Exercise to Promote Long-Term Brain Health (1 CE)
Number of Credits: 1
This course is for: Clinical Psychologists, Counselors, and Nurses
Course By: Tim Grigsby, PhD
Content By: Fernandes, J., Arida, R. M., & Gomez-Pinilla, F. (2017). Physical exercise as an epigenetic modulator of brain plasticity and cognition. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 80, 443-456.
Course Description: Observational and clinical research has demonstrated the value of exercise in promoting cognitive health and has therapeutic effects for several mental health disorders. Emerging evidence suggests that epigenetic modifications may explain the observed associations between exercise and cognitive health, and that these benefits may extend to future generations. The researchers discuss new developments in the epigenetic field connecting exercise with changes in cognitive function, including DNA methylation, histone modifications and microRNAs (miRNAs). Understanding how exercise promotes long-term cognitive effects is crucial for health education and intervention efforts on the benefits of exercise to reduce the burden of neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Learning Objectives:
- Compare and contrast the observed benefits of exercise between school-aged children and older adults.
- Identify three epigenetic mechanisms that explain the cognitive health benefits of exercise
- Analyze the state of the evidence showing that beneficial effects of exercise can be transmitted across generations
Course Outline:
- Read and understand Physical exercise as an epigenetic modulator of brain plasticity and cognition
- Review the Course Description and Learning Objectives
- Reflect on the cognitive benefits of exercise and the role epigenetic modifications play in promoting long-term benefits
- Work through the post-test questions; keep in mind that answer selections should be derived from the respective article
- Return to the referenced article for any missed questions and/or to better understand why epigenetic mechanisms might explain how exercise improves cognitive health throughout the lifespan
Implicit biases incorporate an association that occurs outside of conscious awareness that may resultantly lead to a negative patient evaluation derived from irrelevant characteristics (i.e. gender and/or race). A systematic review of the literature was conducted. Thirty-five studies identified the existence of implicit bias in healthcare professionals; all correlational studies evidenced a significant positive relationship between implicit bias levels and lower quality of care (FitzGerald & Hurst, 2017). Continued research in health care settings, combined with greater method homogeneity, should be employed to examine the occurrence and prevalence of implicit biases in healthcare settings as a strategic approach for mitigating related disparities (FitzGerald & Hurst, 2017).
Reference
FitzGerald, C., Hurst, S. (2017). Implicit bias in healthcare professionals: a systematic review. BMC Med Ethics 18, 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-017-0179-8
Approvals:
Board Approvals | American Psychological Association (APA), NBCC, Florida Board - Social Work, MFT, Counseling, and Psychology, NYSED - Social Work, MFT and Counseling Only, American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders |
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CE Format | Online, Text-Based |