Exercise, Nutrition and the Brain

Abstract

Accumulating evidence suggests that diet and lifestyle can play an important role in delaying the onset or halting the progression of age-related health disorders and can improve cognitive function. Exercise has been promoted as a possible prevention for neurodegenerative diseases. Exercise will have a positive influence on cognition and it increases the brain-derived neurotrophic factor, an essential neurotrophin. Several dietary components have been identified as having effects on cognitive abilities. In particular, polyphenols have been reported to exert their neuroprotective actions through the potential to protect neurons against injury induced by neurotoxins, an ability to suppress neuroinflammation, and the potential to promote memory, learning, and cognitive function. Dietary factors can affect multiple brain processes by regulating neurotransmitter pathways, synaptic transmission, membrane fluidity, and signal-transduction pathways. Flavonols are part of the flavonoid family that is found in various fruits, cocoa, wine, tea and beans. Although the antioxidant effects of flavonols are well established in vitro, there is general agreement that flavonols have more complex actions in vivo. Several cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have shown that a higher intake of flavonoids from food may be associated with a better cognitive evolution. Whether this reflects a causal association remains to be elucidated. Several studies have tried to ‘manipulate’ the brain in order to postpone central fatigue. Most studies have clearly shown that in normal environmental circumstances these interventions are not easy to perform. There is accumulating evidence that rinsing the mouth with a carbohydrate solution will improve endurance performance. There is a need for additional well controlled studies to explore the possible impact of diet and nutrition on brain functioning.

Acute effects of brewed cocoa consumption on attention, motivation to perform cognitive work and feelings of anxiety, energy and fatigue: a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover experiment

“…There is a small but growing body of research on the cognitive and mood consequences of chocolate and cocoa consumption [17,[20][21][22][23]; however, there appear to be only a few studies concerning the influence of the consumption of cocoa flavanols per se on acute changes in cognitive performance or mood. One experiment found that, compared to white chocolate containing trace amounts of flavanols, the consumption of dark chocolate containing 773 milligrams (mg) of cocoa flavanols improved spatial memory and reaction time during the predictable phase of an attention task performed 2 to 2.75 h (hrs) post-consumption [24].…”

Effects of Intermittent Fasting, Caloric Restriction, and Ramadan Intermittent Fasting on Cognitive Performance at Rest and During Exercise in Adults

“…Obesity is also an important factor that can be responsible for a decline in cognitive function [3]. Therefore, exercise and nutrition are both powerful means that influence brain structure and function [5]. Diet and regular exercise are two non-invasive approaches that can be used to enhance neural signaling by influencing synaptic transmission, brain plasticity, and cognitive function [4,6].…”

Brain and Exercise: Review

“…BDNF; glukoz oksidasyonunu artırmakta, kan glukoz düzeyini düşürmekte ve insülin hassasiyetini artırmaktadır. 39 Yani enerji metabolizması ve homeostazda denge sağlayarak, leptin hassasiyetini artırır. Leptinin etkisi ise iştahı azaltmak ve enerji harcamasını artırmaktır.…”

“…Yedi alt gruba sahip polifenollerin en önemli grubu flavonoid içeren gıdalardır. 39 Beslenmede, bu gıdaların temel alınması durumunda CREB ve LTP aktivasyonuna katkı sağladıkları için beyin fonksiyonlarında iyileştirici etkileri olabileceği bildirilmektedir. 39 Egzersizin yanı sıra, beyin fonksiyonlarını iyileştirici ileriye dönük stratejiler arasında progesteron, statinler, siklosporin-A vb.…”