Does traditional asian vegetables (ulam) consumption correlate with brain activity using fMRI? A study among aging adults from low‐income households

Abstract

Background Working memory and cognitive flexibility are supported by the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Aging adults from low‐income households are individuals with a high risk of cognitive decline who incorporate ulam in their daily diet. Purpose To examine relationship between ulam consumption and the working memory and cognitive flexibility among aging adults from low‐income households who are more susceptible to cognitive decline. Study Type Cross‐sectional. Population/Subjects Thirty‐two aging adults (45–75 years old). Field Strength/Sequence Task‐based fMRI, 3.0T, T1‐weighted anatomical images, T2*‐weighted imaging data. Assessment The dietary and ulam consumption were assessed using the respective validated Dietary History and semiquantitative Food Frequency questionnaires. Working memory and cognitive flexibility were evaluated by using neuropsychological batteries (ie, mini‐mental state examination [MMSE], Digit Span, and Rey auditory verbal learning test [RAVLT]) and task‐based fMRI (N‐back and Stroop Color Word Test [SCWT]). Brodmann's areas 9 and 46 were the regions of interest (ROIs) of DLPFC activation. Statistical Tests Multiple linear regression used to understand the relationship between ulam consumption and the working memory and cognitive flexibility, while analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare the difference of working memory and cognitive flexibility among four percentiles of ulam consumption, after age, gender, and education years adjustments. Significance was decided by two‐sided, P < 0.0042 and P < 0.05. Results The multiple linear regression revealed that ulam consumption was positively associated with the Digit Span (R2 = 0.51, β = 0.702, P < 0.001), right DLPFC activation (1‐back) (R2 = 0.34, β = 0.591, P = 0.001), left DLPFC activation (SCWT‐1) (R2 = 0.33, β = 0.553, P = 0.002), and left DLPFC activation (SCWT‐2) (R2 = 0.34, β = 0.497, P = 0.004). The ulam consumption at the 75th and 100th percentile from the ANCOVA analysis had shown a better working memory and cognitive flexibility as compared with those of the 25th and 50th percentiles (P < 0.05). Data Conclusion This study found that high ulam consumption was related to a high intensity of brain activation in DLPFC; however, the elucidation of the neuroprotective properties of ulam have yet to be established from clinical trial studies. Level of Evidence: 2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 4 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:1142–1153.

Neuroimaging Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Task‐Based Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Activation Following 12 Weeks of Cosmos caudatus Supplementation Among Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment

“…33 Interestingly, an earlier study had indicated the involvement of the middle and precentral frontal gyrus in the DLPFC during the SCWT paradigm. 27 Thus, the results in this study indicated that the subjects in the CC supplement group showed a higher increase in left DLPFC activation for the SCWT (congruent), where the left hemisphere showed the maximal brain activity during the allocated word recognition tasks following 12 weeks of supplementation. 4 Recent findings have indicated that the left hemisphere in the brain is significantly affected by any cognitive interference in the color task.…”

“…For the fMRI task, the N-back task and Stroop Color Word Test (SCWT) paradigms were used in this study. 11,27 N-BACK TASK. The two conditions of the N-back task used in this study included the 0-back and 1-back which had been applied in an earlier study.…”

Is There Any Relationship Between Biochemical Indices and Anthropometric Measurements With Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Activation Among Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment?

“…To ensure a clear understanding of the assignment at hand, the participants were provided with a diagram of the task blocks, and the protocol was clearly explained by the field-worker. The two conditions of the N-back task, which were used in this study, had consisted of 0-back and 1-back that were employed by previous studies ( Lau et al, 2018 ; You et al, 2019 ), which had been created and displayed by using the SuperLab 5 (Cedrus, Los Angeles, CA, United States). N-back holds four blocks for every 0-back and 1-back condition.…”

Effects of 12 Weeks Cosmos caudatus Supplement among Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized, Double-Blind and Placebo-Controlled Trial

“…It showed the highest total phenolic content as compared to nine other common Malaysian traditional vegetables [21]. CC exhibits strong antioxidant properties and may have the ability to prevent neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia [20,22,23]. One of its beneficial based on the medicinal properties are as antidiabetic, anti-obesity, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, and anticancer.…”