Association of late-life changes in blood pressure and cognitive status

BackgroundDisagreement exists on the association between changes in blood pressure and cognitive impairment. We aimed to ex-amine whether 4-year changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure （SBP and DBP） are associated with cognitive status in a representative sample of older men and women.MethodsAnalysis of longitudinal data from 854 participants of a population-based German sample （aged 60-87 years） was performed with standard cognitive screening and blood pressure measurements. Effects of changes in SBP and DBP （10 mmHg and 5 mmHg respectively as unit of regression effect measure） on cognitive status were evaluated using non-parametric and lin-ear regression modeling.ResultsNo clear associations were seen between changes in SBP or in DBP and cognitive scores. Small effects were found after stratification for sex and hypertension awareness. Specifically, larger decreases in SBP were associated with higher cogni-tive scores in those men aware of their hypertension （10 mmHg decrease in SBP,b =-0.26, 95% CI：-0.51 to-0.02） and men with con-trolled hypertension （10 mmHg decrease in SBP,b =-0.44, 95% CI：-0.92 to-0.03）. Additionally larger increases in DBP were associated with higher cognitive scores in men with controlled hypertension （5 mmHg increase in DBP,b = 0.67, 95% CI： 0.19-1.15）. For women aware of their hypertension, larger decreases in DBP were associated with higher cognitive scores （5 mmHg decrease in DBP,b =-0.26; 95%CI：-0.51 to-0.01）.ConclusionsChanges in blood pressure were only weakly associated with cognitive status. Specifically, decreases in SBP were associated with higher cognitive scores in men aware of their hypertension and especially those that were medically controlled.

Mechanism of Cross-modal Information Influencing Taste

Studies on the integration of cross-modal information with taste perception has been mostly limited to uni-modal level.The cross-modal sensory interaction and the neural network of information processing and its control were not fully explored and the mechanisms remain poorly understood.This mini review investigated the impact of uni-modal and multi-modal information on the taste perception,from the perspective of cognitive status,such as emotion,expectation and attention,and discussed the hypothesis that the cognitive status is the key step for visual sense to exert influence on taste.This work may help researchers better understand the mechanism of cross-modal information processing and further develop neutrally-based artificial intelligent(AI)system.

Survey on Knowledge Toward Diabetic Periodontal Condition and Oral Health Among Medical Staff and Patients

The study was conducted to understand the cognitive status of medical staff and patients on the status of periodontal disease and oral health care in patients with diabetes,and to provide reference for the implementation and improvement of diabetes management and health education.Using the Diabetes Periodontal Status and Oral Health Knowledge Questionnaire,108 doctors,190 nurses,and 212 inpatients were investigated.This study demonstrated that,the total scores of doctors,nurses,and patients with diabetes periodontal status and oral health knowledge were(31.18±5.14),(28.58±4.09)and(18.67±3.45)points,respectively.The results of regression analysis showed that education level,department,and related training experience(p<0.05,p<0.01)were the influencing factors of the diabetic periodontal status and oral health knowledge level of the medical staff,meanwhile the monthly income,department,and relevant training experience(p<0.05,p<0.01)were the factors influencing the diabetic periodontal status and oral health care knowledge level of the patients.In summary,the cognitive level of diabetic periodontal status and oral health care knowledge of the medical staff and patients’needs to be improved.Medical staff should pay attention to the study of diabetic periodontal status and oral health care knowledge,further perform a good job in the relevant health education of patients,which is helpful to maintain good oral hygiene.