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We examine the novel hypothesis that physical exercise and sleep have synergistic effects on memory. Exercise can trigger mechanisms that can create an optimal brain state during sleep to facilitate memory processing. The possibility that exercise could counteract the deleterious effects of sleep deprivation on memory by protecting neuroplasticity also is discussed.

The ability to acquire and retain motor skills is essential for persons with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), who usually experience a progressive loss of mobility during the disease. Deficits in the rate of motor skill acquisition have been previously reported in these patients. Whether motor skill retention is also impaired is currently not known. We conducted a review that included 46 studies to determine whether, compared with neurologically intact individuals, motor skill retention is impaired in PD. Meta-analyses revealed that, following a single practice session, persons with PD have deficits in skill retention (SMD = −0.17; 95% CI = −0.32, −0.02;p= 0.0225). However, these deficits are task-specific, affecting sensory motor (SMD = −0.31; 95% CI −0.47, −0.15;p= 0.0002) and visuomotor adaptation (SMD = − 1.55; 95% CI = −2.32, −0.79;p= 0.0001) tasks, but not sequential fine motor (SMD = 0.17; 95% CI = −0.05, 0.39;p= 0.1292) and gross motor tasks (SMD = 0.04; 95% CI = −0.25, 0.33;p= 0.7771). Importantly, retention deficits became non-significant when augmented feedback during practice was provided. Similarly, additional sessions of motor practice restored the deficits observed in sensory motor tasks. Meta-regression analyses confirmed that retention deficits were independent of performance during motor skill acquisition, as well as the duration and severity of the disease. These results are in line with prominent neurodegenerative models of PD progression and emphasize the importance of developing targeted interventions to enhance motor memory processes supporting the retention of motor skills in people with PD.

Abnormal sleep duration is associated with poor health. Upwards of 50% of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) report poor sleep quality. The effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on self-reported sleep quality is variable. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on objectively measured sleep quality (via actigraphy) in people with COPD. Sleep quality was assessed objectively using the SenseWear Armband (SWA, BodyMedia, Pittsburgh, PA), worn for ≥4 days before and immediately after completing an 8-week pulmonary rehabilitation program. Sleep characteristics were derived from accelerometer positional data and registration of sleep state by the SWA, determined from energy expenditure. Forty-eight participants (

In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is large individual variability in the progression of the disease. Low amplitude of rest–activity rhythms has been associated with worse prognosis in a variety of diseases, but it has not been investigated in COPD. The first aim of this exploratory study was to compare disease severity and prognosis indicators between COPD patients with relatively high or low amplitude of their rest–activity cycle, as measured with actigraphy. As a second objective, 24-hour profiles of both activity levels and nighttime-sleep quality were compared between the two subgroups to assess the relative contribution of day- and night-activity levels to high and low rest–activity rhythm amplitude in this population. Rest–activity rhythms were measured with 8–14 days of wrist actigraphy in 14 patients (nine men), aged 58–79 years, suffering from moderate-to-severe COPD. Relative amplitude of 24-hour activity profiles ranged from 0.72 to 0.98. Participants were divided at the median into high-amplitude (mean ± standard deviation 0.9±0.04) and low-amplitude (0.79±0.05) subgroups. There was no significant difference between the two subgroups for pulmonary function or exercise capacity. However, the low-amplitude group had more severe symptoms of dyspnea and worse prognostic scores than the high-amplitude group (P

Purpose People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have reduced physical activity (PA) levels compared with healthy controls. The pattern of their PA level during the day is much less documented. A better understanding of these diurnal PA patterns could help optimize interventions targeting PA levels in this population. The aim of this study was to examine, in patients with COPD, diurnal PA patterns using accelerometer data and different approaches to data handling (arbitrary, mealtime, equal tertiles). Methods Fourteen COPD patients (aged 71 ± 9 yr; forced expiratory volume in 1 sec [FEV1]: 58% ± 13% predicted) completed the study. Daily PA was assessed via accelerometry for 7 d, 24 hr/d. Diurnal PA patterns were evaluated using an arbitrary (08:00-12:00, 12:01-16:00, 16:01-20:00), mealtime (wake time-lunchtime, lunchtime-suppertime, suppertime-bedtime), and equal tertiles (tertiles 1, 2, and 3) approaches. Results were interpreted on the basis of descriptive statistics and effect sizes (Cohen f) for time-of-day changes in PA. Results Regardless of the handling approach used, mean PA levels decreased in the evening and the effect size for time-of-day changes in PA level was large (f = 0.97; 1.82; and 1.66 for the arbitrary, mealtimes, and tertiles approaches, respectively). The observation of a decrease in the evening was highly homogeneous across our sample, particularly with the mealtime and equal tertiles handling approach. Conclusion Results from this study support prior findings that PA levels decrease substantially in the evening in patients with COPD, thereby providing a better understanding of within-day PA behavior and offering valuable insight into interventions targeting PA.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between depressive symptoms severity and amplitude of diurnal variations in depression symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Design: Prospective, observational proof-of-concept study. Methods: Fourteen participants with moderate/severe COPD completed a 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) estimating depressive symptoms severity. Throughout one week, the four-item very short version of the CES-D was completed every day in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Findings: Strong positive correlations were observed between depressive severity and the mean range of diurnal variations in positive (r = .61) and depressed affects (r = .67), somatic complaints (r = .82), and disturbed interpersonal relationships (r = .71). Conclusion: In COPD patients, a greater diurnal variation in depression symptoms was associated with greater depression severity. This relationship seems independent of COPD severity. Clinical Relevance: Diurnal variation in the symptoms of depression is a new method of identifying depression severity in COPD.

Sleep and physical activity are important health behaviors promoting cardiovascular health. Large bodies of literature have documented the direct effects of sleep and physical activity on risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). This review aimed to highlight the interactive effect of sleep and physical activity on CVD risk. The extant literature suggests that sleep and physical activity are lifestyle behaviors that interact and act synergistically to influence CVD risk. Adopting healthy lifestyles encompassing both adequate sleep and regular physical activity is optimal to maintain cardiovascular health.