A neurophysiological biomarker called the spectral exponent (SE), which measures the steepness of the aperiodic (1/f) slope of EEG activity, can help distinguish levels of consciousness in patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC). In a study of 15 DoC patients, 9 conscious brain-injured controls, and 23 healthy controls, narrowband SE (1-20 Hz) differentiated DoC patients from controls and minimally conscious from vegetative/unresponsive states. SE correlated positively with behavioral scores on the CRS-R, particularly the visual subscale. Longitudinal tracking in one patient showed a reduction in SE negativity, flattening of the 1/f slope, and parallel behavioral recovery. The SE offers an objective complement to subjective behavioral assessments.
A systematic review and network meta-analysis of 29 randomized controlled trials involving 2253 adults with neuropsychiatric disorders found that mind-body exercises such as Tai Chi, Qigong, Yoga, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction significantly reduce the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), while increasing the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Effects on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) showed a non-significant trend toward benefit. The most effective dosage was between 600 and 1000 MET-minutes per week. Tai Chi and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction ranked best for reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines, while Qigong showed the greatest benefits for neurotrophic outcomes. Participant characteristics and exercise parameters moderated the effects, suggesting personalized prescriptions may enhance outcomes.