• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.178-186
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• 2020

Background: Cognitive impairment is a public health burden. Our objective was to investigate associations between work hours and cognitive function. Methods: Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) participants (n = 2,497; 50.7% men; age range 44-84 years) reported hours per week worked in all jobs in Exams 1 (2000-2002), 2 (2002-2004), 3 (2004-2005), and 5 (2010-2011). Cognitive function was assessed (Exam 5) using the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (version 2), a measure of global cognitive functioning; the Digit Symbol Coding, a measure of processing speed; and the Digit Span test, a measure of attention and working memory. We used a prospective approach and linear regression to assess associations for every 10 hours of work. Results: Among all participants, associations of hours worked with cognitive function of any type were not statistically significant. In occupation-stratified analyses (interaction p = 0.051), longer work hours were associated with poorer global cognitive function among Sales/Office and blue-collar workers, after adjustment for age, sex, physical activity, body mass index, race/ethnicity, educational level, annual income, history of heart attack, diabetes, apolipoprotein E-epsilon 4 allele (ApoE4) status, birth-place, number of years in the United States, language spoken at MESA Exam 1, and work hours at Exam 5 (β = -0.55, 95% CI = -0.99, -0.09) and (β = -0.80, -1.51, -0.09), respectively. In occupation-stratified analyses (interaction p = 0.040), we also observed an inverse association with processing speed among blue-collar workers (adjusted β = -0.80, -1.52, -0.07). Sex, race/ethnicity, and ApoE4 did not significantly modify associations between work hours and cognitive function. Conclusion: Weak inverse associations were observed between work hours and cognitive function among Sales/Office and blue-collar workers.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2012

Purpose: Despite poor cognitive function in heart failure (HF), few studies have examined cognition and its probable implication in self-care among Korean HF patients. The purposes of this study were (1) to describe cognition in the domains of global, memory, and executive functions, (2) to explore the relationship between cognition and self-care, and (3) to determine the amount of dietary sodium intake among Korean HF patients. Methods: A pilot study was conducted: 7 HF patients (3 men, mean age 68 years) completed face-to-face interviews for neuropsychological tests of cognition and self-care including dietary sodium intake. Results: More than half of the patients had impaired global cognition, memory, or executive function; patients with more severe HF were at higher risk of poor cognitive function. Korean HF patients exhibited poor self-care, with a high dietary sodium intake (5.6 g/day), approximately twice more than the suggested guideline of 2~3 g/day for patients with stable HF. Conclusion: Cognitive dysfunction and inadequate self-care with noncompliance with dietary sodium restriction were evident in Korean HF patients. More studies are warranted that examine the prevalence of cognitive impairment and areas of deficit using neuropsychological tests in a larger sample and that examine how cognition affects self-care and compliance in salt-intake.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.38-49
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the cognitive function in NIDDM patients. Method: The data were collected at MI OPD in C University hospital. with Digit Span Forward & Backward, Trail Making Test-A, Trail Making Test-B, and MMSE. Result: There were significant differences in DF, DB, TMT-A, and TMT-B according to gender, and in TMT-A according to living with spouse and comorbidity. There were significant differences in DF, DB, TMT-A, TMT-B, and MMSE according to monthly income, and in DF, TMT-A, and TMT-B according to hypertensive state. But, there was no difference in cognitive function score according to diabetes-related complication and diabetes treatment modality. There was a significant positive correlation between duration of NIDDM and TMT-A(r=.215, p=.025). The global cognition score was explained 42.1% of varient by age, duration of education, monthly income, and hypertensive state. Conclusion: As above results showed, among age, duration of education, monthly income, and hypertensive state, prevented and managed hypertensive state which is modifiable factor may reduce or delay cognitive function impairment in NIDDM patients. And DF & DB, TMT-A & B could be more utilized as useful cognitive function measurements because those tests reflected cognitive function in NIDDM patients better than MMSE.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.69-79
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the effects of a group computerization cognitive rehabilitation program on cognitive function in patients with cognitive impairment. Methods: The subjects of this study comprised 34 patients with cognitive impairment (15 males and 19 females) who were randomized into two groups. The experimental group (n = 17) were trained with the group computerization cognitive rehabilitation program, while the control group (n=17) received traditional cognitive therapy. The interventions for both groups were performed for 1 hour per day, once a week for 12 weeks. The cognitive functions of the subjects before and after the experiment were measured using the Korean mini-mental state examination (K-MMSE), global deterioration scale (GDS), clinical dementia rating (CDR), and Lowenstein occupational therapy cognitive assessment (LOTCA). A paired t-test was conducted to examine the intragroup differences before and after the experiment, and ANCOVA was performed to check intergroup differences. Results: The intragroup comparison results showed that the cognitive function of the group that were trained with the group computerization cognitive rehabilitation program improved after the experiment more than for the group that received traditional cognitive therapy. The intergroup comparison results showed significant differences in orientation, visual perception, and visuomotor organization between the two groups. Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed that the group computerization cognitive rehabilitation program was more effective in improving cognitive function than the traditional cognitive therapy in patients with cognitive impairment. Based on the results of this study, the group computerization cognitive rehabilitation program can be used as an effective intervention method for patients with cognitive impairment.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.105-114
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• 1995

Schiophrenia is characterized by a variety of cognitive dysfunctions. A number of research findings suggest that schizophrenic patients have global deficits in cognitive functions, such as attention, memory, executive functions, and motor functions. These cognitive deficits, once they arise, tend to become relatively stable. In spite of much efforts to search for the cognitive dysfunctions in schizophrenia, there are no specific deficits or localizations found. It is necessary that future neuropsychological research of schizophrenia should include relationships between symptoms and cognitive dysfunctions and their relationships to treatment.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.571-578
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• 2022

Objective: Cognitive-motor trainings had a positive impact on cognitive function and dual-task trainings led to improvements of global cognitive function. The brain activity of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is another indicator that can infer cognitive function. This study aims to confirm the usability of the interactive system cognitive-motor training program and the changes in the prefrontal cortex through training. Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: In this study, two cognitive tasks were randomly applied to 20 adults as cognitive-motor training using an interactive system, and the same task was performed using the original method. During all tasks, the brain activity of the prefrontal cortex was measured by the change in oxyhemoglobin (HbO) in real-time using Functional Near-Infrastructure. After performing the tasks, the usability of the developed interactive system was evaluated by a usability questionnaire which consists of five items, and each item consists of a 7-point Likert scale that responds from 1 point to 7 points. Results: The HbO levels were increased during cognitive task performance than at the resting phase. And evaluating the usefulness of the interactive system, a questionnaire result showed that it would be useful for cognitive-motor programs. Conclusions: The cognitive-motor training using the interactive system increased the activity of the prefrontal cortex, and the developed wearable sensor-based interactive system confirmed its usefulness.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.217-223
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate cognitive function, performance of activities of daily living, and recognition on oral health with the cognitive function testto dementia or dementia-suspected patients in the outpatients. Methods: The subjects were 94 dementia or dementia-suspected patients visiting C University hospital for the dementia test. Study instruments included Korea Mini-Mental State Examination KMMS, The Bayer-Activities of Daily Living Scale; B-ADL, Seoul-Instrumental Activities of Daily Living; S-IADL, Global Deterioration Scale; GDS, Korean Dementia Screening Questionnaire; KDSQ, and underlying diseases. Results: Dementia or dementia-suspected patients were 42 by KMMSE test, 25 patients had impaired functioning of daily living by B-ADL test, 27 patients showed the presence of depression by GDS test, and 45 patients showed impaired functioning of daily living. There was a statistically significant difference in the subjective recognition on oral health conditions. There was a statistically significant difference in the subjective recognition on oral health conditions by ADL. There was a positive correlation between the cognitive function and ADL performance. Higher cognitive function is proportional to ADL performance. Conclusions: The cognitive function was closely associated with ADL and subjective oral health conditions.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.493-504
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• 2020

Background: There have been many studies on the associations between body mass index (BMI) and cognitive function. However, no study has ever compared the associations across the methods of categorizing BMI. In this study, we aimed to fill the gap in the previous studies and examine whether the obesity paradox is valid in the risk of cognitive function. Methods: Of the 10,254 people aged 45 and older from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing from 2006 to 2016, 8,970 people were finalized as the study population. The dependent variable was whether a person has a normal cognitive function or not, and the independent variables of interest were BMI categorized by the World Health Organization Western Pacific Regional Office (WHO-WPRO) method, the WHO method, and a 10-group method. Covariates included sociodemographic factors, health behavior factors, and health status factors. A generalized linear mixed model analysis with a logit link was used. Results: In the adjusted model with all covariates, first, in the case of BMI categories of the WHO-WPRO method, underweight (odds ratio [OR], 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-1.17), overweight (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.35-1.36), and obese (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.33-1.34) groups were more likely to have a normal cognitive function than a normal-weight group. Next, in the case of BMI categories of the WHO method, compared to a normal-weight group, underweight (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.14-1.16) and overweight (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.06-1.07) groups were more likely to have a normal cognitive function; however, obese (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.61-0.63) group was less likely to have it. Lastly, in the case of the 10-group method, as BMI increased, the likelihood to have a normal cognitive function changed like a wave, reaching a global top at group-7 (26.5 kg/㎡ ≤ BMI <28.0 kg/㎡). Conclusion: The associations between BMI and cognitive function differed according to how BMI was categorized among people aged 45 and older in Korea, which suggests that cognitive function may be positively associated with BMI in some categories of BMI but negatively in its other categories. Health policies to reduce cognitive impairment need to consider this association between BMI and cognitive function.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2023

Purpose: This study was to evaluate the effects of a social prescribing program on cognitive function and depression of the elderly in the rural community. Methods: A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used for this study. The experimental group (n=76) completed a 8-week intervention of social prescribing, while the control group (n=39) only participated in pre- and post- need assessment from April 2021 to October 2022. A Wilcoxon signed rank test was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a social prescribing program on the level of cognitive function and depression of the participants. Results: The level of cognitive function was improved significantly in the experimental group (p<.05) while there was no significant change in the control group. Depression has been significantly decreased in the experimental group (p<.01), but there was no statistically significant change in the control group. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the social prescribing program is effective for improving cognitive function and reducing depression of the elderly living in the rural area. Therefore, a social prescribing program can be utilized as a preventive program for dementia and depression of the elderly.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.95-106
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• 2024

Background and Purpose: Ventricle enlargement has been implicated in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We studied the relationship between ventricular size and cognitive function in patients with AD. We focused on the effect of the initial ventricle size on the rate of cognitive decline in patients with AD. Methods: A retrospective analysis of probable clinical AD participants with more than 2 magnetic resonance imaging images was performed. To measure ventricle size, we used visual rating scales of (1) Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) score and (2) conventional linear measurement method. Results: Increased clinical dementia rating (CDR) was correlated with a decreased Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) score, and increased medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTLA) and global ventricle size (p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.021, respectively). There was a significant correlation between the change in cognitive function in the group (70%-100%ile) with a large initial ventricle size (p=0.021 for ∆CDR, p=0.01 for ∆MMSE), while the median ventricle size (30%-70%ile) showed correlation with other brain structural changes (MTLA, frontal atrophy [FA], and white matter) (p=0.036 for initial MTLA, p=0.034 for FA). Conclusions: In this study, the initial ventricle size may be a potential new imaging biomarker for initial cognitive function and clinical progression in AD. We found a relationship between the initial ventricle size and initial AD-related brain structural biomarkers.