• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.294-303
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• 2017

As the elderly population increases, the prevalence of various geriatric chronic diseases and dementia diseases is also rapidly increasing; accordingly, dementia is becoming a major concern of our society. In this study, 48 elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment located in K district were selected from a group of experimental groups in one building and a control group in one building and evaluated for blood homocysteine levels and cognitive function changes after 4,8, and 12 weeks of taking vitamin supplements. The Chi-squared test, Fisher's Exact test, independent t-test, repeated measures ANOVA, contrast test, repeated measures ANCOVA, and Wilks' lambda test were utilized to analyze the data. The results revealed that the cognitive function of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group at 12 weeks (p<0.05), and so, the experimental group higher than that of the control group (p<0.01), the effect of taking vitamins was significantly increased, indicating that homocysteine was decreased relative to the control group. Therefore, vitamin supplements may prevent decreases in cognitive functions and dementia among elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.45-54
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• 2020

Objective : The purpose of this study was to identify the relationships among cognitive function, activities of daily living (ADL), participation and quality of life in community-dwelling elderly. Methods : Cognitive function, ADL, participation and quality of life were assessed in the 144 elderly people residing in the community. We used MMSE-K for measuring cognitive function, K-ADL for ADL, K-ACS for participation, and GQOL for quality of life. Results : Cognitive function was significantly correlated with social activity of participation and quality of life (physical health, psychological health, social relations and economic level). ADL was significantly correlated with participation (instrumental ADL, leisure activity) and all sub-areas of quality of life. Social activity of participation were significantly correlated with all subarea of quality of life except physical health. Among the variables, the most relevant variable was leisure activity. Conclusion : It was related to quality of life in the order of participation, ADL, and cognitive function. Among the sub-areas of participation, leisure activity was the most correlated with quality of life. This study, thus, aimed to provide basic data for successful elderly life by examining the correlation between cognitive function, daily life activity, participation and quality of life in community-dwelling elderly.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.465-474
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the association between the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and the cognitive functions in Korean elderly. Methods: The subjects were 393 adults aged 60 years or older who participated in the Yangpyeong cohort between July 2009 and August 2010. The subjects were classified into deficiency, insufficiency, or adequacy groups according to the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration diagnostic criteria suggested by the US Institute of Medicine (IOM). The cognitive function was assessed based on the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-KC). The dietary intake was assessed using the quantitative food frequency questionnaire with 106 food items. Results: The proportions of deficiency, insufficiency, or adequacy in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D were 6.6%, 44.5%, and 48.9%, respectively. The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was significantly higher in men than in women and in outdoor workers than in other occupations. The adequacy group had higher MMSE-KC scores than the other two groups, but not to a significant degree. The proportion of cognitive impairment tended to decrease with increasing serum vitamin D concentration to deficiency, insufficiency, and adequacy (p for trend = 0.029). The deficiency group had a 2.28 times higher risk of cognitive impairment than the adequacy group, but the difference was not statistically significant (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 0.18 ~ 1.07, p for trend = 0.119). Conclusion: The serum vitamin D concentration tended to be associated with the cognitive function in elderly Koreans living in rural areas. To confirm the associations, further longitudinal studies with large samples were required.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.30-41
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• 2022

Background and Purpose: In this study we aimed to find the association between neuropsychological performance and body mass index (BMI) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In addition, we investigated the effects of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype in the relationship between the BMI and cognition in MCI. Methods: We enrolled a cohort of 3,038 subjects with MCI aged 65-90 from the Clinical Research Center for Dementia of South Korea and a dementia cohort of the Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital. MCI patients were classified into three subgroups according to the Asian standard of BMI. We compared cognitive performances between groups by one-way analysis of variance. To investigate the effects of the APOE genotype, we used multivariate linear regression models after adjusting for possible confounders. Results: Even though normal BMI groups were younger, had more females, and had less comorbidities, the higher BMI groups had better cognitive functions. Among subjects with APOE ε4 carriers, there was a positive relationship between the BMI and the memory task alone. Conclusions: Our findings suggested that higher BMI in patients with MCI were associated with better cognitive performance. The effects of the APOE ε4 genotype in the associations between BMI and cognition were distinguishing. Therefore, according to physical status, APOE ε4 genotype-specific strategies in the assessments and treatments may be necessary in elderly patients with MCI.

• Journal of Naturopathy
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.71-84
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• 2024

Background: This literature review analyzes 25 studies on the effects of keyboard instrument-based music interventions on cognitive function in older adults. The review shows positive impacts on sensory-motor functions and cognitive domains such as working capacity, attention, and memory. Objective: The purpose of this study is to systematically examine the effects of music interventions using keyboard instruments on cognitive function in late adulthood and evaluate their effectiveness. Method: The studies were analyzed based on participants, methods, tools, interventions, and outcomes, selecting relevant articles published between 2000 and 2023 according to PRISMA guidelines. Results: The analysis showed that keyboard music interventions significantly enhanced cognitive function, particularly in areas such as auditory abilities, attention, and working memory. Pre- and post-intervention tests demonstrated that piano playing significantly improved auditory abilities, attention, working memory, hand function, and brain plasticity. Conclusion: Keyboard instrument interventions positively impact cognitive function in older adults, suggesting their potential for preventing cognitive decline and promoting brain health. This study can guide future studies on the long-term effects and development of optimal strategies.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1386-1395
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• 2018

Over recent years, it has become evident that the central nervous system bidirectionally interacts with the gastrointestinal tract along the gut-brain axis. A series of preclinical studies indicate that the gut microbiota can modulate central nervous system function through a multitude of physiological functions. Polyphenols are ubiquitous plant chemicals included in foods such as fruits, vegetables, tea, coffee and wine, and their consumption is directly responsible for beneficial health effects due to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, anticancer, vasodilating, and prebiotic-like effects. There is increasing evidence that dietary polyphenol can contribute to beneficial effects in neuronal protection acting against oxidative stress and inflammatory injury as well as in cognitive functions. In this paper, we overview the neuroprotective role of dietary polyphenols especially focusing on the neuroinflammation and neurovascular function by interaction with the gut microbiome. Polyphenol metabolites could directly act as neurotransmitters crossing the blood-brain barrier and modulating the cerebrovascular system or indirectly modulating gut microbiota. In addition, evidence suggests that dietary polyphenols are effective in preventing and managing neurological disorders, such as age-related cognitive decline and neurodegeneration, through a multitude of physiological functions. Dietary polyphenols are increasingly envisaged as a potential nutraceuticals in the prevention and treatment of neurological disorders, because they possess the ability to reduce neuroinflammation, to improve memory and cognitive function and to modulate the gut microbiota.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.427-441
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• 1998

The present study tested the hypothesis that adolescents' performance on scientific reasoning tasks and their ability to change theoretical concepts during instruction are mediated by prefrontal-cognitive functions, such as planning and inhibiting. Subjects sampled from four Korean secondary schools were administered a test of scientific reasoning ability and tests of the prefrontal lobe functions. A series of lessons on theoretical concepts was also administered. Subjects' performance on the test of scientific reasoning and pre- to posttest gains in the concept test were used as dependent variables. This study found that students' planning and inhibiting abilities were highly correlated with and they significantly predicted their scientific reasoning ability and conceptual gains. Further, principal component analysis showed prefrontal lobe functions were categorized into two main components. Component 1, which was loaded by planning and working memory functions, was termed as the representing process. Component 2, which was loaded primarily by the inhibiting functions, was termed as the inhibiting process. Scientific reasoning and conceptual change were also linked to these two components, indicating that these cognitive processes are mediated by both representing and inhibiting processes.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.537-545
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• 2020

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of cognitive rehabilitation program (CRP) using virtual content, for recovering patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD). A total of 34 patients with CVD were divided into a control group and an experimental group, and subsequently subjected to a virtual content based CRP, followed by cognition, ADLs, and upper limbs. The control group completed a universal rehabilitation program (URP), and the experimental group was provided a URP and a virtual content based cognitive rehabilitation program. For both groups, respective programs were conducted twice a day, 5 times a week for 4 weeks. Both groups showed significant improvement in ADLs (p<0.05); but the amount of change in the experimental group 5 point improved significantly (p<0.05). Cognition was significantly different for both groups (p<0.05). However, the experimental group showed a greater change (2 point) than the control group when considering the amount of change (p<0.05). Comparing the amount of change in the upper extremity, the experimental group showed a significant change (0.7 point) than the control group (p<0.05). This study confirms that compared to URP, CRP using virtual content significantly improves ADLs and cognition.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.263-273
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• 2020

In this study, in order to confirm the ameliorative effects of onion (Allium cepa L.) flesh and peel on amyloidbeta (Aβ)-induced cognitive dysfunction, we evaluated their in vitro neuroprotection and in vivo cognitive functions. As the result of in vitro neuroprotection, the protective effect of the ethyl acetate fraction of onion flesh (EOF) on Aβ-induced cytotoxicity was similar to that of the ethyl acetate fraction of onion peel (EOP). In the behavioral tests, the EOF and EOP effectively improved the Aβ-induced learning and memory impairments. For this reason, it could be concluded that the EOF and EOP improved the antioxidant activities (superoxide dismutase, oxidized glutathione/total glutathione, and malondialdehyde) in brain tissue. In addition, the EOF and EOP effectively activated mitochondrial functions by protecting the mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP, mitochondria-mediated protein (BAX and cytochrome c), and caspase 3/7 activities. The EOF and EOP also improved the cholinergic system (acetylcholinesterase and acetylcholine). Therefore, we suggest that onion could be used for management of Aβ-induced cognitive dysfunction.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.98-106
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• 2005

Objectives:Donepezil is a widely used drug for the treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease(AD). The aim of the present study was to clarify the efficacy and the characteristics of responders to donepezil. Methods:Patients with probable AD(n=80;75.7 years) and small vessel dementia(SVD)(n=18;77.8 years) who received donepezil were retrospectively analyzed using Alzheimer's registry, and three questions were asked:1) Does donepezil therapy improves cognitive symptoms in patients with dementia? 2) If donepezil improves cognitive symptoms, which items of the K-MMSE are improved? 3) What are the characteristics of responder to donepezil medication? Results:1) After donepezil medication, cognitive function measured by the K-MMSE was significantly improved in both types of dementia(AD and SVD), However, statistical differences were not found between these groups. 2) In a clinical trial of donepezil, the patients performed better than before mediation on K-MMSE items assessing orientation, recall, construction, concentration, calculation. 3) In AD, the K-MMSE score before medication was closely related with response of donepezil. Conclusion:This study suggests that donepezil improves various cognitive functions in both types of dementia, and the responsive group had significantly lower K-MMSE scores than the non-responsive group before medication.