Chronic running-wheel exercise from adolescence leads to increased anxiety and depression-like phenotypes in adulthood in rats: Effects on stress markers and interaction with BDNF Val66Met genotype.

Exercise has been shown to be beneficial in reducing symptoms of affective disorders and to increase the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism is associated with reduced activity-dependent BDNF release and increased risk for anxiety and depression. Male and female Val66Met rats were given access to running wheels from 3 weeks of age and compared to sedentary controls. Anxiety- and depression-like behaviors were measured in adulthood using the elevated plus maze (EPM), open field (OF), and forced swim test (FST). Expression of BDNF and a number of stress-related genes, the glucocorticoid receptor (Nr3c1), serum/glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (Sgk1), and FK506 binding protein 51 (Fkbp5) in the hippocampus were also measured. Rats given access to running wheels developed high levels of voluntary exercise, decreased open-arm time on the EPM and center-field time in the OF, reduced overall exploratory activity in the open field, and increased immobility time in the FST with no differences between genotypes. Chronic exercise induced a significant increase in Bdnf mRNA and BDNF protein levels in the hippocampus with some of these effects being genotype specific. Exercise decreased the expression of Nr3c1 and Sgk1, but increased the expression of Fkbp5. These results suggest that chronic running-wheel exercise from adolescence increased anxiety and depression-like phenotypes in adulthood, independent of BDNF Val66Met genotype. Further studies are required to confirm that increased indices of anxiety-like behavior are independent from reduced overall locomotor activity.

Efficacy of Instagram in Promoting Psychoeducation in the Chinese-Speaking Population.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of the use of Instagram in disseminating information regarding first-episode psychosis and schizophrenia. Methods: Facebook and Instagram advertisements linked to an external YouTube video detailing first-time psychosis were initiated for 48 h. Metrics regarding the number of unique individuals reached and number of engagements were collected. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: Facebook made 85 impressions (32.82%) and Instagram made 174 impressions (67.18%). Facebook had 24 engagements, whereas Instagram had 42. Conclusion: Instagram is noninferior to Facebook in disseminating psychoeducational material to the Chinese-speaking population.

YouTube as a New Medium for Dementia Education Among Chinese Americans.

OBJECTIVE: As one of the most popular social media used around the world, YouTube may be able to serve as a new medium for mental health education. This study aims to analyze and compare the performance of YouTube in disseminating dementia education to Chinese Americans at different time points of the upload period. METHODS: Dementia educational videos were uploaded to YouTube. Data was collected over a 36-month period. Results from the first year was compared to those from the third year using descriptive statistics and chi square analysis. RESULTS: The dementia educational videos had a total of 9724 viewers, a total combined watch time of 61,720 min, and an overall average view duration of 6.32 min. Compared to the first year, the videos in their third year performed better in delivering content to the targeted viewers (≥ 45 years old). During the third year, the videos had a significant increase in the percentage of viewers who were 45 years or older. The average view duration of viewers who were older than 65 years old was 38.2% longer than viewers who were younger than 25 years old. CONCLUSION: Over the span of 3 years, YouTube was able to tailor the dementia educational videos to the older population (≥ 45 years old) who were at the highest risk of dementia. YouTube is a valuable tool that is able to deliver content to interested audience across different age groups.

Digital Media Recruitment for Fall Prevention Among Older Chinese-American Individuals: Observational, Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Research in fall prevention programs has increased in recent years in response to the aging demographics of the United States. To date, limited research and outreach programs have focused on ethnic minorities due to increased cost, language barriers, and cultural differences. Digital media platforms may be a cost-effective avenue to initiate fall prevention programs for minority populations. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine whether Facebook advertisements are a practical recruitment method for health education to the Chinese-speaking population. METHODS: This was an observational, cross-sectional study. We uploaded a video on fall education on YouTube and initiated an advertisement campaign on Facebook that was linked to the video. The target population was older adults aged >45 years who used Facebook and were presented with the advertisement (N=1039). We recorded metrics such as the number of unique individuals reached, the number of views of the advertisement, the number of clicks, user gender and age, and traffic sources to the advertisement. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Our Facebook advertisement had 1087 views (1039 unique viewers). There were 121 link clicks with a click-through rate of 11.13% (121/1087). The cost per link click was approximately US $0.06. Among the viewers, 91.41% (936/1024) were females and 8.59% (88/1024) were males. In the 45-54 age group, the ad reached 50 people, with 1 link click (2.00%). In the 55-64 age group, the ad reached 572 people, with 57 link clicks (9.97%). In the ≥65 age group, the ad reached 417 people, with 63 link clicks (15.11%). CONCLUSIONS: Facebook was able to directly target the advertisement to the desired older ethnic population at a low cost. Engagement was highest among females and among those aged ≥65 years. Hence, our results suggest that Facebook can serve as an alternative platform for dissemination of health information to geriatric patients in addition to print-based and face-to-face communication.

Ethnic and Age Disparities in Patients Taking Long-acting Injectable Atypical Antipsychotics.

Introduction This study will determine whether different ethnicities and different age groups receive equal amounts of long-acting atypical antipsychotics in comparison to their oral equivalents. Methods Secondary analyses of data from the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Electronic Health Record (total N=63,134 inpatient visits) were performed. Chi-squared statistics were used to compare ethnicity and age with the use of either risperidone injectable or paliperidone palmitate (r-LAIs) versus risperidone oral. Results Among the 63,134 total inpatient visits, there were 3,011 patient visits that included the use of an atypical antipsychotic. Of these 3,011 visits, 452 (15.0%) were on r-LAIs and 2,559 (85.0%) were on risperidone oral. No statistically significant disparities were identified with the use of r-LAIs as compared to oral risperidone amongst ethnic groups (chi-square = 0.88, df = 3, p = 0.831). However, there was a statistically significant difference with the use of r-LAIs as compared to oral Risperidone amongst age groups, favoring younger patients (chi-square = 13.46, df = 3, p < 0.004). Conclusion Our data indicate a lack of ethnic disparities in prescribing long-acting atypical antipsychotics and an increased percentage of younger patients being treated with atypical depot antipsychotics over their oral equivalents.

Exploring the Role of YouTube in Disseminating Psychoeducation.

OBJECTIVE: Social media can bridge the gap between health care and ethnic minorities over cultural barriers. This study explores the role of YouTube in delivering schizophrenia education to individuals in the USA who are also fluent in Chinese. METHODS: Three psychoeducational YouTube videos related to schizophrenia were uploaded. Data were collected for a 12-month period, and results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: The videos recorded 4935 views with a total viewing time of 35,614 min. The first-episode psychosis video had the most number of views and shares, and the longest total watch time and average view duration. The targeted age group (< 34 years old) comprised about half of the total views and had a 14.4% longer average view duration compared to the overall average. CONCLUSION: YouTube is a useful tool that delivers schizophrenia education to Chinese-speaking individuals in the USA. It may also help alleviate the negative stigma regarding schizophrenia and other mental health issues.