Role of Sociodemographic Variables and the Mother’s Active Behavior on Active Commuting to School in Children and Adolescents

This study was supported by Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness and European Regional Development Fund. Additionally, this study took place thanks to funding from University ofGranada Plan Propio de Investigacion 2016-Excellence actions: Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES)-and Junta de Andalucia, Consejeria de Conocimiento, Investigacion y Universidades, and European Regional Development Fund (ref. SOMM17/6107/UGR). Additionally, this work was supported by Ministry of Education of Chile CONICYT PAI-MEC programme 2015 (MEC 80150030) and the Postdoctoral programme Becas Chile 2019 from Agencia Nacional de Investigacion y Desarrollo de Chile (ANID).The main objective of the current study was to analyze how parents’ sociodemographic characteristics, mode of commuting and physical activity (PA) act as indicators of active commuting to school (ACS) in their children and adolescents. A total of 684 paired parents (52.8% mothers) and their respective offspring (33.7% girls) were included. The participants self-reported their sociodemographic characteristics, mode of commuting, and PA. Logistic regression analyses were performed using a stepwise approach, including, as indicators, parental characteristics, mode of commuting and PA. The main outcome was child and adolescent ACS. The odds ratio (OR) and R2 of Nagelkerke were obtained for each step. Parental sociodemographic characteristics were greater indicators of child ACS than the parental mode of commuting and PA. In children, the greatest predictive variables of ACS explained 38% of the variance and were as follows: car availability (OR = 0.24), father’s educational level (OR = 0.47), mother’s educational level (OR = 1.95), mother’s active commuting to work (OR = 4.52) and mother’s salary/month (OR = 0.67). In adolescents, the greatest predictive variables of ACS explained 40%of the variance and were as follows: socioeconomic level (OR=0.43) and father’s active commuting (OR = 10.6). In conclusion, sociodemographic factors are better indicators of ACS than parents’ physical activity and active commuting to work.Spanish GovernmentEuropean CommissionUniversity of Granada Plan Propio de Investigacion 2016-Excellence actions: Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES)Junta de Andalucia Consejeria de Conocimiento, Investigacion y UniversidadesEuropean Commission SOMM17/6107/UGRMinistry of Education of Chile CONICYT PAI-MEC programme 2015 MEC 80150030Postdoctoral programme Becas Chile 2019 from Agencia Nacional de Investigacion y Desarrollo de Chile (ANID

Mediation Role of Physical Fitness and Its Components on the Association Between Distribution-Related Fat Indicators and Adolescents' Cognitive Performance: Exploring the Influence of School Vulnerability. The Cogni-Action Project

Background: Physical fitness and fatness converge simultaneously modulating cognitive skills, which in turn, are associated with children and adolescents' socioeconomic background. However, both fitness components and fat mass localization are crucial for understanding its implication at the cognitive level. Objective: This study aimed to determine the mediation role of a global physical fitness score and its components on the association between different fatness indicators related to fat distribution and adolescents' cognitive performance, and simultaneously explore the influence of school vulnerability. Methods: In this study, 1,196 Chilean adolescents participated (aged 10-14; 50.7% boys). Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscular fitness (MF), and speed-agility fitness (SAF) were evaluated, and a global fitness score (GFS) was computed adjusted for age and sex (CRF + MF + SAF z-scores). Body mass index z-score (BMIz), sum-of-4-skinfolds (4SKF), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were used as non-specific, peripheral, and central adiposity indicators, respectively. A global cognitive score was computed based on eight tasks, and the school vulnerability index (SVI) was registered as high, mid or low. A total of 24 mediation analyses were performed according to two models, adjusted for sex and peak high velocity (Model 1), and adding the school vulnerability index (SVI) in Model 2. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results: The fitness mediation role was different concerning the fatness indicators related to fat distribution analyzed. Even after controlling for SVI, CRF (22%), and SAF (29%), but not MF, mediated the association between BMIz and cognitive performance. Likewise, CRF, SAF and GFS, but not MF, mediated the association between WHtR and cognitive performance (38.6%, 31.9%, and 54.8%, respectively). No mediations were observed for 4SKF. Conclusion: The negative association between fatness and cognitive performance is mitigated by the level of adolescents' physical fitness, mainly CRF and SAF. This mediation role seems to be more consistent with a central fat indicator even in the presence of school vulnerability. Strategies promoting physical fitness would reduce the cognitive gap in children and adolescents related to obesity and school vulnerability.The ``Cogni-Action Project'' was supported by the National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research CONICYT/FONDECYT INICIACION 2016 grant no. 11160703. IE-C was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (RYC2019-027287-I)

The Mediation Effect of Self–Report Physical Activity Patterns in the Relationship between Educational Level and Cognitive Impairment in Elderly: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Chilean Health National Survey 2016–2017

The aims of this cross-sectional study were (i) to determine the association of educational level attained with cognitive impairment and (ii) to investigate the mediating effect of different self-report physical activity (PA) patterns in a large sample of older Chileans. A sample of 1571 older adults from the National Chilean Survey (2016–2017) was included. The educational level attained, PA levels, mode of commuting, sedentary time, and leisure-time PA were self-reported through validated questionnaires. Cognitive impairment was determined by Mini-Mental State Examination (modified version). Association between educational level attained and cognitive impairment was examined using logistic regression models. Counterfactual mediation models were used to test the mediating effect of self-reported PA patterns. A lower educational level was consistently associated with higher odds of cognitive impairment (OR range 2.846 to 2.266, all p < 0.001), while leisure-time PA was the only PA pattern that partially mediated this association (proportion mediated 8.0%). In conclusion, leisure-time PA was the solely PA pattern that partially mediated the association between the educational level and cognitive impairment. The rest self-reported PA patterns did not modify this association.P.S.-U. was supported by a grant from ANID/BECAS Chile/72180543. J.P.-D. is part of the University of Granada, Plan Propio de Investigación 2016, Excellence actions: Units of Excellence; Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES). We thank the Research Results Transfer Office (OTRI) of the University of Granada for its publication support (C-4393 to F.A.-M.). We thank all participants for their cooperation and the Chilean Health Ministry and Department of Public Health, The Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile for designing and conducting the third National Health Survey 2016–2017

Passive Commuting and Higher Sedentary Time Is Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency in Adult and OlderWomen: Results from Chilean National Health Survey 2016–2017

The aim was to investigate the associations between different physical activity (PA) patterns and sedentary time (ST) with vitamin D deficiency (<12 ng/mL) in a large sample of Chilean women. In this cross-sectional study, the final sample included 1245 adult and 686 older women. The PA levels, mode of commuting, ST, and leisure-time PA were self-reported. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as <12 ng/mL and insufficiency as <20 ng/mL. A higher ST was associated with vitamin D deficiency (odds ratio (OR): 2.4, 95%: 1.6–4.3) in adults, and passive commuting was associated with vitamin D deficiency in older (OR: 1.7, 95%: 1.1–2.7). Additionally, we found a joint association in the high ST/passive commuting group in adults (OR: 2.8, 95%: 1.6–4.9) and older (OR: 2.8, 95%: 1.5–5.2) with vitamin D deficiency, in respect to low ST/active commuting. The PA levels and leisure-time PA were not associated with vitamin D deficiency. In conclusion, mode of commuting and ST seems important variables related to vitamin D deficiency. Promoting a healthy lifestyle appears important also for vitamin D levels in adult and older women. Further studies are needed to establish causality of this association and the effect of vitamin D deficiency in different diseases in this population.P.S.-U. was supported by a grant from CONICYT/BECAS Chile/72180543. J.P.-D is part of University of Granada, Plan Propio de Investigación 2016, Excellence actions: Units of Excellence; Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES)

Associations of Sedentary Behaviour, Physical Activity, Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Body Composition with Risk of Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders in Children with Overweight/Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study

The aim of this study was to examine the associations of sedentary behaviour, physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and body composition parameters with risk of sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) in children with overweight/obesity. One-hundred and nine children (10.0 +/- 1.1 years old, 45 girls) with overweight (n = 27) and obesity (n = 82) were included. Television viewing time was self-reported by using the Spanish adaptation of the "Youth Activity Profile" (YAP) questionnaire. Sedentary time and physical activity were measured with accelerometry. CRF was assessed with the 20-m shuttle-run test and body composition parameters with Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. SRBD were evaluated by using the Spanish version of the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire. Television viewing time was positively associated with risk of SRBD (r = 0.222, p = 0.021). CRF was negatively correlated with risk of SRBD (r = -0.210, p = 0.030). Body composition parameters were positively associated with risk of SRBD (all p < 0.05), except fat mass index. Stepwise regression analyses showed that body mass index (BMI) explained the largest proportion of the variance in SRBD (r(2) = 0.063, p = 0.01) and television viewing time was the only one added after BMI (r(2) change = 0.048, p = 0.022). This study supports the notion that higher body weight status negatively influences risk of SRBD and adds that unhealthy behaviours could contribute to worsen SRBD, related to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. All the significant association observed in this manuscript were of small magnitude, indicating than other factors in addition to the one hereby studied contribute to explain the variance in SRBD

Could Physical Fitness Be Considered as a Protective Social Factor Associated with Bridging the Cognitive Gap Related to School Vulnerability in Adolescents? The Cogni-Action Project

Carlos Cristi-Montero received funding for the Cogni-Action Project from the National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research CONICYT/FONDECYT INICIACION 2016 grant No. 11160703 (Chile), and the National Research and Development Agency (ANID) from Chile-2019, Postdoctoral Grant No. 74200071.The first aim was to compare differences between school vulnerability groups, fitness levels, and their combination in adolescent cognitive performance. The second aim was to determine the mediation role of fitness in the association between school vulnerability and cognitive performance. A total of 912 Chilean adolescents aged 10–14 years participated in this study. The school vulnerability index (SVI) assigned by the Chilean Government was categorized into high-, mid-, or low-SVI. Adolescents were classified as fit or unfit according to their global fitness z-score computed from their cardiorespiratory (CRF), muscular (MF), and speed/agility fitness (SAF) adjusted for age and sex. A global cognitive scorewas estimated through eight tasks based on a neurocognitive battery. Covariance and mediation analyses were performed, adjusted for sex, schools, body mass index, and peak high velocity. Independent analyses showed that the higher SVI, the lower the cognitive performance (F(6,905) = 18.5; p < 0.001). Conversely, fit adolescents presented a higher cognitive performance than their unfit peers (F(5,906) = 8.93; p < 0.001). The combined analysis found cognitive differences between fit and unfit adolescents in both the high- and mid-SVI levels (Cohen’s d = 0.32). No differences were found between fit participants belonging to higher SVI groups and unfit participants belonging to lower SVI groups. Mediation percentages of 9.0%, 5.6%, 7.1%, and 2.8% were observed for the global fitness score, CRF, MF, and SAF, respectively. The mediation effect was significant between lowwith mid-high-SVI levels but not between mid- and high-SVI levels. These findings suggest that an adequate physical fitness level should be deemed a protective social factor associated with bridging the cognitive gap linked to school vulnerability in adolescents. This favourable influence seems to be most significant in adolescents belonging to a more adverse social background.National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research CONICYT/FONDECYT INICIACION (Chile) 11160703National Research and Development Agency (ANID) from Chile 7420007

The effects of an exercise intervention on neuroelectric activity and executive function in children with overweight/obesity:The ActiveBrains randomized controlled trial

Objective: To investigate whether a 20-week aerobic and resistance exercise program induces changes in brain current density underlying working memory and inhibitory control in children with overweight/obesity. Methods: A total of 67 children (10.00 ± 1.10 years) were randomized into an exercise or control group. Electroencephalography (EEG)-based current density (μA/mm2) was estimated using standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) during a working memory task (Delayed non-matched-to-sample task, DNMS) and inhibitory control task (Modified flanker task, MFT). In DNMS, participants had to memorize four stimuli (Pokemons) and then select between two of them, one of which had not been previously shown. In MFT, participants had to indicate whether the centered cow (i.e., target) of five faced the right or left. Results: The exercise group had significantly greater increases in brain activation in comparison with the control group during the encoding phase of DNMS, particularly during retention of second stimuli in temporal and frontal areas (peak t = from 3.4 to 3.8, cluster size [k] = from 11 to 39), during the retention of the third stimuli in frontal areas (peak t = from 3.7 to 3.9, k = from 15 to 26), and during the retention of the fourth stimuli in temporal and occipital areas (peak t = from 2.7 to 4.3, k = from 13 to 101). In MFT, the exercise group presented a lower current density change in the middle frontal gyrus (peak t = −4.1, k = 5). No significant change was observed between groups for behavioral performance (p ≥ 0.05). Conclusion: A 20-week exercise program modulates brain activity which might provide a positive influence on working memory and inhibitory control in children with overweight/obesity.</p

Physical activity and amyloid beta in middle-aged and older adults:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: One of the pathological hallmarks distinguishing Alzheimer's disease from other dementias is the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ). Higher physical activity is associated with decreased dementia risk, and one potential path could be through Aβ levels modulation. We aimed to explore the relationship between physical activity and Aβ in middle-aged and older adults. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and SPORTDiscus was performed from inception to the 28th of April 2022. Studies were eligible if they included physical activity and Aβ data in adults aged 45 years or older. Multi-level meta-analyses of intervention and observational studies were performed to examine the role of physical activity in modulating Aβ levels. Results: In total, 37 articles were included (8 randomized controlled trials, 3 non-randomized controlled trials, 4 prospective longitudinal studies, and 22 cross-sectional studies). The overall effect size of physical activity interventions on changes in blood Aβ was medium (pooled standardized mean difference = –0.69, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): –1.41 to 0.03; I2 = 74.6%). However, these results were not statistically significant, and there were not enough studies to explore the effects of physical activity on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain Aβ. Data from observational studies were examined based on measurements of Aβ in the brain using positron emission tomography scans, CSF, and blood. Higher physical activity was positively associated with Aβ only in the CSF (Estimate r = 0.12; 95%CI: 0.05–0.18; I2 = 38%). Conclusion: Physical activity might moderately reduce blood Aβ in middle-aged and older adults. However, results were only near statistical significance and might be interpreted with caution given the methodological limitations observed in some of the included studies. In observational studies, higher levels of physical activity were positively associated with Aβ only in CSF. Therefore, further research is needed to understand the modulating role of physical activity in the brain, CSF, and blood Aβ, as well as its implication for cognitive health.</p

A single bout of whole-body vibration improves hamstring flexibility in university athletes: A randomized controlled trial

Hamstring muscle injuries are one of most frequent injuries in team sports. Whole-body vibration (WBV) has an important effect on flexibility that could prevent shortening of the hamstrings. To investigate both acute and residual effect of a single bout of WBV on hamstring flexibility in a group of university athletes from team sports 70 athletes (81% men, age 21 ± 1.9 years old) were separated into three groups; control group (CG; n=24), hamstring flexibility group without vibration (-V; n=23), and hamstring flexibility group with vibration (+V; n=23). Both -V and +V groups performed the same experimental protocol, composed of 6 sets of 30 seconds of passive hamstring flexibility over a vibration platform with both legs alternately (full-length 6 minutes; 3 minutes per leg). A high-magnitude vibration loading was applied only in +V group (40 Hz and 4 mm). Hamstring flexibility was evaluated through the Modified Sit and Reach (MSR) and Passive Straight Leg Raise (PSLR) test before (baseline), immediately after (acute effect), and after 72 h (residual effect) intervention. Both experimental groups showed a significant improvement in flexibility compared to CG in all measures (p<0.05). No statistical differences were found between +V and –V, however, MSR, right PSLR, and left PSLR residual effect size (Cohen's d) were greater in +V. In conclusion, adding a WBV stimulus to flexibility training improves acute and residual hamstring flexibility in university athletes from team sports

The Mediation Effect of Self-Report Physical Activity Patterns in the Relationship between Educational Level and Cognitive Impairment in Elderly: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Chilean Health National Survey 2016-2017

The aims of this cross-sectional study were (i) to determine the association of educational level attained with cognitive impairment and (ii) to investigate the mediating effect of different self-report physical activity (PA) patterns in a large sample of older Chileans. A sample of 1571 older adults from the National Chilean Survey (2016-2017) was included. The educational level attained, PA levels, mode of commuting, sedentary time, and leisure-time PA were self-reported through validated questionnaires. Cognitive impairment was determined by Mini-Mental State Examination (modified version). Association between educational level attained and cognitive impairment was examined using logistic regression models. Counterfactual mediation models were used to test the mediating effect of self-reported PA patterns. A lower educational level was consistently associated with higher odds of cognitive impairment (OR range 2.846 to 2.266, all p < 0.001), while leisure-time PA was the only PA pattern that partially mediated this association (proportion mediated 8.0%). In conclusion, leisure-time PA was the solely PA pattern that partially mediated the association between the educational level and cognitive impairment. The rest self-reported PA patterns did not modify this association.P.S.-U. was supported by a grant from ANID/BECAS Chile/72180543. J.P.-D. is part of the University of Granada, Plan Propio de Investigación 2016, Excellence actions: Units of Excellence; Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES).Ye