Honors Theses, Ohio Dominican University, 2017, Honors Theses

Indoor and recreational rock climbing has become an increasingly popular sport among children and adults. Additionally, recent research has demonstrated that active therapy, such as swimming and hippotherapy, is beneficial for children with autism. PURPOSE: To determine the effects of six weeks of rock-climbing on functional strength, spatial reasoning, and executive function for children with autism. METHODS: Seven subjects (8-14 years old, all male) completed six weeks of rock climbing at a pre-established gym. Examinations of Cognitive Trail Making Tests (CTMT) and hand grip strength were completed for all participants prior to the start of classes and after six weeks of training. For hand grip strength, three trials were completed on each hand using a standard hand grip dynamometer. The two highest results were taken and added to represent total grip strength. The CTMT was performed via directions given through the standard protocol. RESULTS: The data did not reveal any significant differences; however, there were positive trends among all variables. CONCLUSION: The research was limited by the number of subjects and variability between subjects. Even so, the positive trends suggest that more research may show significant benefits from rock-climbing. Past research evaluating adventure education, psychological benefits of rock climbing, and neurological and physiological adaptations to exercise still support the possibility of rock climbing as a viable therapy option. With continued research in rock climbing, we hope to be able to implement a different, potentially more beneficial, therapeutic modality that addresses cognitive and physical impairments commonly observed in children with autism.

Committee: John Marazita (Committee Chair); John Thistlethwaite (Advisor) Subjects: Education; Educational Psychology; Kinesiology; Psychology; Therapy

MA, Kent State University, 2024, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences

Obesity is associated with adverse neurocognitive outcomes, including greater risk for cognitive impairment. Bariatric surgery (BS) patients show improved cognitive functioning postoperatively, though evidence suggests that weight loss is not the primary mechanism for this improvement. Physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) may play an important role in the cognitive outcomes of BS patients, given that greater PA and less SB is associated with better cognitive functioning in other populations. The current study prospectively examined the relationship among light-intensity PA (LPA) and SB with cognitive functioning in BS patients, as well as possible sex differences in these relationships. A total of 138 participants (42.9 ± 10.5 years of age, BMI of 46.3 ± 7.3 kg/m²) undergoing Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass or Sleeve Gastrectomy were included in the study and attended study visits at preoperative baseline, as well as at one-month, six-month, and twelve-months postoperative follow-up. Participants completed the NIH Toolbox for the Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function, a computerized neuropsychological battery that assesses functioning across several domains at all time points. Participants wore a waist-mounted accelerometer for seven consecutive days prior to each study visit to measure average daily minutes spent in SB, LPA, and moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA. Body mass index (BMI) and percentage of excess body weight loss (%EBWL) were calculated using height and weight at each visit. Multilevel modeling was used to examine the associations among SB and LPA with cognitive function over the course of the study, controlling for %EBWL, as well as the possible moderating role of sex in these associations. We hypothesized that greater LPA and lower SB would be associated with greater cognitive functioning, and that these associations would be stronger for women. Results showed that SB displayed a negative relationship with Lis (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: John Gunstad (Advisor); John Updegraff (Committee Member); Mary Beth Spitznagel (Committee Member); Jeffrey Ciesla (Advisor) Subjects: Psychology

PHD, Kent State University, 2022, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences

The prevalence of dementia is projected to increase with the growing older adult population and prevention strategies are urgently needed. Two promising interventions include physical activity (PA) and manipulation of the gut microbiome. Greater PA and healthy gut microbiome composition have each been associated with reduced disease burden and improved markers of brain health and cognitive function. Initial work suggests PA influences composition of the gut microbiome and that combined use of PA and probiotics may have greater cognitive benefits than either intervention alone. The present study used archival data from a randomized clinical trial including 136 middle-aged to older adults to examine associations among PA, cognitive function, and the gut microbiome and to investigate the effects of PA and probiotic supplementation (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG; L.GG) on cognitive outcomes. We also sought to determine whether the gut microbiome mediates the effects of PA on cognitive function. Associations among PA, sedentary behavior (SB), Shannon diversity index, and cognitive function were discovered, particularly in subgroups of participants with greater disease burden. However, correlations were not significant when controlling for number of comparisons. In participants with obesity, a three-way interaction of time x PA intensity x intervention group on working memory performance was identified, though reliable change indices indicated this was likely due to chance. Results suggest that proposed associations and interactions among PA, the gut microbiome, and cognitive function may occur in healthy older adults, though were difficult to identify in the current study possibly due to range restriction across variables of interest. Future research should include larger samples enriched with greater diversity related factors, medical conditions, and cognitive impairment.

Committee: John Gunstad (Advisor); Mary-Beth Spitznagel (Committee Member); Mary Ann Raghanti (Committee Member); Adam Jajtner (Committee Member); John Updegraff (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2021, Psychology

Objective: This thesis aims to identify novel relationships between modifiable physical and health variables, Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers, and cognitive function in a cohort of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: Metrics of cardiometabolic risk (e.g., body mass index), stress (e.g., cortisol), inflammation (e.g., c-reactive protein), neurotrophic/growth factors (e.g., brain-derived neurotrophic factor), and AD (e.g., plasma tau) were assessed in 154 MCI participants from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) at baseline (mean age = 74.1; sd =7.5; mean education = 16.0; sd = 2.9). Of these 154 participants, 126 had 2-year follow-up data available for analyses (mean age = 74.0; sd = 7.6; mean education = 16.0; sd = 2.9). Participants also completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Individual test scores and composite scores of memory and executive function published by ADNI were assessed. Partial least squares correlation (PLSC), an unbiased and flexible multivariate technique, was employed to examine cross-sectional associations among these physiological variables and cognition. Partial least squares regression (PLSR), a multivariate technique that defines optimal combinations of variables that best predict an outcome, was used to identify which, if any, of these physiological variables are important in predicting memory or executive function at 2-year follow-up. Results: The PLSC analysis revealed a latent variable describing a unique combination of AD biomarkers, neurotrophic/growth factors, education, and stress that were significantly associated with specific domains of cognitive function, including episodic memory, executive function, processing speed, and language, representing 45.2% of the covariance in the data. Age, BMI, and tests of basic attention and premorbid IQ were not significant. The PLSR analyses revealed that baseline metrics of cardiometabolic function, inflammation, and AD biomarkers (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Scott Hayes Ph.D. (Advisor); Jasmeet Hayes Ph.D. (Committee Member); Ruchika Prakash Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Aging; Clinical Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2021, Psychology

Making choices that range from simple to complex and from important to inconsequential is something humans experience on a regular basis. This process is largely controlled by executive brain regions related to judgment and decision-making. Interestingly, such executive brain regions are associated with resting heart rate variability (HRV) defined as the temporal variation between heart beats and reflects cardiac vagal tone. If the areas of the brain responsible for decision making and HRV overlap, then resting HRV should predict better choice behaviors and performance. Adaptive choice visual search (ACVS) is a paradigm developed to capture the attentional control strategies observers deploy when making choices in dynamically shifting environments (Irons & Leber, 2018). In this dissertation, the primary aim was to explore the association between resting vagally mediated HRV and performance on the ACVS task. In addition, I sought to investigate if two psychological variables, i.) adaptive choice strategies and ii.) maximization, were independently associated with ACVS performance and how these variables moderated an HRV-ACVS association. Choice satisficing refers to the evaluation of selections in a choice situation that simply meet a threshold of acceptability (Schwartz, et al., 2002). I predicted that those with higher HRV would have faster reaction times (RT), utilize more optimal search strategies, and demonstrate qualities of maximizers - where individuals seek out the best available choice from all of the options available to them - based on their scores on the Maximization Scale (Schwartz, et al., 2002). I also hypothesized that switching between attentional sets incurs a response time cost, and that there will be lower switching costs among those with higher HRV. In my study, vagally mediated HRV was collected continuously throughout the experiment. Participants (N = 62; n = 34 males, n = 17 ethnic minorities, mean age = 20.84 years (SD = 2.86)) first complet (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Julian Thayer PhD (Advisor); Michael Vasey PhD (Committee Chair); Andrew Leber PhD (Committee Member); Kevin Passino PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Cognitive Psychology; Physiological Psychology; Psychology

PHD, Kent State University, 2020, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Health Sciences

Stroke is a common cardiovascular accident where blood flow is permanently prevented to an area of the brain. This often leads to complications such as hemiplegia which leaves individuals unable to complete normal modalities of exercise due to poor coordination and mobility. The purpose of this investigation was to: 1) compare the cardiovascular responses to SLC and DLC in individuals with stroke induced hemiplegia, and 2) determine if an acute bout of SLC improves motor function, cognition, proprioception and cerebral oxygenation. Initially, seven individuals performed a ramp protocol using SLC then repeated the same protocol with DLC. Cardiovascular parameters were assessed and compared between both cycling modalities. All subjects reached the heart rate goal for determining an effective cardiovascular exercise. They also had greater VO2 by 2 ml/kg/min (p=0.026), power output by 17 W (p=0.028) and efficiency by 2% (p=0.002) during SLC compared to DLC. The same seven subjects also completed 30 minutes of steady state SLC on a separate day. After this acute bout of exercise subjects had an increase in complex executive as indicated by improved trail making test B (p=0.001) as well as increased cerebral oxygenation post exercise (p=0.001). This study makes a good argument for the use of SLC as a method of rehabilitation post stroke. While all subjects completed both SLC and DLC they were more efficient during the SLC bout potentially making it a modality of exercise that is more enjoyable and easier to make it a chronic habit.

Committee: John McDaniel (Advisor) Subjects: Health; Kinesiology; Physical Therapy

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2020, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Background: Better diet quality has been linked to fewer physical limitations and slower rates of cognitive decline in older adults. Many studies have looked at individual components of dietary patterns rather than overall diet quality. Objective: To assess diet quality using HEI-2015, physical limitations, and cognitive function in adults 60 years and older. Methods: Dietary intake, physical functioning questionnaire (PFQ), and cognitive functioning questionnaire (CFQ) data from 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analyzed. Participants (n=3,632) were stratified into 60-64 years, 65-74 years, and 75+ years. Dietary intakes were assessed using the Automated Multiple Pass Method to determine diet quality. PFQ assessed difficulty completing various physical tasks. CFQ assessed cognitive function based on Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) Word Recall, and Animal Fluency test scores. Results: Adults who were 60-64 years old (HEI=53.1) had significantly poorer diet quality than adults 65-74 years old (HEI=55.8) and 75+ years (HEI=56.9, p=0.002). The most frequent limitations across all age groups were stooping, crouching, or kneeling, standing for long periods, and pushing or pulling large objects. Adults 75+ years (4.2) reported a significantly greater number of physical limitations than adults 60-64 years old (3.0) and 65-74 years old (2.9). The older participants had significantly poorer cognitive functioning scores, with significant differences between all age groups (p<0.001) for DSST, CERAD, and Animal Fluency test. Conclusions: Adults 75+ years had better diet quality than the other age groups but reported more physical limitations and exhibited poorer cognitive test scores. Dietary intakes have been shown to be protective against physical and cognitive decline; therefore, better diet should be encouraged earlier in life. Future research is needed to as (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Christopher Taylor PhD, RDN, LD, FAND (Advisor); Jessica Krok-Schoen PhD, MA (Committee Member); Randell Wexler MD, MPH, FAAFP (Committee Member) Subjects: Aging; Nutrition

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2020, Nursing

As the amount of heart failure (HF) patients and treatment complexity increases, many hospitals are implementing Advanced Heart Failure Intensive Care Unit (AHFICU). The success of this new care model depends on understanding unique patient characteristics including factors related to their ability to home self-manage, cognitive function, and sleep quality. Nursing interventions can then be implemented to meet needs of this unique population. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to understand relationships among sleep quality, cognitive function, and self-management ability at discharge in AHFICU patients. A convenience sample of 43 adults admitted to this setting for HF was recruited. Data were collected using interviews, phone calls, and medical record reviews at admission, discharge, and post-discharge from University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio. Results indicated that less than half were able to self-manage HF pre-admission according to two measures. Most participants excluded for discharge disposition had inadequate self-management ability. However, most patients had adequate HF knowledge pre-admission and discharge. Over half of participants had mild cognitive impairment at admission and mild cognitive impairment at baseline was found in many participants who were not discharged home. Poor sleep quality was noted in patients during hospitalization and mean sleep quality scores were similar pre-admission and during hospitalization. Sleep quality significantly improved post-discharge when compared with other times, cognitive function at admission predicted cognitive function at discharge, and cognitive function at discharge predicted HF knowledge at discharge. Sleep quality trended toward predicting cognitive function at discharge. Most participants had advanced HF. Furthermore, these patients had higher comorbidity, more medications, longer total hospital stay, and higher obstructive sleep apnea prevalence than other HF populations. The present study is (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Mary Dolansky (Committee Chair); Christopher Burant (Committee Member); Heather Hardin (Committee Member); Richard Josephson (Committee Member) Subjects: Nursing

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2020, Kinesiology

Adults with Down syndrome are an underserved population at high risk for a host of different pathologies from aging and lack of activity. Resistance training could be one modality that can significantly influence motor skill and cognitive performance based on the evidence that there is a positive association between intellectually stimulating activities (ex. resistance training) and an increase in cognitive performance. Resistance training may also significantly influence a host of different mood and physiological/performance variables in adults with Down syndrome to improve health and day-to-day functionality. Cognition (i.e., the mental process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and senses), is vital for everyday understanding of tasks and interfaces with the environment. Feelings and mood states are also vital for a positive outlook and interactions with other people. This study was designed to address a global question of how resistance training would influence changes in cognition, health metrics, and physical performance capabilities of individuals with Down syndrome. We hypothesized that resistance training would improve cognition, motor function, and mood in adults with Down syndrome. Our secondary hypothesis was that resistance training would improve physical strength in adults with Down syndrome. Understanding the true adaptive effects of resistance training would provide novel findings. In turn, this would help promote a major move forward in the use of this mode of exercise as a therapeutic, health, and fitness iii modality in this underserved population of people. The participants (n = 11) were men and women clinically diagnosed with Down syndrome (age: 25.8 ± 6.4 years; height: 151.5 ± 8.3 cm; weight: 67.5 ± 13.0 kg). Paired samples t-tests were used to assess differences between BL1a and BL1b to confirm the reliability and validity of the cognitive testing, along with PRE/POST differences between resistance trainin (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: William Kraemer PhD, CSCS (Advisor); Volek Jeff PhD, RD (Committee Member); Maresh Carl PhD (Committee Member); Focht Brian PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Kinesiology; Neurosciences

Master of Education, Cleveland State University, 2019, College of Education and Human Services

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of gender on acute exercise induced BDNF and cognitive function among older individuals. The hypothesis was that exercise would increase BDNF levels and enhance cognitive processing time post exercise followed by a drop in BDNF and return cognitive processing time to baseline post-30 minutes. It was also hypothesized that women would have higher BDNF values compared to men. Methods: The subjects consisted of 18 active males (n = 9) and females (n = 9). The subjects took part in an exercise trial and a control trial. The exercise trial entailed riding either a recumbent or upright bike at 75% of their age predicted max heart rate for 30 minutes. The control trial consisted of reading. A Stroop Test was given, and blood samples were obtained before, after, and 30 minutes after exercise and control. Serum was analyzed for BDNF, testosterone, and estrogen using commercially available ELISA kits. Results: Results showed that there was a significant effect of time in Stroop testing across all subjects. There was a trend (p = 0.068) for a decrease in Stroop time from pre to immediate-post timepoints, and a significant decrease (p = 0.004) in Stroop time from pre to post-30 timepoints. There was a significant main effect of exercise on BDNF levels, (p = 0.05) and females were found to have significantly higher BDNF than males (p = 0.055). Conclusion: There was statistical evidence that acute exercise affects BDNF production in both genders, but not cognitive processing speed among an older active population. Cognitive processing speed continued to improve across all timepoints. As well, women were found to have overall higher BDNF.

Committee: Emily Kullman Dr. (Committee Chair); Kenneth Sparks Dr. (Committee Member); Douglas Wajda Dr. (Committee Member); Brian Yusko Dr. (Other) Subjects: Kinesiology

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2019, Educational Studies

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and counselor trainees' cognitive development. More specifically, this study explored the influence of resting HRV (rMSSD) on counselor trainees' sustained attention (Continuous Performance Task), working memory (n-back Task) and cognitive performance on a practice NCMHCE exam. The study used descriptive and multivariate analyses to examine data collected from a sample of counselor trainees enrolled in a CACREP-accredited clinical mental health counseling program in the state of Ohio (N = 69). Additional exploratory analyses were conducted to enhance the understanding of the data. The analyses revealed two key findings that are the first of their kind in counselor education. First, group differences revealed that counselor trainees' HRV is connected to cognitive complexity. An Analysis of Variance (ANVOVA) identified that high HRV levels (50.8ms and higher) were connected to faster reaction time (p < 0.05) and more accurate responses on two sustained attention tasks, a Choice Reaction Time Task (p < 0.05) and a Serial Pattern Matching Task (p < 0.05). Second, group differences in counselor trainees' developmental level revealed that NCMHCE scores are reflective of counselor trainees' developmental level. A multivariate regression analysis identified that counselor trainees in the post-practicum stage of their development scored higher on a practice NCMHCE exam than did counselor trainees in the pre-internship stage of their development (p < 0.05). The results of this study provide empirical support for the relationship between HRV and sustained attention in counselor trainees, suggesting that HRV may be a mechanism for higher levels of cognitive complexity. Additionally, the results of this study provide empirical support for the relationship between developmental level and practice NCMHCE exam scores, suggesting that the NCMHCE is reflective of counselor developmental and (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Darcy Haag Granello (Advisor); Paul Granello (Committee Member); Colette Dollarhide (Committee Member) Subjects: Counseling Education

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2019, Ohio State University Nutrition

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global health problem resulting in 2.2 million yearly deaths by DM-related complications. Insulin, for the past century, has been indispensable for the treatment of both type 1 DM and advanced stages of type 2 DM. However, insulin has relatively low efficacy in the central nervous system (CNS). Currently, DM leads to cognitive learning deficits in children as well as an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease in adults. There is a critical need for the development of a new strategy to improve the efficacy of glucose regulation that will prevent CNS-related complications of DM. Nanotechnology could provide a comprehensive platform for the improvement of insulin efficacy and delivery. Dr. Parquette (OSU) has developed a method to produce nanostructures using amino acid compounds (AACs) with and without various side chains; however, these compounds have not been used for treatment of DM. I anticipated that positively-charged AAC nanostructures could potentially bind negatively charged insulin, protect it from cleavage, and extend its interaction with the insulin receptor (InsR). The aim of my dissertation is to investigate AAC interaction with insulin and its effect on systemic glucose uptake and CNS complications. My overall hypothesis was that candidate AAC improves whole-body glucose uptake and prevents neurological complications in mouse models of DM. The structure-function comparison was performed between two AAC compounds with similarly positively charged lysine backbones that either assemble into nanofibers (AAC2) or lack this ability (AAC6). Zeta potential and microbalance techniques showed a stable binding only between AAC2 nanofibers and insulin, suggesting that this nanofiber structure is critical for the interaction with insulin. Next, I tested cytotoxicity in a range of nanostructures (AAC1-3) using a lactate dehydrogenase activity assay and subsequently excluded cytotoxic AAC3. Then, I compared glucose uptake induction bet (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Ouliana Ziouzenkova (Advisor); Martha Belury (Committee Member); Lee Kichoon (Committee Member); Parquette Jon (Committee Member) Subjects: Endocrinology; Nanoscience; Nanotechnology; Neurosciences; Nutrition

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2017, Medicine: Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

Objective: The objective of this laboratory-based study was to investigate the effect of heat/active continuous cooling on the body's physiological responses, postural balance/gait stability, and cognitive function responses of subjects wearing firefighters' encapsulating protective ensembles during exercise in a simulated hot environment. Methods: Twelve healthy physically-fit males were recruited for this cross-sectional study. A maximal graded exercise test was performed before experimental events in order to calculate maximal oxygen uptake and to assess participants' capacity to perform the assigned exercise. Physiological measures (heart rate, body core temperature, mean skin temperature, body weight), perceptual measures (physical exertion, thermal compensation, and respiratory distress), static balance metrics (sway speed, sway area, excursion along x and y axis), dynamic balance associated with gait outcomes (gait velocity, gait cadence, turn duration, turn peak velocity, range of motion and peak swing velocity of torso, arms and legs), cognitive measures (performance rate errors, reaction times) were obtained before and after exercising inside an environmental chamber. Exercise included treadmill walking while wearing encapsulating firefighters' protective ensembles at 40 % maximal oxygen capacity in warm (30°C) and humid (70%) environmental conditions for 40 minutes or until body core temperature ˜ 39 °C. Subjects participated in two randomly assigned sessions of the exercise protocol: control (no cooling) and experimental (active cooling application). For experimental sessions, a cooling garment with tubing sewn into the inside surface of the fabric was worn underneath firefighters' protective ensembles and infused with cooled water (18°C) supplied by an external water circulator. Skin surface areas in contact with the garment for heat exchange included head, torso, forearm, and thigh area. Results: Participants' physiological responses were significan (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Amit Bhattacharya Ph.D. (Committee Chair); William Jetter Ph.D. (Committee Member); Darren Kadis (Committee Member); Ming-Lun Lu Ph.D. (Committee Member); Marepalli Rao Ph.D. (Committee Member); W. Williams Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Health

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2017, Nursing

Background: Fear of losing cognitive function in later life is a major concern for older adults. Chronic conditions, such as, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, put the older adults at greater risk for cognitive decline. Human beings, from time immemorial, have used spiritual practices, such as meditation and prayer, to reduce psychological distress and in healing. However, there has been relatively little attention paid to its significance in mitigating cognitive decline associated with later life and multimorbidity. This study, guided by the Theory of Self-Transcendence, explores whether spiritual practices, such as meditation and prayer, can promote cognitive function in older adults over time. Methods: Drawing from a racially heterogeneous subsample (n=1135) from the Health and Retirement Survey (2000-2012), this study investigated the effect of meditation and prayer on changes in cognitive function among older adults and whether the effect of multimorbidity on cognitive function is moderated by meditation and/or prayer. The mediation effect of spiritual practices on the influence of multimorbidity on components of cognitive function at baseline was also examined. Cognitive function was measured by episodic memory (immediate and delayed word recall) and mental status (Serial 7's and backward count 20s). Results: The findings, based on generalized estimating models, showed a statistically significant positive effect of prayer (b=0.46, p<0.05) on memory at baseline. While positive, the effect of meditation on memory at baseline was not statistically significant. For the mental status component of cognitive function, the effect of prayer was positive and meditation was negative at baseline; however, these effects were not statistically significant. There was a slight gain in both components of cognitive function over time among older adults who used meditation and prayers. The effect of multimorbidity on both components of cognitive function was negative at b (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Jaclene Zauszniewski PhD (Advisor) Subjects: Nursing

MA, Kent State University, 2017, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences

Severe obesity is associated with elevated risk for poor neurocognitive outcomes. The mechanisms underlying this association have not yet been fully elucidated, but cerebrovascular pathology resulting from obesity and its associated vascular risk factors has been identified as a likely contributor. The CHA2DS2-VASc is a clinical composite score used to assess risk for vascular events and has been used to estimate severity of cerebrovascular pathology. Past research shows associations between higher scores on the CHA2DS2-VASc and poorer cognitive function in persons with atrial fibrillation and advanced heart failure. However, no study has examined the predictive validity of CHA2DS2-VASc in persons with severe obesity. The current study examined the relationship between the CHA2DS2-VASc and cognitive function before and after bariatric surgery in a sample of individuals with severe obesity. Data from 87 bariatric surgery patients were extracted from a larger parent project. Cognitive function was assessed at baseline and 12 months following bariatric surgery. Self-report questionnaires were completed at the baseline visit to gain medical and demographic information. It was hypothesized that CHA2DS2-VASc scores would predict cognitive function in individuals with severe obesity prior to bariatric surgery, as well as improvements in cognitive function 12 months post-surgery. Additionally, the CHA2DS2-VASc was hypothesized to predict percent weight loss. Analyses revealed significant improvements in cognitive function from pre- to post-surgery in domains of memory, attention, and executive function. No significant associations were observed between the CHA2DS2-VASc and cognitive function at baseline and the stroke risk score did not predict the cognitive improvements seen in memory, executive function, or attention post-surgery. However, an association was found between CHA2DS2-VASc scores and percent weight loss 12 months post-surgery, such that higher C (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: John Gunstad (Advisor) Subjects: Psychology

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2017, Psychology

Obesity is a major public health concern with over a third of Americans considered obese, as defined by a BMI equal to or greater than 30. Obesity is associated with risky decision making which may lead to less engagement in activities that promote weight loss, including diet and physical activity. Engagement in physical activity is associated with less risky decision making and improved executive control. However, the current literature provides limited comparisons of non-obese adults and obese, weight-loss seeking adults on tasks of decision making. The literature also includes limited evaluation of how physical fitness relates to hot decision making, or decision making under ambiguity, and cold decision making, or decision making under risk. The aim of this observational study was to evaluate differences in decision making among non-obese and obese individuals, and to evaluate the relationship of obesity, physical fitness, and decision making. Obese participants (n=50) were recruited and assessed during orientation to a university-based behavioral weight management program, and non-obese participants (n=40) were recruited from the community. All participants completed a demographics questionnaire and four computerized tasks of decision making. Study personnel calculated BMI via height and weight measurements for all participants. Data concerning body fat percentage and meters walked on a 12-minute walk test were collected from obese participants' patient files. The sample was primarily female (84.4%), and Caucasian (84.4%) with an average age of 42.9 (¿11.9) years and an average BMI of 36.3(¿13.9). Pearson correlations, analyses of variance, chi-square analyses, and the PROCESS macro in Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) version 9.2 were used to analyze data. Results provide preliminary evidence for physical fitness as a mediator in the relationship between obesity and decision making such that higher BMI is associated with a riskier decision making, as measure (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Charles Emery (Advisor); Melissa Buelow (Committee Member); Julian Thayer (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

Master of Education (MEd), Bowling Green State University, 2016, Human Movement, Sport and Leisure Studies /Kinesiology

Executive function (EF) is essential for older adults to maintain independence and high quality of life (Lezak, Howieson, & Loring, 2004). Normal cognitive aging is accompanied by decrements in EF (Haug & Eggers, 1991; Raz et al., 1997; Salat et al., 2005). Body fat is thought to mediate this relationship, potentially through the activity of hormones or inflammation. However, the extent of the relationship is not well understood. The aim of this study was to determine whether percentage body fat (PBF) would yield a stronger relationship to EF in older adults than would body mass index (BMI). Participants were adults 60 years and older with no history of mental illness and who were not currently taking medications that could influence the central nervous system. Individuals were screened for mild cognitive impairment using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Participants completed the d2 test and modified flanker task to assess EF. In addition, the participants' body composition was estimated through the use of air displacement plethysmography (ADP) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Bivariate correlations between PBF and EF test scores, as well as BMI and EF test scores were examined. Multiple and linear regression analyses were calculated to predict the amount of variance in cognitive tests scores as a result of the dependent variables. PBF, using two different methods, and BMI were not significantly correlated to EF. Further research is necessary to clarify the nature of the relationships among body fat, BMI, and cognitive function.

Committee: Amy Morgan Ph.D. (Advisor); Adam Fullenkamp Ph.D. (Committee Member); Lynn Darby Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Cognitive Psychology; Kinesiology

PHD, Kent State University, 2015, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences

The proportion of adults over the age of 65 is expected to rise drastically in coming decades. This trend will produce a considerable increase in the prevalence of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and interventions to delay their onset are much needed. Physical inactivity has been identified as a modifiable risk factor for accelerated cognitive decline and other adverse neurocognitive outcomes in older adults. Unfortunately, as many as 75% of older adults are sedentary. Recent work suggests that exercise interventions confer cognitive benefits, but long-term, land-based exercise programs often suffer from poor adherence and high attrition rates. One possible reason for this is older adults often suffer from limitations which prohibit full participation (e.g. arthritis, fear of falling). Water-based exercise has become increasingly popular as it provides the same physiological benefits as land-based but with reduced risk of acute injury. The current study evaluated the effects of a short-term, water-based exercise intervention on cognitive functioning, and cardiovascular fitness in a group of community dwelling older adults. A total of 69 older adults provided self-report medical and demographic information, were administered a brief battery of neuropsychological tests, and given a brief test of cardiovascular fitness. Participants in the exercise group (N = 36) were then were asked to attend one moderate intensity water aerobics class per day for six consecutive days. Following the intervention, participants again completed the neuropsychological and cardiovascular fitness tests. Participants in the control group (N = 33) were instructed to continue their typical daily routine and completed assessments at equivalent intervals. Following one week of water-based exercise, the exercise group demonstrated significant improvements in cardiovascular fitness, as well as executive function, attention, and memory over controls. These findings su (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: John Gunstad PhD (Committee Chair); Mary Beth Spitznagel PhD (Committee Member); Douglas Delahanty PhD (Committee Member); Ellen Glickman PhD (Committee Member); Heather Caldwell PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

PHD, Kent State University, 2014, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences

Heart failure (HF) is prevalent and produces a significant clinical and economic burden. It is well established that cognitive dysfunction is common in HF and cognitive deficits lead to adverse outcomes. The etiology of these deficits remains unclear, though several mechanisms have been proposed with mixed findings. One potential contributor that has received limited attention is reduced levels of physical activity. It is well established that physical activity is neuroprotective in non-HF populations, including individuals with other forms of CVD, and it can be postulated that a similar benefit would be found in persons with HF. The aim of the current study was to prospectively examine the impact of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on cognition in older adults with HF. A total of 168 older adults with HF participated in the current study, of which 47 completed CR and 121 served as HF controls. Participants were evaluated at three time points (baseline, 12-weeks, and 12-months), with the CR participants completing their 12-week assessment after completion of CR. It was hypothesized that participation in CR would lead to improvements in functional capacity and cognition, and that improvements in functional capacity would be related to cognitive gains. To further understand the impact of CR on cognition, the relationship between exercise intensity during CR and follow-up cognitive performance was also examined. Lastly, self-reported levels of physical activity were examined to understand the impact of CR on self-reported levels of activity and if self-reported levels of activity were predictive of cognitive performance. Overall, results did not support study hypotheses. Specifically, no changes in functional capacity and cognition were observed for either group. In addition, exercise intensity during CR was not predictive of 12-week cognitive performance, and self-reported levels of physical activity did not change over time or predict cognitive performance. The l (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: John Gunstad PhD (Committee Chair); Mary Beth Spitznagel PhD (Committee Co-Chair); John Updegraff PhD (Committee Member); Manfred van Dulmen PhD (Committee Member); Angela Ridgel PhD (Committee Member); Jason McGlothlin PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2014, Psychology

Switching between two different tasks involves cognitive flexibility, an ability that develops quickly during the preschool period. Studies of the development of children's cognitive flexibility have elucidated how this ability is influenced by bottom-up, perceptual aspects of a task, but the influence of top-down processes like task choice are less understood. In this study, we investigated whether task choice facilitates children's ability to switch between tasks. In Experiment 1, we manipulated whether children had the opportunity to select the task of their choosing (e.g., to sort by color or by shape) at the beginning of each block. Children in the “choice” condition were allowed to choose, but children in the “cued” condition received a random task sequence. Because children in the choice condition chose to switch tasks much more frequently than children in the cued condition, it was difficult to draw conclusions about performance. We equated for these differences in Experiment 2, where we yoked children and adults in the choice and cued conditions to complete an identical task. Differences in performance emerged only when children chose an adaptive, easier task sequence. In Experiment 3, we developed a task to measure potential individual differences in metacognition that may explain why some children benefit from choice. In Experiment 4, we measured both cognitive flexibility and metacognition, revealing a relation between children's voluntary task switching and their ability to strategically choose an easier task.

Committee: Vladimir Sloutsky (Advisor); John Opfer (Committee Member); Andrew Leber (Committee Member) Subjects: Cognitive Psychology; Developmental Psychology; Psychology