Daily Archives: 8 March 2024

How music may safeguard against cognitive deterioration

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Normal ageing is linked with a gradual cognitive decline. However, can we exercise our brains to slow down this inevitable process? A collaborative effort by researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), HES-SO Geneva, and EPFL has unearthed that engaging in and listening to music can positively affect cognitive decline in healthy older adults by encouraging the growth of grey matter. To substantiate their findings, the team monitored over a hundred retirees without experience with musical practice. These individuals participated in piano lessons and music appreciation courses over six months. The outcomes of this research, published in NeuroImage: Reports, shed new light on approaches to support healthy ageing.

The brain is a dynamic organ that continually reshapes itself throughout our lives, adapting its morphology and connections based on environmental stimuli and experiences, such as learning new skills or recovering from a stroke. Yet, our brain’s plasticity or ability to change diminishes as we age. Concurrently, the brain experiences a loss of grey matter, the critical region where neurons reside, a process known as brain atrophy. That leads to a gradual decline in cognitive abilities, with working memory—one of the most crucial cognitive functions—being significantly affected. Working memory involves temporarily holding and manipulating information to achieve specific tasks, such as jotting down a phone number or translating a sentence from another language.

The study, spearheaded by UNIGE, HES-SO Geneva, and EPFL, demonstrated that musical engagement, through either playing or listening, could stave off the decline of working memory. These activities enhanced brain plasticity and were associated with an increased volume of grey matter. Improvements were also observed in working memory. This research involved 132 healthy retirees aged 62 and 78 who had not engaged in music lessons for over six months.

The study distinguished between practising music and listening to music. Damien Marie, the lead author of the study and a research associate at the CIBM Center for Biomedical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, and the Interfaculty Center for Affective Sciences (CISA) at UNIGE, as well as at the Geneva School of Health Sciences, emphasized the selection of participants who had no prior musical training to avoid any pre-existing brain plasticity related to music learning that could skew the results.

Participants were divided into two groups, one receiving piano instruction and the other engaging in active listening, which involved recognizing instruments and analyzing musical properties across various genres. Both groups were assigned homework for half an hour daily.

After six months, both interventions were found to have beneficial effects, including increased grey matter in four brain regions involved in advanced cognitive functions, such as areas of the cerebellum linked to working memory. Participants saw a 6% improvement in performance, directly correlated with cerebellar plasticity. Factors such as sleep quality, lesson attendance, and daily practice also positively influenced performance improvement.

However, differences between the groups were noted. For pianists, the volume of grey matter in the right primary auditory cortex, crucial for sound processing, remained stable, whereas it decreased in the active listening group. Despite observing a general pattern of brain atrophy across all participants, Damien Marie noted that musical interventions did not rejuvenate the brain but helped prevent ageing in specific regions.

These findings highlight that engaging in and listening to music can foster brain plasticity and cognitive reserve. The authors advocate for these enjoyable and accessible interventions to be prioritized in policies for healthy ageing. The research team plans to explore the potential benefits of these interventions for individuals with mild cognitive impairment, a transitional stage between normal ageing and dementia.

More information: Damien Marie et al, Music interventions in 132 healthy older adults enhance cerebellar grey matter and auditory working memory, despite general brain atrophy, NeuroImage. DOI: 10.1016/j.ynirp.2023.100166

Journal information: NeuroImage Provided by Université de Genève

Self-monitoring enhances the physical activity levels of older adults requiring care

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Monitoring one’s physical activity through using accelerometers and receiving feedback has proven to be an effective strategy for enhancing the physical activity levels among elderly individuals who require ongoing support. This groundbreaking revelation comes from a study conducted by Kobe University, marking the first time evidence has been provided to show that simple, safe methods can significantly improve physical activity in this group. Such improvements are anticipated to be crucial in preventing severe illnesses and reducing the financial burden associated with long-term care.

The importance of increasing physical movement, specifically taking more steps and reducing sedentary time, is well-documented for its positive effects on preventing numerous noncommunicable diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, especially among the elderly who rely on long-term care. This demographic is known to be less active, taking fewer steps, and spending more time seated compared to their healthier counterparts, thus facing a higher risk of illness that can degrade their quality of life and exert pressure on healthcare resources. Despite existing knowledge that self-monitoring can boost physical activity among older adults, its effectiveness has not been previously confirmed for those at greater risk.

Kobe University health scientists Kazuhiro Izawa and Masahiro Kitamura addressed the gap through a study involving 52 participants from a daycare centre in Japan. The research compared the effects of self-monitoring physical activity. Participants were educated about the benefits of increased activity and instructed to use accelerometers to log their movement. Those in the intervention group also kept daily activity records and received weekly feedback and advice.

Published in European Geriatric Medicine, the findings revealed that the intervention group exhibited more physical activity, including taking more steps, spending less time sitting, and engaging in more light physical activities. This study is particularly novel for including metrics on sedentary behaviour alongside traditional step counts, offering insights into how reducing sitting time can complement efforts to increase overall activity levels.

However, the study’s five-week duration was noted as a limitation for observing long-term health benefits, suggesting the need for future research with larger participant groups and extended follow-ups to understand and thoroughly verify the long-term effectiveness of such interventions.

This research underscores the feasibility and effectiveness of simple interventions to improve physical activity among older adults needing care. It lays a foundation for future studies to enhance care prevention strategies through self-monitoring techniques. With further investigation, these methods can be refined and expanded to support better the health and well-being of older adults requiring assistance.

More information: Masahiro Kitamura et al, Effects of self-monitoring using an accelerometer on physical activity of older people with long-term care insurance in Japan: a randomized controlled trial, European Geriatric Medicine. DOI: 10.1007/s41999-024-00935-w

Journal information: European Geriatric Medicine Provided by Kobe University

The Mediterranean diet is a simple option to boost IVF success among numerous nutritional strategies

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Adjunctive treatments aiming to assist infertile women in achieving pregnancy through IVF, particularly for those who have had unsuccessful attempts in the past, have become increasingly commonplace in both the preparatory and active phases of treatment cycles. A recent in-depth review of the effectiveness of various dietary supplements and nutritional regimes thought to enhance IVF outcomes has highlighted the Mediterranean diet as a singularly clear and evidence-backed option for improving success rates, in stark contrast to the outcomes associated with a Western diet.

The investigation into nine popular nutritional supplements revealed a landscape of variable and often questionable quality evidence. This analysis, conducted by Professor Roger Hart from the University of Western Australia and City Fertility in Perth, Australia, has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Reproductive Biomedicine Online.

Professor Hart pointed out the widespread but poorly documented use of nutritional supplements in IVF treatment, noting that these supplements are typically self-administered by patients who purchase them online or over-the-counter, making reliable data on their use scarce. Despite the lack of solid usage data, the enthusiastic discussions on IVF forums online suggest a high level of public interest and widespread consumption.

Among the supplements reviewed, which included dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), melatonin, co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and others, certain ones like DHEA and CoQ10 showed some promise in studies, offering benefits over standard treatments in cases of poor response to previous IVF attempts. Melatonin also showed potential benefits, though its optimal patient group and dosage remain unclear.

In contrast, the backing for the Mediterranean diet as a beneficial approach during IVF is robust, supported by numerous well-conducted randomised clinical trials. These trials have demonstrated positive effects on embryo development and pregnancy outcomes, even from interventions as brief as six weeks. The diet’s beneficial characteristics include a high intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, fish, and mainly monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats, with minimal consumption of highly processed foods. It is rich in B vitamins, antioxidants, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and fibre while low in saturated fat, sugar, and sodium. Omega-3 fatty acids, in particular, have been extensively studied in IVF contexts due to their general health and reproductive benefits, with evidence suggesting potential improvements in clinical outcomes and embryo quality.

However, when it comes to antioxidants, despite being widely used in combination supplements, the evidence from a significant review encompassing 63 studies on antioxidants in reproduction was of low quality. It failed to demonstrate any clear benefits for live birth rates.

From this comprehensive body of evidence, Professor Hart recommends a straightforward nutritional strategy for enhancing IVF success: adopting a Mediterranean diet. For women who have previously responded poorly to ovarian stimulation, pre-treatment with COQ-10 and DHEA could be beneficial, and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may improve specific clinical and embryological outcomes. Additionally, he stresses the importance of adequate folate supplementation for all women trying to conceive and advises consulting with a healthcare provider to ensure optimal general health for conception.

More information: Hart RJ et al, Nutritional supplements and IVF: an evidence based approach, Reproductive BioMedicine Online. DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2023.103770

Journal information: Reproductive BioMedicine Online