Background: Prolonged (excessive) sitting is detrimentally associated with cardiovascular, metabolic and mental health. Moreover, prolonged sitting has been associated with poor executive function, memory, attention and visuospatial skills, which are important cognitive aspects of work performance. Breaking up prolonged sitting with standing or light-intensity exercises at the workplace is recognized as a potential measure in improving cognition. However, preliminary evidence, primarily from acute laboratory experiments, has enabled formulating hypothesis on the possible mechanistic pathways. Hence, the aim of this mapping review is to gather preliminary evidence and substantiate possible physiological mechanisms underpinning the putative effects of breaking prolonged sitting on improving cognitive function among sedentary office workers. Mapping method: We searched four databases to identify relevant studies that explored the effects of uninterrupted sitting on cognitive function. First, we introduce how prolonged sitting increases the risks of hyperglycemia, autonomic stability, inflammation, adverse hormonal changes and restrictions in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and alters cognitive function. Second, we elucidate the direct and indirect effects of breaking up prolonged sitting time that may prevent a decline in cognitive performance by influencing glycaemic variability, autonomic stability, hormones (brain derived neurotrophic factor, dopamine, serotonin), vascular functions, and CBF. We highlight the importance of breaking up prolonged sitting on metabolic, vascular and endocrine functions, which in turn may improve cognitive functions and eventually foster work productivity. Improved synaptic transmission or neuroplasticity due to increased brain glucose and mitochondrial metabolism, increased endothelial shear and CBF, increased brain neurotrophic factors (dopamine) and accelerated anti-inflammatory functions are some of the hypothetical mechanisms underpinning improved cognitive functions. Conclusion: We postulate that improving cognitive function by breaking up prolonged sitting periods is biologically plausible with the myriad of (suggested) physiological mechanisms. Future experimental studies to ascertain the aforementioned hypothetical mechanisms and clinical trials to break sedentary behavior and improve cognitive functions in sedentary office workers are warranted.

Background & Aims: Though viewed as a critical measure to prevent the spread of the virus, a prolonged homestay may result in unfavourable sedentary behaviour and chronic disease risk. This systematic review focuses on sedentary behaviour resulting from this quarantine period which may elevate the cardiovascular disease risk, obesity, hypertension, cancer and mental health illness. Methods: Evidence of breaking sedentary behaviour and global recommendations were investigated. Potential unanswered questions regarding sedentary behaviour and physical activity during lockdown were explored. Results: Five systematic reviews and six prospective trials explored the effect of sedentarism affecting chronic disease through potential pathophysiological mechanisms. Sedentary behaviour especially prolonged sitting is found to be a pleiotropic risk factor with altered energy expenditure, adipogenic signalling, immunomodulation, autonomic stability and hormonal dysregulation perpetuating underlying chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer and mental health disorders. Conclusion: Breaking sitting and physical activity are found to reverse the adverse effects associated with excessive sitting during the lockdown.

Background: Six-min walk test (6MWT), a simple functional capacity evaluation tool used globally to determine the prognosis and effectiveness of any therapeutic/medical intervention. However, variability in reference equations derived from western population (due to racial and ethnicity variations) hinders from adequate use of 6MWT clinically. Further, there are no valid Indian studies that predict reference values for 6-min walk distance (6MWD) in healthy Indian normal. Objective: We aimed for framing individualized reference equations for 6MWT in healthy Indian population. Materials and Methods: Anthropometric variables (age, weight, height, and body mass index (BMI)) and 6-min walk in a 30 m corridor were evaluated in 125 subjects (67 females) in a cross-sectional trial. Results: 6MWD significantly correlated with age (r = -0.29), height (r = 0.393), weight (r = 0.08), and BMI (r = -0.17). The gender specific reference equations for healthy Indian individuals were: (1) Males: 561.022 - (2.507 × age [years]) + (1.505 × weight [kg]) - (0.055 × height [cm]). R ² = 0.288. (2) Indian females: 30.325 - (0.809 × age [years]) - (2.074 × weight [kg]) + (4.235 × height [cm]). R ² = 0.272. Though the equations possess a small coefficient of determination and larger standard error estimate, the former applicability to Indian population is justified. Conclusion: These reference equations are probably most appropriate for evaluating the walked capacity of Indian patients with chronic diseases.