• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.265-273
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• 2020

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of participation in contact sports on neurocognitive scores, dual-task walking velocity, and cognitive costs in retired athletes. Method: Forty-four retired athletes (mean age = 26.4±5.5 yrs) and thirty-eight controls (mean age = 26.1±4.9 yrs) participated in this study. Neurocognitive score was collected using computerized neurocognitive testing using RehaCom. Gait velocity was collected one single task, four dual-tasks, and two multi-tasks using Optogait. Mann-Whitney U test was performed to compared differences in cognitive scores among groups. A mixed-design two-way ANOVA and Bonferroni posthoc test were used to assess the effect of group and walking tasks for each condition. Results: The auditory divided attention of neurocognitive score of retired athletes was higher than the control group (p < 0.05). No statistical differences were observed in the other neurocognitive scores between groups. The changes in walking velocity and cognitive costs according to the dual-task walking tests differed between the two groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Although participation in contact sports did not affect the neurocognitive results of retired athletes, it could be confirmed that the reduction in walking velocity and an increase in cognitive costs during dual-task walking. Rather than observing only neurocognitive scores as a single evaluation item for cognitive evaluation of retired athletes in relation to daily life, the application of the dual-task gait test may provide useful information.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-24
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• 2013

The elderly population continues to increase in Korea and there has been a growing interest in understanding normal aging. In response to this public interest, the present paper reviewed human aging research focusing on recently published neuroimaging studies. For the first half of the paper, I reviewed the effects of aging on the brain and cognition. In normal aging, structural changes in the brain include atrophy and volume reduction in the prefrontal and temporal cortices. Functional changes are exhibited in the form of overactivation of the brain. Moreover, age-related cognitive decline is particularly observed in inhibition and memory, which are also associated with the age-related structural changes in the brain. For the second half of the paper, I introduced physical exercise studies showing that exercise played a protective role in the age-related neurocognitive decline. More specifically, engaging in physical exercise (particularly, aerobic exercise) for a relatively long period of time (e. g., > 6 mon.) protected older adults from volume loss in the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus, and induced better inhibition and memory. These exercise-induced benefits appear to be associated with changes in neuronal levels, indicating that the aging brain is still plastic and this plasticity can be enhanced by physical exercise.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.42-51
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• 2010

Imaging studies using MRI, PET, and/or MEG have been primary evaluation methods to quantitatively assess cognitive function. Recent advances in computational technology and information technology may allow a novel evaluation methodology to quantitate cognitive function more cost-effectively. In this study, we developed a software package composed of a series of tests to evaluate cognitive ability combined with a user-friendly touch screen input device. This cognitive assessment tool can quantitate concentration, numeric memory, associative memory, topological memory, visual and muscular reaction, and acoustic reaction over a relatively short testing time. We performed an empirical study on eighty normal subjects aged 20 and 59 years old using the developed evaluation methods. Age-related cognitive deterioration after 40 years old was confirmed. There was no difference in cognitive ability between male and female in the same age group. This study demonstrates the feasibility of a simple but effective evaluation software tool to quantitatively assess cognitive ability. This methodology may provide improved accessibility and reduced costs to perform cognitive function studies to compare between various subject groups.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.119-129
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the status of depression and the cognitive function among the elderly over 65 years of age who use the welfare facilities for the aged in the community. Methods: For this study the data were collected from March 27, 2006 to April 14, 2006. Subjects were 92 elderly over 65 years old. The level of depression was estimated with the Beck Depression Inventory, and the cognitive function with the modified Mental Status Questionnaire (MSQ). The Data were analyzed using frequencies, t-test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient with the SPSS/PC program. Results: The results of this study are summarized as follows. 1. The mean score was 13.09 for depression and 8.27 for cognitive function. 2. Analysis according to the demographic characteristics confirmed a statistically significant difference on the level of cognitive function between the elderly who live alone and those who live together(f=4.293, p<0.01) 3. The percentage of the severely and mildly impaired in cognitive function was 7.6% and 6.5%, respectively. 4. The variables of age(f=11.17, p<0.01), educational level(f=15.23, p<0.01), martial status(f=4.084, p<0.01), and economic activity(t=4.41, p<0.01) showed a significant effect on cognitive function. 5. There was no relationship between depression and cognitive function. Conclusion: Social support and a variety of programs at welfare facilities in the community were recommended in order to reduce depression and cognitive impairment in the elderly.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.333-343
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the association between dental implants and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Data were collected from the baseline survey (2016-2017) of the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study. The study sample comprised 1115 community-dwelling people aged 70 years to 84 years who had 0-19 natural teeth. Dental implants and natural teeth were identified by panoramic radiography, while the cognitive function was assessed by the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-KC). The association between dental implants and cognitive function was analyzed by multiple linear regression. Sensitivity analysis was performed to test for potential bias. Results: The mean number of natural teeth in the study population was 9.50 (standard deviation [SD], 6.42), and the mean MMSE-KC score was 24.93 (SD, 3.55). In the simple univariate analysis, tooth replacement, age, sex, smoking status, alcohol consumption, body mass index, osteoporosis, number of natural teeth, periodontitis, chewing discomfort, tooth-brushing frequency, education level, monthly household income, participation in economic activity, living alone, and marital status had a significant impact on the association. After adjusting for confounders, the association between dental implants and cognitive function remained significant (B, 0.85; standard error, 0.40; p<0.05). Age, body mass index, periodontitis, tooth-brushing frequency, and education level were also significantly associated with cognitive function. The results of the sensitivity analyses were consistent with those of the primary analysis. Conclusions: Dental implants were associated with cognitive function in older adults living in the community. Dental implants as tooth replacements may play a role in preserving cognitive function.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2021

Objectives : Based on the fact that cognitive functions decline known as comorbid symptoms of depression can precede depression, this study seeks to observe the effects of depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms on cognitive function in healthy subjects. Methods : To recruit 50 general populations to evaluate cognitive and clinical symptoms and to find out the effects of clinical symptoms on cognitive functions, Pearson correlation and multivariate regression were conducted. Correlation analysis of subdomain cognitive function was conducted for reliability analysis. Results : Trail making test-B that evaluates the execution function correlates with depressive symptoms (r=0.300, p=0.03) and age (r=0.323, p=0.02). Depressive symptoms (β=0.304, p=0.03) and age (β=0.335, p=0.01) were significantly related to Trail making test -B (Adjusted R²=0.148). Subjective cognitive tests correlates with anxiety symptoms (r=0.434, p=0.002). In the correlation between cognitive functional items, Subjective cognitive tests was found to be correlated with other test except Spotter. Conclusions : In this study, depressive symptoms contribute independently to executive functions in addition to demographic characteristics such as age and duration of education. Given that cognitive decline is a common long-term clinical outcome in depression, we expect active early intervention and evaluation of cognitive function to be helpful.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.62-69
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• 2013

Visual demands associated with in-vehicle display usage and text messaging distract a driver's visual attention from the roadway. To minimize eyes-off-the-road demands, voice interaction systems are widely introduced. Under cognitively distracted condition, however, awareness of the operating environment will be degraded although the driver remains oriented to the roadway. It is also know that the risk of inattentive driving varies with age, thus systematic analysis of driving risks is required for the older drivers. This paper aims to understand the age-related driving performance degradation and visual attention changes under auditory cognitive demand which consists of three graded levels of cognitive complexity. In this study, two groups, aged 25-35 and 60-69, engaged in a delayed auditory recall task, so called N-back task, while driving a simulated highway. Comparisons of younger and older drivers' driving performance including mean speed, speed variability and standard deviation of lane position, and gaze dispersion changes, which consist of x-axis and y-axis of visual attention, were conducted. As a result, it was observed that gaze dispersion decreased with each level of demand, demonstrating that these indices can correctly rank order cognitive workload. Moreover, gaze dispersion change patterns were quite consistent in younger and older age groups. Effects were also observed on driving performance measures, but they were subtle, nonlinear, and did not effectively differentiate the levels of cognitive workload.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to comprehend the age-related differences in the relationship and developmental tendency between Orphanage and Normal Children's affective and cognitive perspective-taking ability. The subjects were 5-year-old (N=64) and 7-year-old (N=64) children. In each group, there were equal number of boys and girls, 128 Children were composed of(male: 32, female: 32) and orphanage Children(male: 32, female: 32). Feshbach & Roe's child perspective-taking ability test was modified for this study and the test included four facial expression cards and six different stories including three types of affection. In the procedure of study, after a set of story cards containing one of three affective types, the subject was asked to retell the story shown in each cards to study cognitive perspective-taking ability, and for the affective perspective-taking ability. Then the subject was asked to tell the feeling of the hero in the story and to select one of the four facial expression which is consistent with the feeling. The cognitive perspective-taking ability and affective perspective-taking ability response were coded three kinds of scoring respectively. Scored data were analyzed with MANOVA. t-test, Pearson Correlations and Fisher-z test. The results were shown as follow : First, both Orpanage and Normal Children's the cognitive and affective perspective-taking ability increased with age. Secondly, both Orpanage and Normal Children's perspective-taking ability was lower than Normal Children's perspective-taking ability. Thirdly, both Orpanage and Normal Children's correlation between cognitive and affective perspective-taking ability increased with age.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.133-144
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• 2018

The study examined the longitudinal relations of preschool children's peer interaction, linguistic and cognitive abilities, and self-control, while taking into account gender differences. The study was conducted with 671 preschoolers from the $5^{th}$, $6^{th}$, and $7^{th}$ wave of the Korean Children and Youth Panel Study (KCYPS). Data were analyzed by means of basic descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlations, and structural equation modeling analysis. Bootstrapping method was also used to determine the significance of indirect effects. The analysis were conducted to find the longitudinal effects of peer interaction at the age of 4 on their self-control at the age of 6, and the mediating effects of linguistics and cognitive abilities at the age of 5 on its associations. The results indicated gender differences among the variables. According to multi-group analysis, there was a significant influence of 4 years' peer interaction on subsequent 5 years' linguistic and cognitive abilities but also on 6 years' self-control across time for boys; however, no significant direct effect of peer interaction on self-control was found for girls. Based on the findings of this study, it can be implied that it is necessary to apply different methods for boys and girls to promote self-control from the influence of peer interaction and linguistic and cognitive abilities.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2010

Children likes to play and learn by playing at anywhere as a psychological trait. Children's museum is designed for limited age of 'children,' they learn more actively by playing at the museum with interactive display. In this paper, we analyze Movement of Based on the Psychological Characteristics of Children and Analysis of Preferred Experience of Children's Museum according to Piaget's cognitive development process. It is significant study to investigate user's needs space proposal by grasping user's mentality. After itinerary tracking, we found children's preferred and non-preferred experience displays and as a result, we divided children's Museums into three types, M museum is represented by preoperational period, called 'Go around play' type ; Y museum is represented by 'concrete operational period', called 'Smart road play' type ; and H museum is represented by 'formal operational period' called 'Open search play' type. The conclusions are children's cognitive development stages depending on the age discrimination that the development of play, and preferred plays are different by children cognitive development process. In order to take advantage of children playing in the children's museum by taking into account the developmental aspects will have to be designed. Efficient for viewing by age should be different on the basis. This study has shown that, when planning a children's museum, Planners should discriminate the movements of children and analysis of preferred experience of children's museum according to three museum types friendly to children's cognitive development process.