Objectives: Sarcopenia, an age-related skeletal muscle disorder, is assessed by handgrip strength, gait speed, and muscle mass, yet population-specific reference data and standardized scores for Asian adults remain limited. We aimed to establish sex- and age-specific normative reference distributions, smoothed centile curves, and modelbased standardized T scores for these indicators in Asian adults. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed adults aged ≥ 40 years attending a tertiary-center Adult Preventive Health Program in 2023–2024. To assess construct validity, we compared sarcopenia indicators across age groups using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Sex- and age-specific reference distributions were estimated using Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale, and Shape (GAMLSS), from which smooth model-based age-specific centiles (5th–95th) were derived. Individual values were standardized to model-based Z scores and transformed to T scores on an approximate 100-point scale. Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) cut-offs were used in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses to determine corresponding T-score thresholds. Results: Among 8095 participants, model-based mean handgrip strength, gait speed, and skeletal muscle mass were 20.03±5 kg, 1.12±0.37 m/s, and 6.93±1.43 kg/m² in women and 30.69±7.46 kg, 1.12±0.37 m/s, and 8.79±1.95 kg/m² in men. GAMLSS-derived centile curves demonstrated age-related declines in strength and gait speed and milder changes in muscle mass. AWGS cut-offs corresponded to T scores in the mid-40s for strength and gait and around 40–41 for muscle mass. Conclusions We established sex- and age-specific normative values and GAMLSS-based reference distributions, and derived model-based Z and T scores that provide standardized sarcopenia metrics in Asian adults, align with AWGS thresholds, and support detection of muscle decline and risk stratification.

Objective: Executive function correlates with the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) based on static heart rate variability (HRV) measurements. Our study advances this understanding by employing dynamic assessments of the PNS to explore and quantify its relationship with inhibitory control (IC). Methods: We recruited 31 men aged 20–35 years. We monitored their electrocardiogram (ECG) signals during the administration of the Conners’ Continuous Performance Test-II (CCPT-II) on a weekly basis over 2 weeks. HRV analysis was performed on ECG-derived RR intervals using 5-minute windows, each overlapping for the next 4 minutes to establish 1-minute intervals. For each time window, the HRV metrics extracted were: mean RR intervals, standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN), low-frequency power with logarithm (lnLF), and high-frequency power with logarithm (lnHF). Each value was correlated with detectability and compared to the corresponding baseline value at t0. Results: Compared with the baseline level, SDNN and lnLF showed marked decreases during CCPT-II. The mean values of HRV showed significant correlation with d’, including mean SDNN (R=0.474, p=0.012), mean lnLF (R=0.390, p=0.045), and mean lnHF (R=0.400, p=0.032). In the 14th time window, the significant correlations included SDNN (R=0.578, p=0.002), lnLF (R=0.493, p=0.012), and lnHF (R=0.432, p=0.031). Significant correlation between d’ and HRV parameters emerged only during the initial CCPT-II. Conclusion A significant correlation between PNS and IC was observed in the first session alone. The IC in the repeated CCPT-II needs to consider the broader neural network.

This case report explores the therapeutic potential of theta burst stimulation (TBS) for cognitive enhancement in individuals with brain injuries. The study presents a 38-year-old male suffering from an organic mental disorder attributed to a traumatic brain injury (TBI), who demonstrated notable cognitive improvements following an intensive TBS protocol targeting the left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex. The treatment led to significant enhancements in impulse control, irritability, and verbal comprehension without adverse effects. Neuropsychological assessments and brain imaging post-intervention revealed improvements in short-term memory, abstract reasoning, list-generating fluency, and increased cerebral blood flow in the prefrontal cortex. These findings suggest that TBS, by promoting neural plasticity and reconfiguring neural networks, offers a promising avenue for cognitive rehabilitation in TBI patients. Further research is warranted to optimize TBS protocols and understand the mechanisms underlying its cognitive benefits.

Objective: Executive function correlates with the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) based on static heart rate variability (HRV) measurements. Our study advances this understanding by employing dynamic assessments of the PNS to explore and quantify its relationship with inhibitory control (IC). Methods: We recruited 31 men aged 20–35 years. We monitored their electrocardiogram (ECG) signals during the administration of the Conners’ Continuous Performance Test-II (CCPT-II) on a weekly basis over 2 weeks. HRV analysis was performed on ECG-derived RR intervals using 5-minute windows, each overlapping for the next 4 minutes to establish 1-minute intervals. For each time window, the HRV metrics extracted were: mean RR intervals, standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN), low-frequency power with logarithm (lnLF), and high-frequency power with logarithm (lnHF). Each value was correlated with detectability and compared to the corresponding baseline value at t0. Results: Compared with the baseline level, SDNN and lnLF showed marked decreases during CCPT-II. The mean values of HRV showed significant correlation with d’, including mean SDNN (R=0.474, p=0.012), mean lnLF (R=0.390, p=0.045), and mean lnHF (R=0.400, p=0.032). In the 14th time window, the significant correlations included SDNN (R=0.578, p=0.002), lnLF (R=0.493, p=0.012), and lnHF (R=0.432, p=0.031). Significant correlation between d’ and HRV parameters emerged only during the initial CCPT-II. Conclusion A significant correlation between PNS and IC was observed in the first session alone. The IC in the repeated CCPT-II needs to consider the broader neural network.

Objective: Executive function correlates with the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) based on static heart rate variability (HRV) measurements. Our study advances this understanding by employing dynamic assessments of the PNS to explore and quantify its relationship with inhibitory control (IC). Methods: We recruited 31 men aged 20–35 years. We monitored their electrocardiogram (ECG) signals during the administration of the Conners’ Continuous Performance Test-II (CCPT-II) on a weekly basis over 2 weeks. HRV analysis was performed on ECG-derived RR intervals using 5-minute windows, each overlapping for the next 4 minutes to establish 1-minute intervals. For each time window, the HRV metrics extracted were: mean RR intervals, standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN), low-frequency power with logarithm (lnLF), and high-frequency power with logarithm (lnHF). Each value was correlated with detectability and compared to the corresponding baseline value at t0. Results: Compared with the baseline level, SDNN and lnLF showed marked decreases during CCPT-II. The mean values of HRV showed significant correlation with d’, including mean SDNN (R=0.474, p=0.012), mean lnLF (R=0.390, p=0.045), and mean lnHF (R=0.400, p=0.032). In the 14th time window, the significant correlations included SDNN (R=0.578, p=0.002), lnLF (R=0.493, p=0.012), and lnHF (R=0.432, p=0.031). Significant correlation between d’ and HRV parameters emerged only during the initial CCPT-II. Conclusion A significant correlation between PNS and IC was observed in the first session alone. The IC in the repeated CCPT-II needs to consider the broader neural network.

This case report explores the therapeutic potential of theta burst stimulation (TBS) for cognitive enhancement in individuals with brain injuries. The study presents a 38-year-old male suffering from an organic mental disorder attributed to a traumatic brain injury (TBI), who demonstrated notable cognitive improvements following an intensive TBS protocol targeting the left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex. The treatment led to significant enhancements in impulse control, irritability, and verbal comprehension without adverse effects. Neuropsychological assessments and brain imaging post-intervention revealed improvements in short-term memory, abstract reasoning, list-generating fluency, and increased cerebral blood flow in the prefrontal cortex. These findings suggest that TBS, by promoting neural plasticity and reconfiguring neural networks, offers a promising avenue for cognitive rehabilitation in TBI patients. Further research is warranted to optimize TBS protocols and understand the mechanisms underlying its cognitive benefits.