常葉大学

AIMS:Higher levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) have been shown to be associated with muscle deterioration and lower physical performance among patients with heart failure (HF). The aim of this study was to clarify the relationships between NT-proBNP levels, sarcopenia, and physical function among community-dwelling older adults. METHODS:This study included 2793 community-dwelling older adults without overt HF symptoms (mean age: 74 ± 4 years; 54% women) who participated in a community-based study. NT-proBNP levels were measured and categorized into four groups: < 125, 125-299, 300-899, and ≥ 900 pg/mL. Sarcopenia was determined according to the skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and handgrip strength, while usual gait speed and five-times sit-to-stand (5-STS) time were assessed as indicators of physical function. Bioimpedance phase angle was assessed as an indicator of muscle quality. RESULTS:In logistic regression analyses, NT-proBNP ≥ 900 pg/mL was significantly associated with low gait speed [odds ratio (OR): 2.79, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-7.20] and prolonged 5-STS time (OR: 3.71, 95% CI: 1.49-9.20). These associations were consistent for both men and women and remained significant after exclusion of participants with heart disease and after adjustment for sarcopenia. In contrast, high NT-proBNP levels were not significantly associated with low SMI (OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 0.54-3.32), handgrip strength (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 0.65-2.34), or sarcopenia (OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 0.53-4.01). A significant trend of a decreasing phase angle (p < 0.001) with increasing NT-proBNP levels was observed. CONCLUSION:High NT-proBNP levels were associated with lower physical function independent of sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults. The lower physical function observed among participants with high NT-proBNP levels may be associated with reduced muscle quality.

Purpose: This study examined how brief rest periods during work or study influence subsequent psychological states and task performance; comparing three rest conditions: light physical activity, conversation, and smartphone use. Methods: Psychological states and cognitive task performance were assessed before and after brief rest periods involving light physical activity, conversation, or smartphone use. Results: The physical activity and conversation conditions led to improvements in mood pleasantness and maintained psychological arousal. In contrast, the smartphone condition produced no change in mood pleasantness and was associated with reduced psychological arousal. Subjective fatigue decreased in post-rest only in the conversation condition, remained unchanged in the physical activity condition, and increased in the smartphone condition. Regarding cognitive task performance, improvements were observed only in the physical activity condition under relatively low-demand task conditions, whereas a tendency toward decreased performance was observed in the conversation condition, and no significant changes were found in the smartphone condition. Conclusion: These findings suggest that light physical activity and conversation are effective strategies for regulating psychological states during brief rest periods. Specifically, both activities support mood recovery, while conversation additionally contributes to fatigue reduction. From a cognitive performance perspective, light physical activity appears particularly effective; however, its benefits may vary depending on task difficulty, task characteristics, and the specific nature of the activity performed. In contrast, smartphone use did not improve mood or reduce fatigue and was associated with decreased arousal, suggesting that it may be a less effective recovery strategy in work and study contexts. Overall, these results highlight the importance of selecting active, socially or physically engaging rest strategies rather than passive smartphone use to optimize both psychological well-being and cognitive performance during brief breaks.

How does the mind grow? Despite centuries of philosophical and psychological inquiry, little is known about how ordinary people intuitively conceptualize mental development. Across six countries (Australia, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States), adult participants reported their intuitions about mental development by indicating when they think various mental capacities first emerge. Across tasks and cultures, intuitions about mental development were consistently organized along two dimensions: an earlier-developing perceptual and experiential dimension (e.g., seeing, fear, hunger, pain) and a later-developing reflective and evaluative dimension (e.g., reasoning, beliefs, self-restraint, pride). Competing models were ruled out, showing that this structure is unique to lay beliefs about mental development. These dimensions also aligned with participants' intuitions about the origins of mental capacities within a nature-nurture framework. Together, the findings reveal a consistent cross-cultural pattern for reasoning about mental development and illuminate the intuitive architecture of mind perception.

BACKGROUND & AIMS:The bioimpedance phase angle (PhA) was suggested to represent muscle deterioration. This study investigated whether segmental PhA was superior to whole-body PhA in the association with physical performance measures and whether it was useful for identifying older adults with poor muscle characteristics. METHODS:This cross-sectional study included 1779 community-dwelling individuals aged 65 years or older. Segmental PhA was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Physical performance was assessed using handgrip strength, gait speed, and the five-times chair-stand test. We used computed tomography images at the midthigh to assess skeletal muscle mass and fat infiltration into the muscle. RESULTS:Leg PhA was significantly associated with conventional physical performance measures compared with the PhA of other body segments. Among participants with low leg PhA (<4.5° in men, <4.0° in women), 64 % had a normal physical performance. Participants were then divided into four groups according to low leg PhA and low physical performance, revealing that the mid-thigh skeletal muscle cross-sectional area (representative of muscle mass) was significantly lower in groups with low physical performance (β = -0.12, P < 0.001), low leg PhA (β = -0.10, P < 0.001), and both (β = -0.17, P < 0.001). In contrast, the mean attenuation value, representing fat infiltration into the muscle, decreased in groups with low leg PhA (β = -0.22, P < 0.001) and both low leg PhA and low physical performance (β = -0.19, P < 0.001), but not in the group with only low physical performance (β = -0.03, P = 0.330). CONCLUSIONS:Leg PhA may help identify individuals with reduced skeletal muscle mass and increased fat infiltration into the muscle who were overlooked by conventional physical performance assessments alone.