Convergent influences of lifestyle behaviour on neurocognitive development in children

Healthy lifestyle behaviours are the primary modifiable risk factors for prevention of chronic disease. 1 Mokdad AH Marks JS Stroup DF Gerberding JL Actual causes of death in the United States, 2000. JAMA. 2004; 291: 1238-1245 Crossref PubMed Scopus (4370) Google Scholar Recognition of the interdependence between various lifestyle behaviours has grown and investigation of their potentially synergistic benefits has increased. 2 Tremblay MS Carson V Chaput JP et al. Canadian 24-hour movement guidelines for children and youth: an integration of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2016; 41: S311-S327 Crossref PubMed Scopus (876) Google Scholar In The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, Jeremy Walsh and colleagues' report 3 Walsh JJ Barnes JD Cameron JD et al. Associations between 24 h movement behaviours and global cognition in US children: a cross-sectional observational study. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2018; (published online Sept 26.)http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(18)30278-5 Scopus (123) Google Scholar an investigation of the effects of three movement behaviours—physical activity, sleep, and recreational screen time—independently and in combination on children's neurocognitive development. They analysed the curated data from the first year of the ongoing Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) prospective cohort study, which is measuring lifestyle behaviours and global cognition, fluid intelligence, and crystallised intelligence among children. Data were available for 4524 children aged 8–11 years, who the authors assessed in terms of adherence to the Canadian 24 h movement behaviour guidelines (≥60 min moderate to vigorous physical activity per day, ≤2 h recreational screen time per day, and 9–11 h sleep per night). 2 Tremblay MS Carson V Chaput JP et al. Canadian 24-hour movement guidelines for children and youth: an integration of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2016; 41: S311-S327 Crossref PubMed Scopus (876) Google Scholar Cognition was compared between participants who did not meet any guideline recommendation and those who met each recommendation in isolation, in combinations of two, or all three recommendations. The mean number of guideline recommendations met was 1·1 (SD 0·9). The sleep recommendation was met by the highest number of participants (2303 [51%]), followed by screen time (1655 [37%]), and physical activity (793 [18%]). 3190 (71%) participants met at least one recommendation, but only 216 (5%) met all three. Global cognition was positively associated with each additional recommendation met (β=1·44, 95% CI 0·82–2·07, p<0·0001). Associations between 24 hour movement behaviours and global cognition in US children: a cross-sectional observational studyMeeting the 24 h movement recommendations was associated with superior global cognition. These findings highlight the importance of limiting recreational screen time and encouraging healthy sleep to improve cognition in children. Full-Text PDF