Chess Practice as a Protective Factor in Dementia

Background: dementia is one of the main causes of disability and dependency among the older population worldwide, producing physical, psychological, social and economic impact in those affected, caregivers, families and societies. However, little is known about dementia protective factors and their potential benefits against disease decline in the diagnosed population. Cognitive stimulating activities seem to be protective factors against dementia, though there is paucity in the scientific evidence confirming this, with most publications focusing on prevention in non-diagnosed people. A scoping review was conducted to explore whether chess practice could mitigate signs, deliver benefits, or improve cognitive capacities of individuals diagnosed with dementia through the available literature, and therefore act as a protective factor. Methods: twenty-one articles were selected after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: the overall findings stress that chess could lead to prevention in non-diagnosed populations, while little has been shown with respect to individuals already diagnosed. However, some authors suggest its capacity as a protective factor due to its benefits, and the evidence related to the cognitive functions associated with the game. Conclusion: although chess is indirectly assumed to be a protective factor due to its cognitive benefits, more studies are required to demonstrate, with strong evidence, whether chess could be a protective factor against dementia within the diagnosed population

MATE Project: Multidimensional Analytical Training in Education

Introducción: El Proyecto MATE financiado por la convocatoria ERASMUS+ tiene como objetivo principal mejorar el rendimiento cognitivo de niños y niñas en edad escolar, fortaleciendo sus habilidades analíticas para progresar en el proceso de aprendizaje aplicando la lógica del Ajedrez. Se pretende aumentar el rendimiento en matemáticas, ciencia y alfabetización a través de métodos de enseñanza que sean más eficaces e innovadores. Se desarrollará durante 3 años y está coordinado por la University of Economics and Innovation in Lublin (WSEI) como socio principal, contando además con la participación de otros tres socios: la Universidad de La Laguna, la Universidad de Vytauto Didziojo Universitetas en Lituania (VMU) y la Universidad de Alicante (UA). Material y método: En este estudio va a participar una muestra de niños/as de 10 a 13 años y una muestra del profesorado que atiende al alumnado de estas edades en educación primaria y secundaria, de cada uno de los países participantes en el proyecto. El diseño está dividido en 2 fases: (1) selección e instrucción de los participantes en el proyecto; (2) creación de un software que ayudará a mejorar el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de los escolares europeos de estas edades a través del aprendizaje del juego del ajedrez. Resultados: El software desarrollado permitirá utilizar el ajedrez como instrumento clave en el proceso de aprendizaje y en la toma de decisiones del alumnado en estas edades. Los evaluadores dispondrán de una herramienta que les ayudará a conocer tanto el nivel de conocimientos de ajedrez, como a mejorar y entrenar las habilidades cognitivas de su alumnado, ajustándose a las necesidades de cada uno de ellos y asegurando que el método de aprendizaje sea eficaz. Conclusiones: Es fundamental disponer de nuevas metodologías docentes innovadoras basadas en las Tecnologías de la Información y de la Comunicación que ayuden a mejorar el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de nuestro alumnado. Utilizar como base la gamificación además potencia la concentración, el esfuerzo y la motivación, todos ellos aspectos fundamentales para fomentar de una forma positiva el aprendizaje en estas edades

Prevalence of reduced lung diffusing capacity and CT scan findings in smokers without airflow limitation: a population-based study

Background Population distribution of reduced diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) in smokers and main consequences are not properly recognised. The objectives of this study were to describe the prevalence of reduced DLCO in a population-based sample of current and former smoker subjects without airflow limitation and to describe its morphological, functional and clinical implications.Methods A sample of 405 subjects aged 40 years or older with postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity (FVC) >0.70 was obtained from a random population-based sample of 9092 subjects evaluated in the EPISCAN II study. Baseline evaluation included clinical questionnaires, exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) measurement, spirometry, DLCO determination, 6 min walk test, routine blood analysis and low-dose CT scan with evaluation of lung density and airway wall thickness.Results In never, former and current smokers, prevalence of reduced DLCO was 6.7%, 14.4% and 26.7%, respectively. Current and former smokers with reduced DLCO without airflow limitation were younger than the subjects with normal DLCO, and they had greater levels of dyspnoea and exhaled CO, greater pulmonary artery diameter and lower spirometric parameters, 6 min walk distance, daily physical activity and plasma albumin levels (all p<0.05), with no significant differences in other chronic respiratory symptoms or CT findings. FVC and exhaled CO were identified as independent risk factors for low DLCO.Conclusion Reduced DLCO is a frequent disorder among smokers without airflow limitation, associated with decreased exercise capacity and with CT findings suggesting that it may be a marker of smoking-induced early vascular damage.Trial registration number NCT03028207