Over the course of three iterative rounds of rating by a panel of n = 37 experts, a consensus was reached that included eight of the original items that represented the three topic areas. The findings from this study result in a novel consensus-based framework for health-promoting eating behaviors that can form the basis for collaborative work towards the integration of physical and mental health promotion.

Longitudinal changes in auditory and reward systems following receptive music-based intervention in older adults.

Listening to pleasurable music is known to engage the brain's reward system. This has motivated many cognitive-behavioral interventions for healthy aging, but little is known about the effects of music-based intervention (MBI) on activity and connectivity of the brain's auditory and reward systems. Here we show preliminary evidence that brain network connectivity can change after receptive MBI in cognitively unimpaired older adults. Using a combination of whole-brain regression, seed-based connectivity analysis, and representational similarity analysis (RSA), we examined fMRI responses during music listening in older adults before and after an 8-week personalized MBI. Participants rated self-selected and researcher-selected musical excerpts on liking and familiarity. Parametric effects of liking, familiarity, and selection showed simultaneous activation in auditory, reward, and default mode network (DMN) areas. Functional connectivity within and between auditory and reward networks was modulated by participant liking and familiarity ratings. RSA showed significant representations of selection and novelty at both time-points, and an increase in striatal representation of musical stimuli following intervention. An exploratory seed-based connectivity analysis comparing pre- and post-intervention showed significant increase in functional connectivity between auditory regions and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Taken together, results show how regular music listening can provide an auditory channel towards the mPFC, thus offering a potential neural mechanism for MBI supporting healthy aging.