June 2023
in
Frontiers in Nutrition
To examine the influence of nutritional intake on visual perceptual-cognitive performance, measured by NeuroTracker, in young healthy adults.
98 healthy men (38) and women (60) aged 18–33 years maintained their usual dietary intake while completing NeuroTracker 15 sessions of NeuroTracker over a 15-day period. Food logs and extensive lifestyle measures including body composition, cardiovascular health, sleep and exercise patterns, and general readiness to perform were collected for analysis.
Males consumed significantly more calories, macronutrients, cholesterol, choline, and zinc and performed significantly better on NeuroTracker than the females. Participants who consumed more than 40% of kcals from carbohydrates, less than 24% of kcals from protein, more than 2,000 μg/day lutein/zeaxanthin or more than 1.8 mg/ day of vitamin B2 performed significantly better on NeuroTracker than those who consumed less than those amounts. The researchers concluded that perceptual-cognitive performance is positively influenced by higher carbohydrate, lutein/ zeaxanthin, and vitamin B2 dietary intake, while high protein consumption had negative impacts.
NeuroTracker baselines are significantly more accurate at detecting mTBI status 48-hours post-injury and RTP readiness than traditional assessments.
To investigate if the major need for more effective concussion assessment tools in sports can by be addressed by NeuroTracker, and to compare any differences with traditionally used assessments.
59 professional athletes were tested with NeuroTracker (3 Core sessions), the Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC), and the Modified Balance Error Scoring System (M-BESS) tests, each at 48 hours following a concussion injury. The tests were repeated at return-to-play (RTP) status following a standard concussion management protocol. The majority of athletes were classed with severe concussions, as determined by an expert neurologist. Additionally, normative NeuroTracker data for healthy elite athletes was used for analytical reference, along with pre-season baselines on SAC and M-BESS tests for 32 out of the 59 of the injured athletes.
Multiple statistical analyses of the tests revealed the following. Compared to health athletes, the learning function within the 48 hours of concussion was totally disrupted for the injured athletes. NeuroTracker scores at 48 hours were significantly lower than normal, and correlated to the total number of symptoms reported. NeuroTracker scores for the RTP evaluations revealed a significant improvement in NeuroTracker scores (though still below healthy athlete levels). In comparison the SAC and M-BESS tests’ usefulness for monitoring concussion was found to be weak, with limited or negligible correlation to pre-season baselines, as corroborated in other studies. For the first time, this study demonstrates the unique role of NeuroTracker to monitor sport-related concussion, addressing some of the requirements needed to appropriately respond to real-world sport-specific demands.
To compare performance and muscle architecture changes in starters and nonstarters during a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women's soccer season.
28 females (av. 20 years old) were assessed on NeuroTracker baselines, vertical jump power, repeated line drills and reaction time at preseason, midseason, and postseason. Muscle architecture changes using ultrasonography were assessed at preseason and postseason.
Both starters and non-starters showed similar status or improvements on all assessments across the season, except for line drills performance, which showed greater improvements for starters. NeuroTracker and reaction time performance improved regardless of playtime. Results of muscle architecture analysis indicated that practice training alone provide sufficient stimulus for improving muscle quality during the competitive season. Overall starters did not display significant benefits from competition over athletes who performed training only.
NeuroTracker baseline reveal stroboscopic vision training does not improve perceptual-cognitive skills, but may aid anticipation skills.
To analyze the repeated effect of stroboscopic vision training on perceptual-cognitive and anticipation skills in soccer players.
28 male soccer players randomized into two groups: Stroboscopic vision training and control groups. The trained group completed 8-weeks of stroboscopic training. Pre post assessments were completed for both groups, which included NeuroTracker baselines and assessments decision-making and anticipation skills.
Both groups improved by similar amounts in NeuroTracker baselines and decision-making. However the trained group showed a larger improvement in anticipation skill than the control group. The findings suggest that stroboscopic vision training does not improve perceptual-cognitive functions or decision-making, but may aid anticipation skills in soccer athletes.
To evaluate the potential for sports vision training to improve objective and subjective visuomotor function in a low vision patient.
A 37-year-old woman with Usher syndrome underwent a 14-week sports vision training program with pre-post cognitive assessments.
The patient was able to improve the use of remaining visual abilities. A 27 to 31% improvement in hand-eye coordination was achieved along with a 41% improvement NeuroTracker performance. The patient also subjectively reported clear improvements in visual abilities. The researcher concluded sports vision training may reduce the impact of the reduced visual function and aid in activities of daily living.
A variety of egg-based diets over 1-month improve performance on NeuroTracker compared to a no-egg diet.
To evaluate the impact of the nutritional impact of dietary intake of whole eggs, egg white, and egg yolk on visual cognitive performance (NeuroTracker) in healthy older adults.
99 healthy men and women aged 50 to 75 years were randomly assigned to one of five groups with different daily consumption of eggs alongside a record of their usual dietary intake. Over 1-month period participants either consumed four egg whites, two whole regular eggs, two whole omega-3-fortified eggs, four egg yolks, or no eggs (control). During the final 2 weeks of the study all participants completed 15 NeuroTracker.
On average male participants performed significantly better at NeuroTracker than females. All participants on egg-based diets performed significantly better across 2-weeks of NeuroTracker training than the no-egg controls. Findings suggest that whole eggs, egg whites and egg yolks are beneficial for visual cognitive performance in healthy older adults.
To examine the effects of 14-days ATP supplementation (adenosine 5′-triphosphate) on NeuroTracker visual tracking speed, reaction time, mood and cognition in a double-blind crossover study.
22 adults were randomized to either an active PeakATP® group or a placebo control group and supplemented for 14-days. They then tested on 3 minutes of maximum intensity cycling. Pre, immediately post, and 60-minutes post, all participants completed a NeuroTracker baseline, a visuomotor reaction test (Dynavision D2), a Profile of Mood States Questionnaire and a cognition assessment (ANAM). After another 14 days of no supplementation, the active and control groups were then reversed and the whole procedure was repeated.
NeuroTracker results improved on the second testing procedure, however average differences between active and control groups were negligible. No significant interactions were found on the other assessments, apart from reaction time performance, which improved meaningfully with post ATP supplementation. The results suggest ATP may help decrease fatigue related effects from intense bouts of exercise, but not higher-level cognitive functions.
NeuroTrackerX is a cognitive training program designed to assess and improve mental performance.
