Background/Objectives: Chronic low-grade inflammation, underpinned by persistent activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, is a central pathological mechanism in non-communicable diseases including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and neurodegeneration. Dietary polyphenols have been consistently associated with reduced inflammatory burden; however, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain incompletely understood. This review aims to characterize the gut microbiota–polyphenol–NLRP3 inflammasome axis as a central regulatory network through which diet modulates innate immune signaling and chronic inflammatory tone. Methods: A comprehensive narrative review of the available literature was conducted, integrating evidence from mechanistic studies in cell culture and animal models, microbiome research, metabolomics, and human epidemiological and interventional data. Results: The gut microbiota emerges as a critical biochemical intermediary that transforms dietary polyphenols into bioactive metabolites, including urolithins, phenyl-γ-valerolactones, protocatechuic acid, and short-chain fatty acids, with enhanced bioavailability and potent inflammasome-modulating properties. These compounds suppress NLRP3 activation through multiple converging mechanisms, including inhibition of NF-κB-dependent priming, mitochondrial quality control via mitophagy, Nrf2-mediated antioxidant responses, and HDAC inhibition. Evidence across cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological, and respiratory disease models supports the translational relevance of this axis. Conclusions: The microbiota–polyphenol–NLRP3 axis functions as an integrated, self-regulated network in which each component simultaneously shapes and is shaped by the others: dysbiosis primes NLRP3 and depletes protective metabolites, while inflammasome hyperactivation further destabilises microbial ecology; polyphenol biotransformation by specific taxa interrupts this feed-forward loop at multiple nodes, restoring homeostasis.

Background: Psychophysical well-being, understood as the integrated balance between physical and psychological health, is essential for both personal quality of life and academic performance. Among emerging strategies to support emotional balance and cognitive functioning, active breaks, brief physical activity sessions during study or work, are gaining recognition for their effectiveness. This pilot study explored the impact of active breaks on psychological, cognitive, and physiological variables in a sample of business students, aiming to evaluate their role in enhancing resilience, decision-making, well-being, and autonomic regulation. Methods: An experimental design was used, with students divided into two groups: the experimental group engaged in daily active breaks for 12 weeks, while the control group maintained their regular routines. Psychometric assessments (CD-RISC, DMC Test, PSS, and Stroop Test) and physiological measures (HRV and HRR) were administered before and after the intervention. Results: The findings showed significant improvements in psychological resilience, decision-making ability, and psychophysical well-being in the experimental group. Cognitive performance also improved, as indicated by better Stroop Test scores. Physiologically, increases in heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate recovery (HRR) suggested enhanced autonomic balance and stress regulation. Conclusions: Active breaks offer a simple and effective strategy to promote students’ holistic well-being—encompassing both psychological and cognitive dimensions—thereby preparing future professionals to manage stress and maintain performance in high-demand environments.

Background. Physical activity enhances cognitive performance in adolescents, yet the role of circadian timing within the school day remains poorly understood. Purpose. This study examined whether the timing of school-based physical activity (morning, midday, afternoon) influences cognitive performance, subjective alertness, and mood states in early adolescents. Methods. A 12-week crossover intervention was conducted with 102 students (aged 12–13 years) from southern Italy. Each class participated in three 4-week conditions of structured physical activity scheduled in the morning (8:10–9:10), midday (12:10–13:10), and afternoon (15:10–16:10), separated by one-week washouts. Cognitive outcomes (d2-R, Digit Span backward, TMT-A), subjective alertness (KSS), and mood (PANAS-C) were assessed at baseline and after each condition. Analyses employed linear mixed-effects models and repeated-measures ANOVAs, adjusting for sex, BMI, chronotype, and sleep duration. Results. Morning activity produced the strongest improvements in attention (d2-R, η²p = 0.16), working memory (Digit Span backward, η²p = 0.06), processing speed (TMT-A, η²p = 0.08), alertness (KSS, η²p = 0.19), and positive affect (PANAS-C, η²p = 0.05). Midday sessions yielded moderate benefits (d2-R, η²p = 0.09; Digit Span backward, η²p = 0.05; TMT-A, η²p = 0.07; KSS, η²p = 0.09), while afternoon activity showed the weakest or nonsignificant changes (all η²p < 0.05). Chronotype moderated the effects on attention and working memory, with morning types deriving the largest gains. Conclusions. The timing of physical activity is a critical determinant of its cognitive and affective benefits. Incorporating morning exercise into school timetables may represent a low-cost, scalable strategy to optimize both learning readiness and well-being in adolescents.

Complex motor tasks that integrate cognitive demands may particularly enhance executive functions, which support school success. Yet few school-based trials have tested structured interventions combining motor complexity and cognitive challenge in early adolescence. Purpose: This study examined the effects of a gamified “Dual-Challenge Circuit” (DCC), integrating motor patterns with cognitive tasks, on executive functions, academic performance, motor skills, and physical fitness among middle school students. Secondary aims were to explore whether executive functions mediated academic gains and whether a dose–response relationship emerged. Method: A cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted in four middle schools in Southern Italy with sixth- and seventh-grade students. Participants were assigned to either the DCC program or traditional physical education. The 12-week intervention included two weekly 60 min sessions. Outcomes were executive functions (Stroop, Digit Span backward, Trail Making Test-B), academic achievement (grades, MT tests), motor coordination (KTK), physical fitness (PACER, long jump, sit-and-reach), and adherence/fidelity. Results: The DCC group showed significantly greater improvements in all executive function measures and in mathematics and language grades (medium-to-large effects). Mediation analyses confirmed executive functions predicted academic improvements. Motor coordination and fitness also improved, with large effects in aerobic capacity and strength. Conclusions: The DCC effectively enhanced executive functions, academic outcomes, and fitness. Gamified, cognitively demanding physical education formats appear feasible and beneficial in real-world school settings.

Background/Objectives: Obesity in adolescence is associated with a deterioration in cognitive functions, with significant implications for psychophysical well-being and academic performance. Recent studies highlight the importance of integrated interventions that combine nutrition education and physical activity to promote the overall health of students. The present study aims to evaluate the efficacy of an integrated intervention based on nutritional education and conscious body movement in improving cognitive functions, perceived well-being and nutritional knowledge in lower secondary school students with indicators of overweight and obesity. Methods: A quasi-experimental design with randomization at the class level was adopted, involving 60 students divided into an experimental group and control group. The intervention was divided into twelve weeks of activities, divided between nutritional education modules and physical activity courses. Standardized tests for the assessment of cognitive functions (Digit Span Forward, Digit Span Backward, Stroop Test, Trail Making Test B), motor tests (6-Minute Walk Test, Sit and Reach Test) and a food knowledge questionnaire were administered before and after the intervention. Results: The experimental group showed significant improvements compared to the control group in all cognitive, motor, and nutritional knowledge measures, indicating the effectiveness of the integrated intervention in promoting cognitive and physical well-being. Conclusions: The findings support the role of school as a generative environment of integrated well-being, suggesting the need to develop and implement curricular programs that integrate nutrition education and physical activity to counteract the negative effects of obesity on cognitive function in adolescents.

Background and Objectives: Gait is a fundamental human behavior essential for individual autonomy and well-being; it reflects a complex inter-joint coordination that can change with aging. Materials and Methods: This study applied a network-based fingerprinting approach to evaluate the stability and individuality of gait coordination in adults (mean age: 41.6) and older adults (mean age: 73.5). Each participant completed two gait recordings, from which we constructed kinematic networks (i.e., kinectome) representing joint–velocity correlations. Then, borrowing from network fingerprinting techniques, we computed measures of intra-subject similarity (Iself), inter-subject similarity within the same group (Iothers), cross-group similarity (Iextra), and individual discriminability (Differentiation rate, DR). Results: While Iself was comparable across groups, older adults showed higher Iothers and lower DR, indicating more homogeneous and less distinctive coordination patterns. Furthermore, Iothers was significantly higher than Iextra in the older group only, suggesting age-specific convergence in motor behavior. Conclusions: These findings support the hypothesis that aging reduces the individuality of gait coordination, possibly due to adaptive or degenerative changes in motor control. Kinectome-based fingerprinting thus offers a promising tool for capturing subtle shifts in neuromotor organizations linked to aging.