Dietary Influences on Cognitive Function with Aging

Parrott, Matthew D.; Greenwood, Carol E.

doi:10.1196/annals.1396.028

Cited by 97 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…2). In the last 3 decades, numerous studies suggested that modifiable lifestyle factors including a low-calorie diet (caloric restriction, CR), and specific micro-and macronutrients like unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), might exert beneficial effects on the aging brain (3)(4)(5)(6)(7). In animal models of aging and neurodegenerative diseases, CR protected hippocampal, striatal, and cortical neurons, and ameliorated functional decline (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Caloric restriction improves memory in elderly humans

Witte¹,

Fobker²,

Gellner³

et al. 2009

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

496

378

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Animal studies suggest that diets low in calories and rich in unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) are beneficial for cognitive function in age. Here, we tested in a prospective interventional design whether the same effects can be induced in humans. Fifty healthy, normal- to overweight elderly subjects (29 females, mean age 60.5 years, mean body mass index 28 kg/m2) were stratified into 3 groups: (i) caloric restriction (30% reduction), (ii) relative increased intake of UFAs (20% increase, unchanged total fat), and (iii) control. Before and after 3 months of intervention, memory performance was assessed under standardized conditions. We found a significant increase in verbal memory scores after caloric restriction (mean increase 20%; P < 0.001), which was correlated with decreases in fasting plasma levels of insulin and high sensitive C-reactive protein, most pronounced in subjects with best adherence to the diet (all r values < −0.8; all P values <0.05). Levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor remained unchanged. No significant memory changes were observed in the other 2 groups. This interventional trial demonstrates beneficial effects of caloric restriction on memory performance in healthy elderly subjects. Mechanisms underlying this improvement might include higher synaptic plasticity and stimulation of neurofacilitatory pathways in the brain because of improved insulin sensitivity and reduced inflammatory activity. Our study may help to generate novel prevention strategies to maintain cognitive functions into old age

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Caloric restriction improves memory in elderly humans

Witte¹,

Fobker²,

Gellner³

et al. 2009

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

496

378

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Nutrition also influences cognition, with both long term dietary patterns and the acute consumption of individual nutrients playing a role (Parrott and Greenwood 2007). For example, following an overnight fast, consuming a glucose-containing drink, compared with the ingestion of an artificially sweetened calorie-free placebo drink, is associated with transient cognitive benefits in older adults (Kaplan et al 2000;Riby et al 2004), with the most consistent enhancements reported in tests of verbal (Manning et al 1992(Manning et al , 1998Riby et al 2004) and non-verbal episodic memory (Allen et al 1996).…”

mentioning

confidence: 95%

The acute effects of glucose ingestion on attentional control in fasting healthy older adults

2010

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“…Diet is an important lifestyle factor, which in recent times has been investigated for its influence on cognitive function and the incidence and onset of neurodegenerative disorders (1,2) . It has long been known that a diet high in saturated fats negatively impacts on cognitive processing and increases the risk of neurological dysfunction in both animals and human subjects (3,4) , while energy restriction (reduction in approximately 30 % energy intake) protects the brain from injury (5,6) .…”

Section: Flavonoids: Memory: Learning: Hippocampusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flavonoids as modulators of memory and learning: molecular interactions resulting in behavioural effects

Rendeiro

Guerreiro

et al. 2012

Proc. Nutr. Soc.

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There is considerable interest in the potential of a group of dietary-derived phytochemicals known as flavonoids in modulating neuronal function and thereby influencing memory, learning and cognitive function. The present review begins by detailing the molecular events that underlie the acquisition and consolidation of new memories in the brain in order to provide a critical background to understanding the impact of flavonoid-rich diets or pure flavonoids on memory. Data suggests that despite limited brain bioavailability, dietary supplementation with flavonoid-rich foods, such as blueberry, green tea and Ginkgo biloba lead to significant reversals of age-related deficits on spatial memory and learning. Furthermore, animal and cellular studies suggest that the mechanisms underpinning their ability to induce improvements in memory are linked to the potential of absorbed flavonoids and their metabolites to interact with and modulate critical signalling pathways, transcription factors and gene and/or protein expression which control memory and learning processes in the hippocampus; the brain structure where spatial learning occurs. Overall, current evidence suggests that human translation of these animal investigations are warranted, as are further studies, to better understand the precise cause-and-effect relationship between flavonoid intake and cognitive outputs. Flavonoids: Memory: Learning: HippocampusDiet is an important lifestyle factor, which in recent times has been investigated for its influence on cognitive function and the incidence and onset of neurodegenerative disorders (1,2) . It has long been known that a diet high in saturated fats negatively impacts on cognitive processing and increases the risk of neurological dysfunction in both animals and human subjects (3,4) , while energy restriction (reduction in approximately 30 % energy intake) protects the brain from injury (5,6) . Recently, significant evidence has emerged to indicate that phytochemical-rich foods, and in particular those rich in flavonoids, may reverse agerelated deficits in cognitive function in both animals and human subjects (7)(8)(9) . For example, the PAQUID prospective study examined cognitive performance in 1640 subjects (aged at least 65 years and cognitively normal at baseline) on four occasions over a 10-year-period and found that flavonoid-intake was associated with a significantly better cognitive performance over time (7) (P = 0 . 046). Furthermore, a cross-sectional study examining the relationship between the intake of three common flavonoid-containing foods (chocolate, wine and tea) and cognitive performance in elderly individuals revealed that there was a dose-dependent, positive relationship between the intake of these foods and performance on multiple cognitive outcomes (Kendrick Object Learning Test, Digit Symbol Test, Block Design, Mini-Mental State Examination and Controlled Oral Word Association Test) (10) . More recently, the consumption of dietary flavonoids, especially

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Dietary Influences on Cognitive Function with Aging

Cited by 97 publications

References 67 publications

Caloric restriction improves memory in elderly humans

Caloric restriction improves memory in elderly humans

The acute effects of glucose ingestion on attentional control in fasting healthy older adults

Flavonoids as modulators of memory and learning: molecular interactions resulting in behavioural effects

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