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(https://www.psypost.org/cardiovascular-endurance-linked-to-better-brain-health-in-aging-women-study-finds/) Cardiovascular endurance linked to better brain health in aging women, study finds
Mar 29th 2025, 10:00

An analysis of data from the Human Connectome Project found that older individuals tended to have lower brain gray matter volume and cortical thickness. However, among women (but not men) who maintained good cardiovascular endurance, this association was less pronounced. The research was published in (https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70231) Brain and Behavior.
Cardiovascular endurance, also known as cardiorespiratory endurance, refers to the ability of the heart, lungs, and blood vessels to deliver oxygen to working muscles during sustained physical activity. It is a critical component of overall physical fitness and health, allowing individuals to engage in prolonged exercise or physical exertion without undue fatigue.
This type of endurance is developed through activities that elevate the heart rate, such as running, swimming, cycling, or rowing. Over time, such training leads to adaptations in the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, enhancing the heart’s ability to pump blood and improving oxygen uptake in the lungs. Cardiovascular endurance is essential not only for athletes but also for the general population, as it improves performance in both sports and daily tasks, while contributing to overall well-being. Enhanced cardiovascular endurance is also associated with reduced risks of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Study author Junyeon Won and his colleagues aimed to explore the connection between cardiovascular endurance and the neurodegenerative processes that occur with aging. As people grow older, the brain typically experiences a decline in volume and weight, primarily due to neuron loss and changes in neurotransmitter levels. These changes can impair cognitive functions such as memory and processing speed.
The researchers hypothesized that higher cardiovascular endurance might mitigate the age-related decline in cortical thickness and brain volume. They also expected this relationship to be more pronounced in women.
The team analyzed data from the Human Connectome Project Young Adult and Aging Lifespan datasets. Participants from the Young Adult dataset were between 22 and 35 years old, while those in the Aging Lifespan dataset were 36 years and older. The final analysis included data from 1,692 adults.
Participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at Washington University, along with a 2-minute walk test and a 4-meter gait test, which were used to assess cardiovascular endurance. They also provided demographic information.
The results showed that older individuals generally had lower brain volume and mean cortical thickness. Mean cortical thickness refers to the average thickness of the cerebral cortex, the brain’s outer layer. This association persisted even after adjusting for sex, education level, body mass index, intracranial volume, and several other variables.
In men, older age was linked to lower gray and white matter volumes as well as reduced cortical thickness, regardless of cardiovascular endurance. In contrast, among women, the negative association between age and gray matter volume and mean cortical thickness was attenuated for those with higher cardiovascular endurance.
“Greater CE [cardiovascular endurance] over the adult lifespan is associated with preservation of cortical thickness and brain volume, particularly in women,” the  study authors concluded.
The study sheds light on the links between cardiovascular endurance and brain health. However, it should be noted that the design of the study does not allow any causal inferences to be derived from the results. Additionally, since this was not a longitudinal study it remains unclear whether the observed associations represent differences between generations or age-related changes.
The paper, “(https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70231) Age and Sex-Related Differences in Neuroprotective Effects of Cardiovascular Endurance on Cortical Thickness and Brain Volume in Adults Across Age,” was authored by Junyeon Won, Marissa Gogniat, and J. Carson Smith.

(https://www.psypost.org/portable-movement-test-uses-artificial-intelligence-to-detect-early-signs-of-cognitive-decline/) Portable movement test uses artificial intelligence to detect early signs of cognitive decline
Mar 29th 2025, 08:00

A new study published in (https://doi.org/10.1097/wad.0000000000000646) Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders provides initial evidence that a portable and affordable device can accurately identify older adults with mild cognitive impairment based on how they move during everyday tasks. Using a combination of a depth camera, a force plate, and artificial intelligence, the system was able to correctly classify 83% of participants with mild cognitive impairment. The results suggest this tool could be used to expand access to early screening, especially in communities with limited resources.
Mild cognitive impairment refers to changes in memory and thinking that are noticeable but not severe enough to interfere with daily life. It often represents a transitional stage between normal aging and more serious conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Early detection is important because treatments that may slow progression—like the new drug Lecanemab—are only approved for people in the early stages of the disease.
However, getting an accurate diagnosis is often a long and expensive process that requires access to specialized professionals. In rural or underserved areas, these evaluations are especially hard to access. Only a small percentage of older adults with mild cognitive impairment receive a formal diagnosis, making early intervention difficult.
Researchers at the University of Missouri wanted to find a way to bring screening tools directly into community clinics and homes. They developed (https://mizzoumotioncenter.com/technologies.html) the Mizzou Point-of-care Assessment System, or MPASS, which is a lightweight and portable device that includes a depth-sensing camera and a custom-built force plate. This setup allows for detailed measurements of how a person moves while walking, standing, and performing other functional tasks.
“Our original goal was to develop accessible technologies for assessing movement and balance for use in the clinic. We have a very nice traditional gait lab with gold standard equipment for measuring human movement (motion capture, force plates, EMG). However, this system was rarely used outside of research projects. These systems are just too expensive and too complicated for everyday use in clinics or other facilities outside the lab,” explained study author Trent M. Guess, the director of the (https://mizzoumotioncenter.com/index.html) Mizzou Motion Analysis Center.
“In 2020, we received funding from the University of Missouri to develop MPASS. Our initial target for the MPASS was concussion assessment and found that the platform could distinguish persons in the acute concussion phase as well as identify lingering effects of concussion on movement and balance. With these promising early results, we wanted to know if the MPASS could detect the effects of mild cognitive impairment on movement and balance.”
“The connection between gait, especially during dual tasking, and cognitive decline is well known. Alzheimer’s is a truly devastating disease, like many others, I have family members and close friends who have had their lives turned upside down by Alzheimer’s. It is rewarding to be able to work on a technology that may be able to help detect dementia in its earliest stages.”
For the study, the team recruited 47 participants, all over 60 years old. Nineteen had been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, either through a prior evaluation at a neuropsychology clinic or based on their score on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, a standardized cognitive screening test. The other 28 participants had no known cognitive issues and served as the healthy comparison group.
Each participant completed a series of motor tasks while being observed by the MPASS system. These tasks included standing still, walking a short distance, and standing up from a seated position. To make the tests more challenging—and to better reveal signs of cognitive decline—participants had to do each task while counting backward by sevens from a random number between 70 and 100. This type of “dual-task” test places extra demand on both attention and coordination, making it more likely to reveal subtle cognitive deficits.
The MPASS device recorded data using both the depth camera and the force plate. The camera tracked body position and joint movements in three dimensions, while the force plate measured how the person shifted their weight and maintained balance. The researchers extracted 27 different variables from these recordings, including stride length, time to complete tasks, and how much a person swayed while standing still. Some of the data was captured with participants’ eyes open and some with eyes closed, to test the role of visual input in balance.
All of this data was then analyzed using three types of machine learning models: logistic regression, support vector machines, and decision trees. These models are designed to recognize patterns in large data sets and make predictions based on those patterns. The models were trained on most of the participant data and then tested on a smaller group to assess how well they could identify which individuals had mild cognitive impairment.
The decision tree model turned out to be the most accurate, correctly identifying 83% of participants with mild cognitive impairment. It also achieved a perfect score for specificity, meaning it correctly recognized all healthy individuals as not having cognitive impairment. The machine learning model found that the most important clues came from balance-related measures, particularly when the person was asked to stand still with their eyes closed while doing math out loud. Five out of the top six predictive features came from measurements of balance, such as how much a person’s center of mass swayed while standing. The remaining key feature was stride length while walking.
Interestingly, measurements from the sit-to-stand task did not contribute much to the final model, even though this test is often used in clinical settings to assess strength and mobility. The researchers suggest that future studies might still explore more advanced ways to analyze this task, since their version included motion data not normally captured in traditional assessments.
“We were thrilled to learn that the MPASS could detect subtle signatures in movement associated with mild cognitive impairment. Currently, mild cognitive impairment is grossly underdiagnosed. One study estimated that only 8% of older Americans expected to have mild cognitive impairment receive a clinical diagnosis. An efficient, inexpensive, and accessible method for mild cognitive impairment screening would be very beneficial in the fight against Alzheimer’s and other dementias.”
“The MPASS measures multiple aspects of motor function (e.g. static balance and gait) and combines cognitive and motor tasks (e.g. walking while solving math problems) to provide more sensitive data for detecting motor function changes associated with cognitive decline. MPASS assessments generate diverse data sets and the use of artificial intelligence can detect intricate relationships in this data, providing a means for instantaneous diagnosis.”
However, the authors acknowledge some limitations. The sample size was small, with only 19 participants in the mild cognitive impairment group. The participants were also not very diverse in terms of race or geographic background, so future studies will need to include a wider range of individuals to ensure the findings are broadly applicable. Some data was also lost during testing due to issues with body tracking, although the research team has since refined their procedures to avoid this problem in future work.
Despite these limitations, the results suggest that a portable, low-cost system like MPASS could be a practical tool for early detection of cognitive problems, especially in settings where access to specialized testing is limited. Because the device is easy to use and doesn’t require blood tests or imaging, it could potentially be used in primary care offices, senior centers, or even in people’s homes. This could help identify people at risk earlier and connect them with interventions while treatments are most effective.
The research team is now working on expanding the study with funding from the National Institutes of Health. They plan to include more complex walking tasks and evaluate other types of movements to further improve the system’s accuracy. The researchers believe that combining cognitive and motor testing with artificial intelligence holds great promise for improving screening and outcomes for older adults.
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1097/wad.0000000000000646) Feasibility of Using a Novel, Multimodal Motor Function Assessment Platform With Machine Learning to Identify Individuals With Mild Cognitive Impairment,” was authored by Jamie B. Hall, Sonia Akter, Praveen Rao, Andrew Kiselica, Rylea Ranum, Jacob M. Thomas, and Trent M. Guess.

(https://www.psypost.org/new-study-shows-cannabis-can-impair-driving-for-more-than-five-hours-long-after-users-feel-ready-to-drive/) New study shows cannabis can impair driving for more than five hours—long after users feel ready to drive
Mar 29th 2025, 06:00

A new study published in the (https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811251324379) Journal of Psychopharmacology has found that cannabis use can impair key driving skills for up to five and a half hours after consumption—well beyond the commonly assumed three-hour window. The study also revealed that many users feel ready to drive long before their driving performance returns to normal.
The researchers were motivated by the rapid expansion of legal cannabis use across the United States and the rising number of car crashes involving drivers who test positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive component of cannabis. In 2021 alone, over 52 million Americans reported using cannabis. Yet existing research has not kept pace. Most past studies have only assessed driving within a narrow three-hour window after cannabis use, leaving questions about how long impairments might actually last. In addition, current laws in many states rely on THC blood levels to infer impairment, even though earlier findings have suggested that these levels may not accurately reflect a person’s ability to drive safely.
“With cannabis being the second most widely used recreational drug after alcohol, understanding its impact on driving behaviors is critical for public safety. Previous research on cannabis-impaired driving often focused on limited metrics and short timeframes, leaving gaps in knowledge about the duration and scope of impairment. Our interest was driven by the need to explore these gaps systematically, using a robust experimental design to assess multiple driving behaviors over extended periods,” explained study author Shashwath A. Meda, a senior clinical research associate at the Institute of Living at Hartford Healthcare and staff scientist at Yale University.
The researchers designed a controlled laboratory experiment that could measure multiple aspects of driving performance across an extended period of time after cannabis use. They recruited 38 healthy adult participants between the ages of 18 and 40, all of whom had at least two years of recent highway driving experience and used cannabis at least once per week. Most were frequent users, and both male and female participants were included. To be eligible, participants had to be free of significant medical or psychiatric conditions and had to abstain from cannabis for at least 24 hours before testing.
The study used a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. Each participant completed three full-day sessions, during which they were given either a placebo, a low dose of cannabis, or a higher dose, delivered by a vaporizer. Participants inhaled the vapor in a standardized way to ensure equal dosage across the group.
“The doses used (5.9% and 13% THC) were lower than those commonly found in commercially available cannabis products, which may underestimate the degree of impairment seen in real-world settings,” Meda told PsyPost.
Over an eight-hour period following cannabis use, participants completed a series of simulated driving tasks at four different time points. The simulations included scenarios such as lane-keeping, car-following, and overtaking other vehicles. These tasks were designed to test different driving abilities, such as maintaining control of the vehicle, responding to changes in traffic, and making safe decisions in potentially risky situations. In total, 19 different measures of driving behavior were assessed. Participants also regularly reported how “high” they felt, how impaired they believed they were, and whether they would choose to drive in their current state.
The results showed clear and measurable impairments across several key areas of driving. In the lane-keeping task, participants showed fewer steering corrections—an indication of reduced attention and control—for up to 3.5 hours after the low dose and up to 5.5 hours after the higher dose.
In the car-following task, participants exhibited less consistent use of the gas pedal and slower reactions to the lead vehicle for up to three hours after using the higher dose. During the overtaking task, those who received the high dose chose narrower gaps between cars, spent more time in the oncoming lane, and had lower time-to-collision estimates—behaviors that could increase the risk of a crash.
“Cannabis-induced driving impairments can persist longer than previously assumed, with certain effects lasting up to 5 hours after consumption of higher THC doses (13%),” Meda explained. “This timeframe exceeds the typical 3-hour window explored in earlier studies.”
The researchers also found a disconnect between how participants felt and how they performed. While most subjects reported feeling impaired for only two to three hours, the driving impairments lasted longer. In fact, many participants said they were willing to drive just two hours after using cannabis, even though objective measures showed their performance was still affected. This mismatch between subjective judgment and actual ability suggests that people may be unaware of the risks they pose when driving under the influence.
“Approximately two-thirds of participants were willing to drive despite being aware of their impairment, highlighting a significant public safety concern,” Meda noted. “Self-perceived readiness to drive does not align with objective measures of driving performance.”
The researchers also tested whether the concentration of THC and its metabolites in the blood or oral fluid could predict how impaired someone was behind the wheel. The researchers found no consistent relationship between these biological markers and actual driving behavior. In other words, a person could have a high level of THC in their system and drive safely, or have a low level and still show clear impairments. This finding reinforces growing concerns that blood THC levels are unreliable indicators of impairment and may not be suitable for legal or forensic use.
“One surprising finding was the lack of correlation between blood THC levels and driving performance metrics,” Meda said. “Despite elevated THC concentrations in participants’ blood post-consumption, these levels did not reliably predict impairment across various driving tasks. This disconnect suggests that biological measures alone may be insufficient for assessing cannabis-related driving risks.”
While the study had several strengths—including its detailed examination of driving behaviors, its use of standardized doses, and its extended testing window—it also had some limitations. The sample size was modest and included few occasional users, females, or older adults, which could limit how broadly the findings apply. Additionally, Meda noted that “simulated driving conditions cannot fully replicate real-world complexities, such as unpredictable traffic scenarios or environmental variables.”
Looking ahead, the research team plans to expand this line of work by incorporating brain imaging to explore how cannabis affects brain function during driving and examine the effects of higher THC doses.
“The primary goal is to refine understanding of cannabis-induced driving impairments by exploring additional metrics and scenarios that capture real-world complexities,” Meda explained. “We also aim to uncover the effects of cannabis on relationships between driving measures and objective brain function responses using fMRI. Future studies could investigate tolerance effects among chronic users, dose-response relationships with higher THC concentrations, and alternative methods for assessing impairment beyond blood THC levels. Ultimately, this research aims to inform evidence-based public policies and develop tools for accurately identifying impaired drivers.”
“This study underscores the importance of educating cannabis users about their impaired decision-making abilities while under the influence. Public health campaigns should emphasize that self-perceived readiness to drive does not equate to actual safe driving capability. Additionally, policymakers should reconsider reliance on blood THC levels as indicators of impairment and explore multifaceted approaches integrating behavioral assessments.”
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811251324379) A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, pilot study of cannabis-related driving impairment assessed by driving simulator and self-report,” was authored by Shashwath A. Meda, Michael C Stevens, Erwin R Boer, Brian Pittman, Ralitza Gueorguieva, Marilyn A Huestis, and Godfrey D Pearlson.

(https://www.psypost.org/twin-study-uncovers-heritable-roots-of-moral-thinking/) Twin study uncovers heritable roots of moral thinking
Mar 28th 2025, 14:00

A study published in (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2025.113109) Personality & Individual Differences reports that our fundamental moral orientations may be significantly influenced by our genetics. Conducted by Timothy C. Bates, this research reveals that whether we lean toward utilitarian or Kantian ethical frameworks might be partially written in our DNA.
For centuries, moral philosophers have debated two competing ethical frameworks. Utilitarianism, championed by Jeremy Bentham, holds that the right action is whatever maximizes overall well-being. In contrast, Kantian ethics maintains that certain moral duties are absolute, regardless of consequences.
While these competing viewpoints were long thought to stem from psychological differences, the question remained: are these differences shaped primarily by our upbringing and environment, or do they have deeper biological roots?
To answer this question, Bates analyzed data from the Brisbane Adolescent Twin Study, examining 439 monozygotic (identical) twins, who share 100% of their genetic makeup, and 627 dizygotic (fraternal) twins, who share approximately 50% of their genes.
The participants, representative of the Australian population in terms of socioeconomic background and ethnicity, completed the Oxford Utilitarianism Scale (OUS), which measures two distinct dimensions of utilitarian thinking: Impartial Beneficence (the commitment to maximizing well-being impartially, without favoring any individual or group) and Instrumental Harm (the willingness to use coercion or harm to achieve a greater good).
Impartial Beneficence showed 58% heritability, while Instrumental Harm demonstrated 42% heritability. Overall utilitarian inclination had a heritability estimate of 52%. These two dimensions of utilitarian thinking were largely genetically independent. This means that someone genetically predisposed to care deeply about maximizing well-being for all isn’t necessarily inclined to support causing harm to achieve those goals.
The study found minimal evidence for shared environmental influences, suggesting that growing up in the same household had little impact on developing these moral perspectives. Instead, differences were primarily shaped by genetics and unique environmental experiences.
Bates acknowledges that the focus on Australian twins may limit the generalizability of these findings. Future studies could explore whether these genetic influences remain consistent across different cultural and socio-political contexts.
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2025.113109) Genetic origins of Utilitarian versus Kantian moral philosophy in heritable motivations for egalitarian beneficence and coercive redistribution” was authored by Timothy C. Bates.

(https://www.psypost.org/science-fiction-may-help-foster-a-sense-of-global-solidarity-by-evoking-awe-study-finds/) Science fiction may help foster a sense of global solidarity by evoking awe, study finds
Mar 28th 2025, 12:00

Science fiction may be more than just entertainment. New research suggests that regularly engaging with science fiction—whether through films, books, or other media—can help people feel a stronger connection to humanity as a whole. The researchers found that science fiction’s ability to evoke awe, a powerful emotion triggered by vast and novel experiences, plays a key role in this effect. Across three studies conducted in China, they showed that exposure to science fiction narratives increases people’s identification with all humanity, and that repeated engagement with the genre can promote this identification over time.
The research, published in (https://doi.org/10.1177/00936502241295300) Communication Research, was motivated by growing interest in the social and psychological effects of media. While past work has shown that certain kinds of narratives can promote empathy or reduce prejudice, much of that research has focused on specific storylines or emotional appeals. The authors of this study wanted to understand whether entire genres, like science fiction, might influence social attitudes in a more systematic way—and whether they could do so through emotional experiences that go beyond simple moral lessons or character-driven empathy.
In particular, the researchers focused on a concept called “identification with all humanity.” This refers to how much individuals feel connected to all people, regardless of nationality, race, or background. It reflects a broad, inclusive identity that supports concern for others around the globe. Previous studies have linked this identification to prosocial behaviors such as donating to international causes, supporting refugees, and caring about the environment. The authors theorized that science fiction, with its imaginative worlds and frequent focus on humanity’s shared future, might encourage people to adopt this global perspective.
To test their ideas, the researchers conducted three studies. In the first, they recruited 1,060 adults from across China and asked them to recall how different genres of film made them feel. Participants were randomly assigned to reflect on one of 12 genres, including science fiction, romance, comedy, action-adventure, and documentary. They were then asked how strongly those films had made them feel emotions associated with self-transcendence—emotions that make people feel connected to something larger than themselves. These included awe, gratitude, compassion, admiration, hope, and others.
Science fiction stood out. Compared to all other genres, it was most strongly associated with awe. Participants reported higher levels of awe while watching science fiction than when recalling any other type of film. Importantly, this pattern was not observed for the other self-transcendent emotions, suggesting that awe was a uniquely strong response to science fiction. This finding laid the groundwork for the next two studies, which tested whether awe could explain how science fiction influences identification with all humanity.
In the second study, the researchers conducted two controlled experiments with a combined sample of nearly 1,000 participants. Participants were randomly assigned to read one of three short stories: a science fiction narrative, a realistic narrative covering the same theme, or no narrative at all. For example, one experiment used a story about people fleeing an existential threat—either an asteroid (science fiction) or a wildfire (realistic). Another experiment used a story about futuristic versus contemporary cities.
After reading, participants reported their emotional responses and how connected they felt to humanity. Across both experiments, those who read the science fiction stories felt significantly more awe than those in the other groups. They also reported higher levels of identification with all humanity. Statistical analyses showed that the increase in awe explained the increase in global identification—meaning awe served as a mediator. Even when controlling for other emotions, such as hope or compassion, awe remained the most consistent emotional pathway connecting science fiction to global identification.
The third study looked at longer-term effects. The researchers recruited 543 college students for a three-wave panel study conducted over two months. At each time point, students reported how much science fiction they had engaged with recently, how often they had experienced awe in daily life, and how strongly they identified with humanity as a whole.
The results showed that cumulative engagement with science fiction predicted increases in everyday awe, which in turn predicted increases in identification with all humanity. In other words, the more participants immersed themselves in science fiction over time, the more likely they were to experience awe in their daily lives—and this helped build a stronger global identity.
This final study also revealed a reciprocal relationship: participants who already identified strongly with humanity tended to seek out more science fiction content in the following month. This suggests a feedback loop where people who value global unity may gravitate toward media that reinforces this mindset, which in turn strengthens their identification even more.
The researchers acknowledged some limitations. The first study relied on participants’ memories of past films, which may have been shaped by general impressions of genre rather than specific emotional reactions. The experiments used short written narratives rather than full-length films or other immersive media, which might influence the intensity of emotional responses. And although the findings were consistent across studies, all participants were from China—a country with strong collectivist cultural values—so future research in other cultural settings would help test the generalizability of the results.
Additionally, the authors emphasized that science fiction is not the only genre capable of promoting identification with all humanity. For instance, drama or romance may foster global concern through emotions like compassion or love. However, science fiction appears to foster this identification in a distinctive way—by expanding the mind and inspiring a sense of wonder at humanity’s place in the universe.
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1177/00936502241295300) Entertainment for Cosmopolitism: Science Fiction Fosters Identification With All Humanity via Awe,” was authored by Fuzhong Wu and Zheng Zhang.

Forwarded by:
Michael Reeder LCPC
Baltimore, MD

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