The impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on human psychology and physical activity; a space analogue research perspective

Introduction Astronauts will encounter isolated, confined and extreme (ICE) conditions during future missions, and will have to be able to adapt. Until recently, however, few places on Earth could serve as acceptable space analogues (i.e., submarine and polar regions). The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)-related lockdowns around the globe provided a good opportunity to obtain more comprehensive datasets on the impact of prolonged isolation on human functioning in a very large sample. Methods Seven hundred forty-eight individuals (Belgium 442, Spain 183, Germany 50, Italy 50, US 23; Mean age +/- SD: 41 +/- 14 years, with an age range of 18-83 years; 66% women) filled out an online survey assessing the impact of the COVID-lockdown on psychological, exercise and general health variables a first time near the beginning of the initial lockdown (hereafter 'T1'; 24 +/- 13 days after the start of the first lockdown; i.e., 3 weeks after the start of the first lockdown) and a second time a couple of weeks thereafter (hereafter 'T2'; 17 +/- 5 days after the first online survey; i.e., 6 weeks after the start of the first lockdown). Results From T1 to T2 an improvement of subjective sleep quality was observed (P = 0.003), that was related to an increase in subjective sleep efficiency and a decrease in sleep latency and disturbance (P <= 0.013). Weekly sitting time decreased, and the weekly amount of moderate and vigorous physical activity increased from T1 to T2 (P <= 0.049). No differences from T1 to T2 were observed in terms of mood, loneliness and state anxiety. A lower amount of sitting time was significantly correlated with improved subjective sleep quality (r = 0.096, P = 0.035) and with an increased amount of moderate (r = -0.126, P = 0.005) and vigorous (r = -0.110, P = 0.015) physical activity. Conclusion Compared to 3 weeks into the first COVID-imposed lockdown, 6-weeks after the start of the first COVID-imposed lockdown, physical activity and subjective sleep scores were positively impacted. The present, large sample size study further confirms exercise as a worthwhile countermeasure to psycho-physiological deconditioning during confinement

Feasibility of monitoring muscle health in microgravity environments using Myoton technology

Physical exercise is important for people living under extreme environmental conditions to stay healthy. Particularly in space, exercise can partially counteract the loss of muscle mass and muscle strength caused by microgravity. Monitoring the adaptation of the musculoskeletal system to assess muscle quality and devise individual training programmes is highly desirable but is restricted by practical, technical and time constraints on board the International Space Station. This study aimed to test the feasibility of using myometric measurements to monitor the mechanical properties of skeletal muscles and tendons in weightlessness during parabolic flights. The mechanical properties (frequency, decrement, stiffness relaxation time and creep) of the m. gastrocnemius, m. erector spinae and Achilles tendon were assessed using the hand-held MyotonPRO device in 11 healthy participants (aged 47 +/- A 9 years) in normal gravity as well as in microgravity during two parabolic flight campaigns. Results showed significant (p < .05-.001) changes in all mechanical properties of both muscles and the Achilles tendon, indicating a more relaxed tissue state in microgravity. Recordings from a phantom rubber material with the device in a test rig confirmed that the device itself was not affected by gravity, as changes between gravity conditions that were too small (< 1 %) to explain the changes observed in the tissues. It is concluded that myometric measurements are a feasible, easy-to-use and non-invasive approach to monitor muscle health in extreme conditions that prohibit many other methods. Real-time assessment of the quality of a muscle being exposed to the negative effect of microgravity and also the positive effects of muscular training could be achieved using Myoton technology

Cerebral blood flow during interval and continuous exercise in young and old men

Purpose Aging is associated with impaired cerebral blood flow (CBF) and increased risk of cerebrovascular disease. Acute increases in CBF during exercise may initiate improvements in cerebrovascular health, but the CBF response is diminished during continuous exercise in older adults. The effect of interval exercise for promoting increases in CBF in young and old adults is unknown. Methods We compared middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv), end-tidal CO (PCO) and blood pressure (mean arterial pressure [MAP]) during intensity- and work-matched bouts of continuous (10-min 60%W, followed by 10-min rest) and interval cycling (10 × 1-min 60%W, separated by 1-min rest) in 11 young (25 ± 3 yr) and 10 old (69 ± 3 yr) men. Results Middle cerebral artery velocity was higher during continuous compared with interval exercise in the young (P < 0.001), but not in the old. This trend was also seen for changes in PCO. Although absolute MAP was higher in the old, the relative rise (%Δ) in MAP was similar between age groups and was greater during continuous exercise than interval. When we assessed the total accumulated change in MCAv (area under curve: exercise + recovery), it was higher with interval compared with continuous exercise in both groups (P = 0.018). Conclusion These findings suggest that interval exercise may be an effective alternative for promoting acute increases in CBF velocity, particularly in those older adults who may have difficulty sustaining continuous exercise

Computer-Based Exercise Program Effects of a 12-week intervention on mood and fatigue in pediatric patients with cancer

BACKGROUND: Increasing rates of survival present a new set of physical and psychological challenges for children dealing with side effects during cancer treatment. Physical activity has been shown to be an effective strategy to reduce several side effects. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the benefits of a 12-week computer-based exercise intervention on perceived physical, motivational, and fatigue syndrome and psychological state. METHODS: Nine inpatient and outpatient pediatric patients with cancer participated in a 12-week intervention consisting of supervised computer based exercise sessions. Participants completed measures assessing mood and fatigue pre-and postintervention. FINDINGS: The intervention was feasible and provided preliminary evidence for the benefits on mood and fatigue in pediatric patients with cancer. The results promote the effectiveness of physical activity in pediatric oncology and call for continuing research in pediatric patients with cancer where sedentary behavior and the associated side effects are a growing concern

Disease-inclusive exercise classes improve physical fitness and reduce depressive symptoms in individuals with and without Parkinson's disease-A feasibility study

Background and purpose Exercise is an adjunctive treatment in the management of Parkinson's disease (PD), but barriers such as health status, fear of overexertion, and lack of transportation to the location prevent regular exercise participation. Disease-inclusive exercise classes may offer an opportunity to make exercise more accessible for older adults with and without diseases. However, the efficacy of such heterogenous exercise classes is still widely unknown. Therefore, it was the aim of this study to analyze the feasibility of disease-inclusive exercise classes in older adults with and without PD. Methods Twenty-one older adults (healthy older adults (HOA): n = 13; PD: n = 8) completed an 8-week multimodal exercise intervention in supervised group sessions. Exercise classes lasted 60 min with the goal of two participations a week. We assessed physical fitness (timed up and go test [TUG], 6-minute walking test [6MWT], single leg stance), depressive symptoms and cognitive functions, and we determined growth factors (BDNF & IGF-1) before and after the intervention to determine the effects and by that, the feasibility of a disease-inclusive exercise program. Repeated measures ANOVA were used to establish changes. Results TUG and 6MWT improved significantly after the training in both HOA (p = .008; p < .001) and individuals with PD (p = .024; p < .001). Furthermore, individuals with PD increased single leg stance left (p = .003). HOA (p = .003) and individuals with PD (p = .001) decreased their depressive symptoms between pre- and post-test significantly. Whereas growth factors tended to improve, no differences in cognitive functions were revealed. Conclusion Disease-inclusive multicomponent exercise improved physical functions and reduced depressive symptoms independent of health status. This should encourage exercise providers, researchers, and clinicians to further investigate disease-inclusive exercise, because they may have an important social impact and represent a more inclusive society

Auditory event-related potentials in individuals with subjective and mild cognitive impairment

Objective: The analysis of event-related potentials (ERPs) is a useful tool to differentiate between healthy older adults, and individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Less is known about the ERPs’ sensitivity of differentiating between individuals with subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) and MCI, as early evidence indicates similar brain alterations between these two groups. In order, to establish tests that are sensitive to subclinical impairment, this study compared auditory evoked ERPs between individuals with SCI and MCI. Methods: Besides assessing cognitive performance in four neuropsychological tests (Trail Making Test A + B, verbal fluency letter and category task), latency and amplitude of ERP components evoked by an auditory oddball paradigm were compared between two groups of either individuals with SCI (n = 13) or MCI (n = 13). Results: While individuals with MCI performed significantly worse in all neuropsychological tests (TMT A: p = 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.5; TMT B: p = 0.030, Cohen's d = 0.94; verbal fluency letter: p = 0.0011, Cohen's d = 1.08; verbal fluency category: p = 0.038; Cohen's d = 0.86), no significant differences (p > 0.05) were found in ERP components with small to moderate effect sizes (Cohen's d ranged between 0.11 – 0.59). Conclusion: ERPs evoked by an auditory oddball paradigm lack sensitivity to differentiate between individuals with SCI and MCI, although significant differences in cognitive performance were detected by neuropsychological tests. Similar pathophysiological brain alterations may limit utility of ERPs as indicated by previous research and results of this study. Cognitively more challenging tasks than the auditory oddball paradigm may be considered by future investigations

Exercise in isolation: a countermeasure for electrocortical, mental and cognitive impairments

Introduction: Mental impairments, including deterioration of mood and cognitive performance, are known to occur during isolation and space missions, but have been insufficiently investigated. Appropriate countermeasures are required, such as exercise, which is known to prevent mood disorders for prolonged space and isolation missions. Based on the interaction of brain activity, mood and cognitive performance, this study aims to investigate the effect of long-term isolation and confinement and the long-term effect of exercise on these parameters.\ud \ud Methods: Eight male volunteers were isolated and confined for about eight month during the winter period at the Antarctic Concordia Station. Every six weeks electroencephalographic measurements were recorded under rest conditions, and cognitive tests and a mood questionnaire were executed. Based individual training logs, subjects were afterwards separated into an active (> 2500 arbitrary training units/interval) or inactive (< 2500 arbitrary training units/interval) group.\ud \ud Results: A long-term effect of exercise was observed for brain activity and mood. Regularly active people showed a decreased brain activity (alpha and beta) in the course of isolation, and steady mood. Inactive people instead first increased and than remained at high brain activity accompanied with a deterioration of mood. No effect of exercise and isolation was found for cognitive performance.\ud \ud Conclusion: The findings point out the positive effect of regularly performed voluntary exercise, supporting subjective mental well-being of long-term isolated people. The choice to be regularly active seems to support mental health, which is not only of interest for future isolation and space missions