Download or read book Genetic and Environmental Contributions to the Relationship Between Cognitive and Physical Function written by Terrie Vasilopoulos and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 129 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: While many studies have investigated the relationship between cognition and biomarkers of health, few have examined the etiology underlying this relationship. Both cognition and biomarkers of physical health, such as blood pressure, grip strength and pulmonary function, are complex traits, influenced by both genes and environments. They are also dynamic traits, with the contributors to their variances changing across time. The purpose of this dissertation was to evaluate to what extent cognitive function and physical function share genetic and environmental influences and how these genetic and environmental factors contribute to changes in cognitive function and physical function over time. The first study evaluated to what extent cognitive function and physical function share genetic and environmental influences and to what extent are these influences unique to each phenotype. Through quantitative genetic modeling, a common phenotype was revealed to underlie the relationship between cognitive function and two biomarkers of physical health: grip strength and pulmonary function. The majority of the variance in this common phenotype was accounted for by genetic factors. This common phenotype, though, did not load onto two other physical health measures, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. However, these blood pressure measures were moderately correlated with the common factor that included cognitive function. The second study examined to what extent sex influences the quantitative genetic relationship between cognitive function and both grip strength and pulmonary function. Across several cognitive domains, the covariation between cognitive function and these two biomarkers differed between sexes. This difference was also evident in measures of longitudinal change for each trait. The final study incorporated "APOE" e4 allele status as a moderator in a quantitative genetic model of the covariation between blood pressure and cognitive ability, and the longitudinal relationship between these traits. "APOE" e4 allele status significantly moderated environmental pathways. Specifically, the amount of environmental variance in each trait, and the environmental covariance between blood pressure and cognitive ability, was greater in "APOE" e4 carriers, suggesting that the relationship between blood pressure and cognitive function is more sensitive to environmental factors in the presence of the "APOE" e4 allele. This study also presented a useful tool in integrating measured genotypes into quantitative genetic models. This technique provides a way to quantify the influence of both measured genetic and environmental factors on the quantitative variation of complex traits. The findings of this research shed light on how genetic and environmental factors contribute to the relationship between cognitive ability and physical function. Moreover, these findings support the need for more research to uncover what underlying phenotypes may be contributing to this relationship and to evaluate how specific genes and environments interact to influence the relationship between cognitive ability and physical function.
Download or read book U S Health in International Perspective written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2013-04-12 with total page 421 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The United States is among the wealthiest nations in the world, but it is far from the healthiest. Although life expectancy and survival rates in the United States have improved dramatically over the past century, Americans live shorter lives and experience more injuries and illnesses than people in other high-income countries. The U.S. health disadvantage cannot be attributed solely to the adverse health status of racial or ethnic minorities or poor people: even highly advantaged Americans are in worse health than their counterparts in other, "peer" countries. In light of the new and growing evidence about the U.S. health disadvantage, the National Institutes of Health asked the National Research Council (NRC) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to convene a panel of experts to study the issue. The Panel on Understanding Cross-National Health Differences Among High-Income Countries examined whether the U.S. health disadvantage exists across the life span, considered potential explanations, and assessed the larger implications of the findings. U.S. Health in International Perspective presents detailed evidence on the issue, explores the possible explanations for the shorter and less healthy lives of Americans than those of people in comparable countries, and recommends actions by both government and nongovernment agencies and organizations to address the U.S. health disadvantage.
Download or read book Behavior Genetics of Cognition Across the Lifespan written by Deborah Finkel and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-07-09 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Along with psychopathology, cognition has been one of the primary phenotypic focal points of the field of behavior genetics since its inception. Francis Galton’s 1874 examination of eminent families in Britain was among the earliest attempts to investigate whether cognitive achievements run in families. This volume presents current methodologies for understanding cognitive abilities that move beyond the outdated nature vs. nurture paradigm. Recent advances in both collection and statistical modeling of twin data, particularly longitudinal twin data, make this an especially advantageous moment to produce a work that presents a collection of the groundbreaking research on cognitive abilities across the lifespan. This volume presents an overview of the current state of quantitative and molecular genetic investigations into the many facets of cognitive performance and functioning across the lifespan.
Download or read book Cognitive Aging written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2015-07-21 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For most Americans, staying "mentally sharp" as they age is a very high priority. Declines in memory and decision-making abilities may trigger fears of Alzheimer's disease or other neurodegenerative diseases. However, cognitive aging is a natural process that can have both positive and negative effects on cognitive function in older adults - effects that vary widely among individuals. At this point in time, when the older population is rapidly growing in the United States and across the globe, it is important to examine what is known about cognitive aging and to identify and promote actions that individuals, organizations, communities, and society can take to help older adults maintain and improve their cognitive health. Cognitive Aging assesses the public health dimensions of cognitive aging with an emphasis on definitions and terminology, epidemiology and surveillance, prevention and intervention, education of health professionals, and public awareness and education. This report makes specific recommendations for individuals to reduce the risks of cognitive decline with aging. Aging is inevitable, but there are actions that can be taken by individuals, families, communities, and society that may help to prevent or ameliorate the impact of aging on the brain, understand more about its impact, and help older adults live more fully and independent lives. Cognitive aging is not just an individual or a family or a health care system challenge. It is an issue that affects the fabric of society and requires actions by many and varied stakeholders. Cognitive Aging offers clear steps that individuals, families, communities, health care providers and systems, financial organizations, community groups, public health agencies, and others can take to promote cognitive health and to help older adults live fuller and more independent lives. Ultimately, this report calls for a societal commitment to cognitive aging as a public health issue that requires prompt action across many sectors.
Download or read book The Handbook of Aging and Cognition written by Fergus I.M. Craik and published by Psychology Press. This book was released on 2011-03-15 with total page 761 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cognitive aging is a flourishing area of research. A significant amount of new data, a number of new theoretical notions, and many new research issues have been generated in the past ten years. This new edition reviews new findings and theories, enables the reader to assess where the field is today, and evaluates its points of growth. The chapters are organized to run from reviews of current work on neuroimaging, neuropsychology, genetics and the concept of brain reserve, through the 'mainstream' topics of attention, memory, knowledge and language, to a consideration of individual differences and of cognitive aging in a lifespan context. This edition continues to feature the broad range of its predecessors, while also providing critical assessments of current theories and findings.
Download or read book From Neurons to Neighborhoods written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2000-11-13 with total page 610 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How we raise young children is one of today's most highly personalized and sharply politicized issues, in part because each of us can claim some level of "expertise." The debate has intensified as discoveries about our development-in the womb and in the first months and years-have reached the popular media. How can we use our burgeoning knowledge to assure the well-being of all young children, for their own sake as well as for the sake of our nation? Drawing from new findings, this book presents important conclusions about nature-versus-nurture, the impact of being born into a working family, the effect of politics on programs for children, the costs and benefits of intervention, and other issues. The committee issues a series of challenges to decision makers regarding the quality of child care, issues of racial and ethnic diversity, the integration of children's cognitive and emotional development, and more. Authoritative yet accessible, From Neurons to Neighborhoods presents the evidence about "brain wiring" and how kids learn to speak, think, and regulate their behavior. It examines the effect of the climate-family, child care, community-within which the child grows.
Download or read book Aging in America written by John C. Cavanaugh and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2009-12-14 with total page 892 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This three-volume set provides insightful and understandable summaries of the state-of-the-art studies of aging—the most important social demographic issue facing America today. Aging in America will help us plan for the future and meet the needs of what has already become an 11-fold increase in the number of U.S. residents 65 or older. Organized around three broad themes related to aging—psychological issues, mental and physical health, and social issues—with a volume devoted to each, this unique set rallies respected scholars from across disciplines to discuss a phenomenon that will profoundly affect each of us individually and our society as a whole. The volumes cover a wide range of topics, including neuroscience, memory, end-of-life choices, health, care-giving, medication adherence, the benefits of exercise, personal relationships, elder abuse, and other vital issues. The gains of longevity are explored, as are the agonies of loss as we age. As a society, we need to assure that older adults not only survive but thrive. This set helps point the way.
Download or read book The Routledge International Handbook of Psychosocial Epidemiology written by Mika Kivimäki and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-12-14 with total page 536 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The health effects of psychosocial factors are a widely discussed and controversial topic. Do positive and negative emotions affect our risk of developing physical disease? Are depressive individuals more likely to have cancer than those with an optimistic outlook on life? And what is the role of IQ in staying healthy and recovering from disease? Importantly, can we improve our health and life expectancy by avoiding certain psychosocial risk factors and maximizing positive psychological well-being? These and other questions are the focus of psychosocial epidemiology, a discipline linking psychological, social and biological sciences. The Routledge International Handbook of Psychosocial Epidemiology is the first book to map this growing discipline. Including contributions from many of the leading researchers in the field, it is divided into five sections: Part I: Methodological challenges in studying psychosocial factors and health; Part II: Psychosocial factors in the etiology and prognosis of chronic diseases; Part III: Controversies in the psychosocial approach; Part IV: Interventions and policy implications Part V: Future research directions Taking advantage of a huge growth in research in recent years, the book provides the reader with the essentials to evaluate the diverse set of studies on psychosocial factors and health that are published today, and describes study designs in this field of research, progress in judging the validity of epidemiological evidence, as well as challenges in translating evidence into action. This is an important and timely book. Providing methodological rigour, critical analysis and the policy implications of this emerging field of study, The Routledge International Handbook of Psychosocial Epidemiology will be an invaluable resource for students and researchers within both behavioural and medical sciences, as well as policy makers and others working in health and social care.
Download or read book Origins of Individual Differences in Infancy written by Robert Plomin and published by . This book was released on 1985 with total page 432 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Family Resemblance for Cognitive Performance written by Karen Pam Spuhler and published by . This book was released on 1976 with total page 376 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Cognitive Enhancement written by Shira Knafo and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2014-12-20 with total page 407 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cognitive Enhancement: Pharmacologic, Environmental and Genetic Factors addresses the gap that exists in research on the topic, gathering multidisciplinary knowledge and tools that help the reader understand the basics of cognitive enhancement. It also provides assistance in designing procedures and pharmacological approaches to further the use of novel cognitive enhancers, a field that offers potential benefit to a variety of populations, including those with neurologic and psychiatric disorders, mild aging-related cognitive impairment, and those who want to improve intellectual performance. The text builds on our knowledge of the molecular/cellular basis of cognitive function, offering the technological developments that may soon enhance cognition. Separate sections cover enhancement drugs, environmental conditions, and genetic factors in terms of both human and animal studies, including both healthy/young and aging/diseased individuals. Provides a multidisciplinary knowledge, enabling a further understanding of cognitive enhancement Offers coverage of the pharmacologic, environmental, and genetic factors relevant to the topic Discusses cognitive enhancement from the perspective of both healthy and diseased or aging populations Topics are discussed in terms of both human and animal studies
Download or read book The Danish National Institute of Social Research written by Socialforskningsinstituttet (Denmark) and published by . This book was released on 1986 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Genes Behavior and the Social Environment written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2006-12-07 with total page 385 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over the past century, we have made great strides in reducing rates of disease and enhancing people's general health. Public health measures such as sanitation, improved hygiene, and vaccines; reduced hazards in the workplace; new drugs and clinical procedures; and, more recently, a growing understanding of the human genome have each played a role in extending the duration and raising the quality of human life. But research conducted over the past few decades shows us that this progress, much of which was based on investigating one causative factor at a time—often, through a single discipline or by a narrow range of practitioners—can only go so far. Genes, Behavior, and the Social Environment examines a number of well-described gene-environment interactions, reviews the state of the science in researching such interactions, and recommends priorities not only for research itself but also for its workforce, resource, and infrastructural needs.
Download or read book Educating the Student Body written by Committee on Physical Activity and Physical Education in the School Environment and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2013-11-13 with total page 503 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Physical inactivity is a key determinant of health across the lifespan. A lack of activity increases the risk of heart disease, colon and breast cancer, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, osteoporosis, anxiety and depression and others diseases. Emerging literature has suggested that in terms of mortality, the global population health burden of physical inactivity approaches that of cigarette smoking. The prevalence and substantial disease risk associated with physical inactivity has been described as a pandemic. The prevalence, health impact, and evidence of changeability all have resulted in calls for action to increase physical activity across the lifespan. In response to the need to find ways to make physical activity a health priority for youth, the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Physical Activity and Physical Education in the School Environment was formed. Its purpose was to review the current status of physical activity and physical education in the school environment, including before, during, and after school, and examine the influences of physical activity and physical education on the short and long term physical, cognitive and brain, and psychosocial health and development of children and adolescents. Educating the Student Body makes recommendations about approaches for strengthening and improving programs and policies for physical activity and physical education in the school environment. This report lays out a set of guiding principles to guide its work on these tasks. These included: recognizing the benefits of instilling life-long physical activity habits in children; the value of using systems thinking in improving physical activity and physical education in the school environment; the recognition of current disparities in opportunities and the need to achieve equity in physical activity and physical education; the importance of considering all types of school environments; the need to take into consideration the diversity of students as recommendations are developed. This report will be of interest to local and national policymakers, school officials, teachers, and the education community, researchers, professional organizations, and parents interested in physical activity, physical education, and health for school-aged children and adolescents.
Download or read book Cognitive Aging written by Denise Park and published by Psychology Press. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 294 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As our society ages, the topic of cognitive aging is becoming increasingly important. This volume provides an accessible overview of how the cognitive system changes as a function of normal aging. Building on the successful first edition, this volume provide an even more comprehensive coverage of the major issues affecting memory, attention, language, speech and other aspects of cognitive functioning. The essential chapters from the first edition have been thoroughly revised and updated and new chapters have been introduced which draw in neuroscience studies and more applied topics. In addition, contributors were encouraged to ensure their chapters are accessible to students studying the topic for the first time. This therefore makes the volume appealing as a textbook on senior undergraduate and graduate courses.
Download or read book Aging Sourcebook 2nd Ed written by James Chambers and published by Infobase Holdings, Inc. This book was released on 2021-03-01 with total page 648 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Consumer health information about aging and associated diseases and medical conditions. Includes index, glossary of related terms, and other resources.
Download or read book Cognitive Neuroscience of Aging written by Roberto Cabeza and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2017 with total page 633 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A rapidly growing body of research has consituted a new discipline that may be called cognitive neuroscience of aging. This book offers an introduction to the topic, useful to both professionals & students in cognitive neuroscience, cognitive psychology, neuroscience, neuropsychology & neurology.
