Brain training game improves executive functions and processing speed in the elderly: a randomized controlled trial

Background

The beneficial effects of brain training games are expected to transfer to other cognitive functions, but these beneficial effects are poorly understood. Here we investigate the impact of the brain training game (Brain Age) on cognitive functions in the elderly.

Methods and Results

Thirty-two elderly volunteers were recruited through an advertisement in the local newspaper and randomly assigned to either of two game groups (Brain Age, Tetris). This study was completed by 14 of the 16 members in the Brain Age group and 14 of the 16 members in the Tetris group. To maximize the benefit of the interventions, all participants were non-gamers who reported playing less than one hour of video games per week over the past 2 years. Participants in both the Brain Age and the Tetris groups played their game for about 15 minutes per day, at least 5 days per week, for 4 weeks. Each group played for a total of about 20 days. Measures of the cognitive functions were conducted before and after training. Measures of the cognitive functions fell into four categories (global cognitive status, executive functions, attention, and processing speed). Results showed that the effects of the brain training game were transferred to executive functions and to processing speed. However, the brain training game showed no transfer effect on any global cognitive status nor attention.

Conclusions

Our results showed that playing Brain Age for 4 weeks could lead to improve cognitive functions (executive functions and processing speed) in the elderly. This result indicated that there is a possibility which the elderly could improve executive functions and processing speed in short term training. The results need replication in large samples. Long-term effects and relevance for every-day functioning remain uncertain as yet.

Trial Registration

UMIN Clinical Trial Registry 000002825     

Stability analysis for binary sII hydrogen–promoter hydrates by molecular dynamics simulation

Molecular dynamics simulation was applied for the binary sII hydrogen–promoter hydrates to search the potential promoters to stabilise the hydrogen hydrates. The simulations were performed at 10.1 MPa. The simulation temperature was maintained at 260 K for 100 ps, and then it was increased at the rate of 0.1 TK/s. The cell volumes of the hydrates slowly increased with increasing temperature, and then the cell volumes rapidly increased. The temperature at which the cell volumes rapidly increased is identified as the simulated collapse temperature. The promoter which gives high simulated collapse temperature is judged to stabilise the hydrates. The simulated collapse temperature of the hydrate filled with cyclobutane is the highest among the promoters studied in this work.     

A Carboxy-Terminally Truncated Human CPSF6 Lacking Residues Encoded by Exon 6 Inhibits HIV-1 cDNA Synthesis and Promotes Capsid Disassembly

Since HIV-1 replication is modulated at multiple stages by host cell factors, identification and characterization of those host cell factors are expected to contribute to the development of novel anti-HIV therapeutics. Previous studies showed that a C-terminally truncated cytosolic form of cleavage and polyadenylation-specific factor 6 (CPSF6-358) inhibits HIV-1 infection through interference with HIV-1 trafficking to the nucleus. Here we identified and characterized a different configuration of C-terminally truncated human CPSF6 (hCPSF6-375) through cDNA expression cloning coupled with ganciclovir-mediated lethal selection. Notably, hCPSF6-375, but not mouse CPSF6-358 (mCPSF6-358) as previously reported, remarkably interfered with viral cDNA synthesis after HIV-1 infection. Moreover, we found that hCPSF6-375 aberrantly accelerated the disassembly of the viral capsid in target cells, while CPSF6-358 did not. Sequence comparison of CPSF6-375 and CPSF6-358 cDNAs showed a lack of exon 6 and additional coding sequence for 54 amino acid residues in the C terminus of hCPSF6-375. Mutational analyses revealed that the residues encoded by exon 6, but not the C-terminal 54 residues in hCPSF6-375, is responsible for impaired viral cDNA synthesis by hCPSF6-375. This is the first report demonstrating a novel mode of HIV-1 inhibition by truncated forms of CPSF6 that involves rapid capsid disassembly and inhibition of viral cDNA synthesis. These findings could facilitate an increased understanding of viral cDNA synthesis in light of the viral capsid disassembly.     

A new genus and two new species of Peltogastridae (Crustacea: Cirripedia: Rhizocephala) parasitizing hermit crabs from Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan), and their DNA-barcodes

A new genus and two new species of Peltogastridae, Peltogaster postica sp. nov. and Ommatogaster nana gen. et sp. nov., are described from Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, southwestern Japan. The two new rhizocephalans were found to be parasitic on the estuarine hermit crabs, Pagurus minutus Hess, 1865 and Diogenes leptocerus Forest, 1956, respectively. Peltogaster postica sp. nov. is allied to P. curvata Kossmann, 1874, P. paguri Rathke, 1842 , and P. reticulata Shiino, 1943 , but is distinguished by its relative length and internal and external structures of the mature externa. Ommatogaster gen. nov. is established for the present new species O. nana based on the morphologies of the visceral mass of the externa and the presence of a nauplius eye in the larvae. Partial COI sequences were obtained from the two new species and one known species, Dipterosaccus indicus Van Kampen and Boschma, 1925, to test the possible usefulness of the sequences as tags for species identification.     

Deorphanization of Dresden G protein-coupled receptor for an odorant receptor

Dresden G protein-coupled receptor (D-GPCR) is one of orphan G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). Here we report the identification of the ligands and the characterization of D-GPCR. We investigated over 5000 compounds to evoke the response mediated by D-GPCR and identified 3-methyl-valeric acid and 4-methyl-valeric acid as agonists using a cAMP assay. It is of interest that they dramatically enhanced the intracellular cAMP accumulation and the CRE-luciferase activity in CHO-K1 cells and HEK293 cells expressing the chimeric protein of D-GPCR with a rhodopsin-tag at its N-terminus. Our results established new characteristics of D-GPCR as an olfactory receptor. First, agonists of D-GPCR belong to odorants. Second, D-GPCR mRNA is expressed in the olfactory bulb. In addition, D-GPCR was reported to have similar sequences and its genome locus nearby other olfactory receptors. These results suggest D-GPCR is an olfactory receptor.     

Application of palladium(II) complex with bidentate phosphine sulfide ligands to palladium-catalyzed C-C coupling reaction

A phosphine sulfide Pd(II) complex, [Pd(p₂S₂)₂](BF₄)₂ (1) (p₂S₂ = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane disulfide), was synthesized and characterized by an X-ray crystal structure analysis and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. The p₂S₂ ligand exchange rate of 1 with free p₂S₂ in chloroform was revealed to be comparable to the general solvent exchange rate on Pd(II). The catalytic activity of 1 was evaluated by carrying out the Heck reaction. The diminishing of the induction period and acceleration of the reaction were observed for 1 by comparing the phosphine Pd(II) complexes with a leaving chloro ligand, [PdCl(p₃)]Cl (p₃ = bis[2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]phenylphosphine) and [PdCl(pp₃)]Cl (pp₃ = tris[2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]phosphine), and the catalytic activity was comparable to that of the phosphine Pd(0) complex, [Pd(PPh₃)₄]. Such a high catalytic activity of 1 is attributed to the π-accepting ability of the phosphine sulfide S atom which stabilizes the catalytically active Pd(0) species electronically and weak σ-donation of the S atom which does not block the formation and a subsequent reaction of the Pd(II) substrate adduct in the catalytic cycle.