Yulieth Rivas-Campo

Background/Objectives: Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide and is frequently associated with reduced cardiorespiratory fitness, impaired functional capacity, and cognitive decline. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has emerged as a promising rehabilitation strategy; however, its effects across multiple domains remain unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of HIIT on cardiorespiratory fitness, cognitive function, and functional capacity in adults with stroke. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Web of Science up to April 2026. Randomized controlled trials involving HIIT interventions in adults with stroke were included. Outcomes of interest were cardiorespiratory fitness (VO₂peak), functional capacity (gait speed, walking distance, mobility, and balance), and cognitive function. Pooled effect sizes were calculated using a random-effects model. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale, and risk of bias was evaluated with the Cochrane RoB-2 tool. Results: In total, 17 studies (n = 809 participants) were included, with 12 contributing to the meta-analysis. HIIT significantly improved cardiorespiratory fitness (SMD = −0.849; p = 0.005), gait speed (SMD = 0.693; p = 0.014), walking distance (SMD = 0.604; p < 0.001), functional mobility (SMD = −0.711; p = 0.027), balance (SMD = 2.447; p = 0.002), and cognitive function (SMD = 1.741; p < 0.001). However, substantial heterogeneity was observed across most outcomes. Conclusions: HIIT appears to be an effective intervention for improving cardiorespiratory fitness, functional capacity, and cognitive performance in individuals with stroke. Nevertheless, the variability across studies suggests that its effectiveness is context-dependent. Further research is needed to standardize protocols and determine optimal implementation strategies.

Introduction: Colombia is undergoing a demographic transition characterized by an increase in the older adult population, resulting from decreased mortality and increased life expectancy. This change poses health challenges, especially due to the high prevalence and socioeconomic impact of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which affects daily functioning and quality of life. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the association between MCI and alterations in physical function, cognition, and independence among institutionalized older adults in Cali during 2024. Methodology: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted with 260 participants, assessing general cognition, selective attention, functional capacity, balance, gait, and instrumental activities of daily living using the MoCA test, D2 test, SFT, Tinetti scale, and Lawton and Brody index. Results: A significant association was found between MCI and dynamic balance (OR = 3.488; 95% CI: 1.961–6.205), as well as relevant differences in lower limb strength (p = .033), aerobic capacity (p < .001), and balance (p = .031). Previous studies support this relationship, indicating that older adults with MCI have a higher risk of falls. The findings highlight the need to strengthen health promotion and prevention programs. Conclusions: It is concluded that MCI is associated with alterations in dynamic balance; therefore, it is recommended to expand research to other regions and consider additional associated variables.

Background/Objectives: A mango (Mangifera indica) leaf extract (Zynamite^®), rich in the polyphenol mangiferin, has been demonstrated to modulate brain activity, boost cognitive function, and reduce mental fatigue. Research evidence supports that improving the solubility of this extract could significantly enhance its efficacy as an active ingredient. This study examined the effects of a soluble version of Zynamite^®, Zynamite^® S (Zyn-S), on cognitive function and mood in young adults at low doses. Methods: A total of 119 university students were enrolled in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either 100 mg, 150 mg, or placebo in a double-blind crossover design. Short- and long-term memory were evaluated using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), executive functions with the Trail Making Test (TMT), processing speed with the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), and selective attention with the Stroop Color and Word Test. Additionally, mood was assessed using the Spanish short version of the Profile of Mood States (POMS). All these assessments were conducted before taking the product and at 30 min, 3 h, and 5 h post-intake. Results: The results demonstrated that participants who received Zynamite^® S experienced significant improvements in reduced tension, depression, and confusion, suggesting an enhancement in mental clarity and overall emotional well-being. Both interventions also improved processing speed and cognitive flexibility. However, no significant differences were observed in short- and long-term verbal memory. Conclusions: In summary, these findings support Zynamite^® S as a natural nootropic capable of acutely improving key cognitive functions and emotional balance at low doses in young adults, with sustained efficacy for at least five hours.

El ejercicio es una de las intervenciones no farmacológicas más prometedoras de la actualidad para prevenir o reducir el deterioro cognitivo asociado con enfermedades neurodegenerativas o el envejecimiento. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar el efecto de un programa de entrenamiento funcional de alta intensidad (HIFT) sobre la calidad de vida, calidad del sueño, estabilidad y niveles de depresión en una población colombiana de adultos mayores con deterioro cognitivo leve (DCL). Para esto, se llevó a cabo un ensayo clínico controlado aleatorizado con una muestra de 162 adultos mayores con DCL. El grupo intervención (GI) recibió tratamiento con HIFT por 12 semanas 3 veces a la semana, mientras que el grupo control (GC) recibió recomendaciones generales de actividad física y realizó actividades manuales. Se observó que, posterior a la intervención, hubo una mejora significativa en el GI comparado con el GC en la calidad de vida en múltiples dominios (p < 0,05), calidad de sueño (p < 0,001), estabilidad postural (p < 0,001) y depresión (p < 0,001). El análisis de covarianza multivariada mostró la influencia de la edad y los niveles de deterioro cognitivo (MMSE) sobre los resultados. Este estudio demuestra que la implementación de un programa corto de HIFT tiene un efecto positivo sobre la calidad de vida, calidad del sueño, estabilidad y niveles de depresión en adultos mayores con DCL.

(1) Background: Global population aging is changing demographic structures and presents significant challenges for health systems, which must adapt to an increasingly elderly population. (2) Methods: The study employed a randomized controlled trial design with a total of 116 older adults aged 65 or older, randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 57) undergoing a combined resistance program and Mediterranean diet program and a control group (n = 59) who did not receive any intervention. Anxiety and depression were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), sleep quality through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and perceived stress using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). (3) Results: Statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) were observed both within and between groups in anxiety (Cohen’s d = 0.38 and 0.78, respectively), depression (Cohen’s d = 0.56 and 0.18, respectively), perceived stress (Cohen’s d = 0.15 and 0.39, respectively), and in the PSQI domains: subjective sleep quality (Cohen’s d = 1.01 and 0.53, respectively), sleep duration (Cohen’s d = 0.112 and 0.53, respectively), sleep disturbances (Cohen’s d = 1.92 and 0.95, respectively), use of medications (Cohen’s d = 0.34 and 0.40, respectively), and the PSQI total score (Cohen’s d = 0.68 and 0.49, respectively). No significant differences were observed in sleep latency or daytime dysfunction. (4) Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that resistance intervention may be an effective therapeutic option to improve mental health and sleep quality in older adults aged 65 or older, offering a non-pharmacological approach to improving overall well-being in this demographic.

The article reviews the meeting points between discursive practices and pedagogical practices in teacher training, derived from an inter-institutional project on Discursive Practices on Senior Management and Educational Services and their impact on Educational and Institutional Policies in Colombia and Latin America. The general objective of the research was to reveal the predominant constructs concerning the discursive practices and underlying categories in the articles of Latin American journals indexed in Scielo, Scopus, and Web of Science between 2018 and 2022 in the field of education. To this end, a comprehensive hermeneutical systematic review was proposed. A formula was built to identify the selective elements necessary to make up the corpus. This formula was applied to the selected databases, and a more precise delimitation was carried out in collaboration with three experts using the Rayyan tool. For systematization, a multiple-entry matrix was designed. Selective coding allowed us to obtain two categories: Discursive practices in constant tension due to language, discourse, and power, and teacher training as a historical, contextual, and discursive construction, allowing us to identify the influence of epistemological perspectives on its conceptual consolidation. El artículo revisa los puntos de encuentro entre las prácticas discursivas y las prácticas pedagógicas en la formación docente, la cual se deriva de un proyecto interinstitucional sobre Prácticas Discursivas sobre la Alta Dirección y los Servicios Educativos y su incidencia en las Políticas Educativas e Institucionales en Colombia y América Latina. El objetivo general de la investigación fue develar los constructos predominantes en relación con las prácticas discursivas y las categorías subyacentes en los artículos de revistas latinoamericanas indexadas en Scielo, Scopus y Web of Science, entre 2018 y 2022, en relación con el campo de la educación. Para ello, se propuso una revisión sistemática hermenéutico-comprensiva. Para la cual, se construyó una fórmula que permitió identificar los elementos selectivos necesarios para conformar el corpus; dicha fórmula fue aplicada en las bases de datos seleccionadas y se llevó a cabo una delimitación más precisa con colaboración de tres expertos a través de la herramienta Rayyan. Para la sistematización, se diseñó una matriz de múltiple-entrada. La codificación selectiva permitió obtener dos categorías: Las prácticas discursivas en constante tensión por el lenguaje, el discurso y el poder, y la formación docente como una construcción histórica, contextual y discursiva, permitiendo identificar la influencia de las perspectivas epistemológicas en su consolidación conceptual.

(1) Objective: To review the existing evidence on pain education in patients with pain derived from an oncological process. (2) Methods: A systematic review was conducted using the databases Pubmed, Web of Science, PEDro, and Scopus. The selected studies had to incorporate instruction about the neurophysiology of pain into their educational program. The target population was cancer patients who had suffered pain for at least one month. The methodological quality of the articles collected was assessed using the PEDro scale. (3) Results: Some 698 studies were initially identified, of which 12 were included in this review. Four different models of pain education programs were found in the studies’ interventions. Pain intensity, pain experience, quality of life, pain tolerance, and catastrophism were the variables that appeared most frequently. (4) Conclusions: This review demonstrates that pain education in patients with cancer pain may produce effects such as decreased pain intensity and catastrophism. Knowledge about pain also seems to increase. However, no benefit was reported for patients’ overall quality of life. Therefore, more research is needed to clarify the effects of these interventions on the oncology population.

Physical exercise is a very promising non-pharmacological approach to prevent or reduce the cognitive decline that occurs in people aged 60 years or older. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a high-intensity intervallic functional training (HIFT) program on cognitive functions in an elderly Colombian population with mild cognitive impairment. A controlled clinical trial was developed with a sample of 132 men and women aged >65 years, linked to geriatric care institutions, which were systematically blind randomized. The intervention group (IG) received a 3-month HIFT program (n = 64) and the control group (CG) (n = 68) received general physical activity recommendations and practiced manual activities. The outcome variables addressed cognition (MoCA), attention (TMTA), executive functions (TMTB), verbal fluency (VFAT test), processing speed (Digit Symbol Substitution Test-DSST), selective attention and concentration (d2 test). After the analysis, improvement was found in the IG with significant differences with respect to the CG in the level of cognitive impairment (MoCA), attention (TMTA), verbal fluency and concentration (p < 0.001). Executive functions (TMTB) showed differences in both groups, being slightly higher in the IG (p = 0.037). However, no statistically significant results were found for selective attention (p = 0.55) or processing speed (p = 0.24). The multiple analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) showed the influence of the education level on all cognition assessments (p = 0.026); when adjusting for sociodemographic variables, the influence of the intervention remained significant (p < 0.001). This study empirically validates that the implementation of a HIFT program has a positive effect on cognitive functions in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment. Therefore, professionals specialized in the care of this population could consider including functional training programs as an essential part of their therapeutic approaches. The distinctive features of this program, such as its emphasis on functional training and high intensity, appear to be relevant for stimulating cognitive health in the geriatric population.

Physical exercise has been established as an intervention in the integral approach for the physical, functional, and social health of older adults. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a high-intensity functional training (HIFT) program on the physical condition and functional capacity of an elderly Colombian population with mild cognitive impairment. This research corresponds to a blind randomized controlled clinical trial. A total of 169 men and women aged over 65 years were evaluated and distributed in two groups: the experimental group that received a 12-week HIFT intervention (n = 82) and the control group (n = 87) that received general recommendations on the benefits of physical exercise. The outcome variables included physical condition, assessed using the Senior Fitness battery (SNB); Fried’s frailty phenotype was applied, and gait and balance were assessed using the Tinetti scale. For the functional variables, activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, and advanced activities of daily living were evaluated. All variables were measured pre- and post-intervention. Statistically significant improvements were observed in the IG for gait stability and balance (p < 0.001), as well as for independence in activities of daily living (p = 0.003), and instrumental and advanced activities (p < 0.001). Likewise, greater functionality was found when assessed with the SNB (p < 0.001), except for upper limb strength. The frailty classification did not show changes post-intervention (p = 0.170) nor in the group x time interaction. MANCOVA analysis showed that regardless of gender, health level, age, BMI, cognition, and health level, the HIFT intervention produced better results in functional capacity, balance, and gait (F = 0.173, p < 0.001, Wilks’ λ = 88.231).

Sarcopenia is defined as the generalized and progressive loss of skeletal muscle strength and mass that may be affected by metabolic factors, although this relationship has been poorly studied. The aim of this review and meta-analysis was to analyze the relationship among the different metabolic risk factors and sarcopenia in people older than 65 years. Following the PRISMA 2020 guide, we searched for articles that studied the relationship among sarcopenia and metabolic risk factors in adults over 65 years of age, published between 2012 and 2022 in four databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Plus, and CINAHL. A total of 370 articles were identified in the initial search, of which 13 articles were selected for inclusion in this review. It was observed that metabolic risk factors such as Body Mass Index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, or triglycerides had a significant association with sarcopenia. There is evidence of the association of different metabolic risk factors with sarcopenia in adults over 65 years of age, so it is necessary to carry out studies that investigate different strategies that reduce the appearance of sarcopenia, and with it, the incidence of metabolic diseases.