Annals of Neurosciences最新文献

Background: Children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at risk of inferior neurocognitive outcomes. As the brain develops rapidly during the early years of life, we wanted to find out the impact of CKD on neurocognition when it occurs during this time and any disease-associated risk factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional case-control study was conducted in the Paediatric Nephrology Clinic, PGIMER, Chandigarh. After obtaining parental consent, 52 children with CKD Stage 3-5 and 52 age-matched case controls were enrolled in the study. Neurocognitive outcome was assessed by the Developmental Assessment Scales for Indian Infants (DASII). Proper statistical tests were used to analyse the data.

Results: Mean comparison revealed that CKD children performed significantly lower on mental functions, motor functions and developmental quotient of DASII. Neurocognitive functions declined with disease progression, with children of CKD Stage 5 scoring lowest. Further, there was a significant difference in weight, height/length and head circumference between those in Stage 3 and 5. Similarly, there are significant mean differences in Hb, MCH, and MCHC levels between Stage 3 and both Stage 4 and 5, but no significant difference between those in Stage 4 and 5.

Conclusion: CKD is a debilitating condition that can have a significant impact on the health and development of children. Neurocognitive outcome declines as the stage of CKD progresses, which worsens their overall outcomes.

Background: Memory, learning, language and decision-making are just some of the cognitive abilities that may be negatively impacted by neurological illnesses such as dementia, anxiety and depression.

Purpose: This research aims to examine the influence of demographic variables on the prevalence of dementia, anxiety and depression in patients recovering from COVID-19.

Methods: This research looks at those who are at risk of developing dementia, anxiety or depression after being exposed to COVID-19. The hospital EC (Ethics Committee-Unique Hospital, Surat, India) granted consent, as did the Dehradun Institute of Technology University's research ethics committee (DITU/UREC/2022/04/6). Participants actively partook and gave informed consent. Patient data were collected with the assistance of medical personnel, and participants had to fulfil the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A questionnaire was distributed, and data were examined based on participant replies.

Results: The COVID-19 pandemic has had widespread effects on both physical and mental health, leading to increased risks of dementia, anxiety and depression. Elderly individuals are most susceptible to dementia, likely due to pre-existing vulnerabilities and the significant neurological impact of COVID-19 on this age group. Young adults exhibited a notable increase in anxiety, possibly linked to factors such as social isolation, economic uncertainty and disruptions to daily life. Additionally, depression prevalence has significantly risen among younger individuals following the pandemic.

Conclusion: The study provides important insights into the age-related impact of COVID-19 on mental health. Older adults are more prone to dementia and anxiety, while younger individuals show a higher prevalence of depression. These findings underscore the varying mental health effects across age groups, highlighting the need for targeted mental health interventions for both the elderly and young adults post-COVID-19.

Background: Caregivers of children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often face significant psychological and social challenges. This study aimed to assess the extent of psychological distress, quality of life (QOL), coping strategies and associated risk factors among caregivers and to evaluate whether these issues intensify with advanced stages of CKD.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at a tertiary care centre in North India, enrolling 50 consecutive caregivers of children with CKD between July 2020 and June 2021. Participants were categorised into two groups: Early-stage CKD (Stages 1-2) and advanced-stage CKD (Stages 3-5). Caregivers were assessed using the Paediatric Renal Caregiver Burden Scale (PRCBS), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), World Health Organisation Quality of Life Scale-Brief (WHOQOL-BREF) and Ways of Coping Checklist. Relevant statistical analyses were performed.

Results: Caregivers of children with advanced CKD reported higher levels of psychological distress, with 88.5% experiencing moderate to severe depression, 38% anxiety and 35% stress. In contrast, caregivers of early-stage CKD children reported depression in 21%, with no cases of moderate to severe anxiety or stress. QOL scores were significantly lower and burden scores significantly higher, in the advanced CKD group. Lower socioeconomic status, reduced maternal education and low household income were linked to higher distress and poorer QOL. Problem-focused coping strategies were commonly used across both groups.

Conclusion: Psychosocial difficulties and caregiver burden increase with CKD severity and adversely affect QOL. Early identification and psychological support for caregivers may enhance overall outcomes for both the child and family.

Background: The rising prevalence of social media use among youth has prompted growing concern about its psychological implications. Platforms such as Instagram, which prioritises visual content and lifestyle displays, has been associated with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and stress. However, limited research in the Indian context has specifically addressed the mental health outcomes associated with content-specific engagement, particularly with food and restaurant-related imagery.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between Instagram usage frequency and mental health, measured through depression, anxiety and stress among youth aged 16-25 years in Pune, India. It further examined whether higher engagement with restaurant and food-related content correlates with increased psychological distress.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 300 participants using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and a structured Instagram usage questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis to evaluate associations between usage patterns and psychological outcomes.

Results: The majority of participants (93%) reported daily Instagram use, with 32% categorised as heavy users (>3 hours/day). Heavy users showed significantly higher DASS-21 scores across all subscales. Depression (p = .003), anxiety (p = .019) and stress (p < .001) scores increased in a stepwise manner from light to heavy users. Participants who frequently followed restaurant-related content and acted upon such recommendations, reported significantly elevated stress and anxiety levels. Regression models confirmed that both total usage and content-specific engagement independently predicted psychological distress.

Conclusion: Frequent Instagram use and high engagement with food and restaurants content is associated with elevated levels of depression, anxiety and stress in young adults. These findings emphasise the need for targeted digital literacy and mental health interventions tailored to content consumption behaviours in emerging adults.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly shaping daily decision-making by enhancing efficiency and consistency. However, prolonged AI use may impose cognitive strain, attention depletion, information overload, and decision fatigue.

Aim: To investigate the relationships among AI anxiety, attitudes toward AI, cognitive performance, trust in AI, and decision fatigue, particularly emphasising long-term AI interaction.

Methods: A structured survey was administered both online and offline to a sample of 500 adults (290 males, 210 females) in the Delhi-NCR region, with a mean age of 24.2 ± 3.4 years. The survey assessed participant's AI anxiety, AI attitude, cognitive skills, decision fatigue, and trust (encompassing reliability, productivity, and user control). Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analyses were conducted to explore the relationships between these variables.

Result: Participants reported moderately high AI anxiety (mean = 4.62, SD = 1.14) and generally positive attitudes toward AI (mean = 5.01, SD = 1.06). A strong but marginally non-significant correlation (r = 0.81, p = .053) was found between favourable attitudes and technology usage frequency. High trust in AI-measured via reliability (r = 0.597), productivity (r = 0.985), and control (r = 0.829)-correlated with prior positive AI experience. Long-term AI use was significantly associated with mental exhaustion, attention strain, and information overload (r = 0.905), and inversely associated with decision-making self-confidence (r = -0.360).

Conclusion: The integration of AI in task performance resulted in improved efficiency and user confidence; however, prolonged utilisation may precipitate cognitive fatigue, diminished focus, and attenuated user agency. To mitigate these adverse effects, strategic design approaches prioritising user empowerment, transparency, and cognitive facilitation are essential for maximising benefits while upholding mental health and well-being.

Background: Metacognition cognitive self-awareness and self-regulation of cognitive processes is a key predictors of successful learning and academic success. For future teachers among students following BEd, metacognitive skill acquisition is crucial not just for their own academic success but also for constructing reflective and inclusive teaching.

Purpose: The aim of the present research is to assess the levels of Metacognitive Awareness and Academic Achievement among BEd students, contrast gender differences in each of these, and explore pedagogical implications in teacher education courses.

Methods: Quantitative design was employed along with percentage analysis, independent samples t-tests, and Pearson's correlation to assess the Metacognitive Awareness and Academic Achievement of BEd students. The study also compared results between genders to find out whether there were any significant differences.

Results: The findings revealed that 60% of the students had above-average Metacognitive Awareness, while academic achievement was diverse, and 40% was below average. No gender differences that were statistically significant appeared in either domain. There existed a very weak positive and statistically nonsignificant correlation between Academic Achievement and Metacognitive Awareness, meaning that metacognitive awareness cannot guarantee academic performance.

Conclusion: The results highlight the need to incorporate formal metacognitive training within teacher education curricula. Reflective practice, individual academic support and formative assessment are recommended to promote closer alignment between metacognitive awareness and academic achievement. All interventions are crucial for preparing BEd students as effective, reflective and inclusive teachers.

Background: Elderly are a vulnerable population with an increased risk of hypertension-related cardiovascular mortality. Yog involving various asan, pranayam and meditation has been shown to decrease blood pressure in adults, but studies involving only elderly participants, practicing pranayam and meditation at home through a mobile guided system are lacking.

Purpose: To study the efficacy of home-based mobile-guided pranayam and meditation in the management of hypertension in the elderly.

Methods: The present study was carried out at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh. Trial was started after registration in Clinical trial registration India (https://www./ctri.nic.in), CTRI number - CTRI/2021/03/031631. 105 eligible participants were allocated to two arms (ratio 1:1). The Control arm was provided with the standard treatment (pharmacological and non-pharmacological) as per 2017 AHA/ACC guidelines for hypertension, for 24 weeks. The intervention arm was given the standard treatment along with mobile-guided pranayam and yog nidra meditation at home, for 24 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and sleep quality were assessed at baseline and after 24 weeks of follow-up.

Results: After 24 weeks, the intervention group exhibited a statistically significant reduction in SBP (decrease of 4.7 mmHg) compared to the control arm. Additionally, the intervention arm reported a significant improvement in sleep quality.

Conclusion: Study results indicate that home-based mobile-guided pranayam and yog nidra meditation are a valuable adjunct to the standard hypertension treatment in elderly individuals, not only lowering blood pressure but also enhancing sleep quality.