As we age, it’s not uncommon to experience some degree of cognitive decline – a frustrating reality for many older adults. But what if there were a way to slow down or even prevent this age-related brain deterioration? Exciting new research from the emerging field of Nutritional Cognitive Neuroscience suggests that the answer may lie in the foods we eat.
The study, published in Nature Aging, identifies a specific set of nutrients that appear to promote “healthy brain aging.” By studying the diets, cognitive abilities, and brain scans of 100 older adults, the researchers discovered that those with higher levels of certain key nutrients in their blood exhibited larger brain volumes, better white matter integrity, more efficient brain network organization, and superior performance on tests of intelligence and memory.
So, what exactly are these brain-boosting nutrients? The nutrient profile linked to healthier brain aging included higher levels of specific monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, fat-soluble vitamins and vitamin-like compounds (vitamin E and choline), and antioxidants called carotenoids (lutein and zeaxanthin). While these nutrients have previously been associated with brain health, this study is one of the first to examine their collective impact using multiple sophisticated brain imaging techniques, providing a more comprehensive picture. Interestingly, the team found that this nutrient profile lined up strongly with the foods in the Mediterranean diet.
“We investigated specific nutrient biomarkers, such as fatty acid profiles, known in nutritional science to potentially offer health benefits. This aligns with the extensive body of research in the field demonstrating the positive health effects of the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes foods rich in these beneficial nutrients,” says Aron Barbey, director of the Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, in a media release. “The present study identifies particular nutrient biomarker patterns that are promising and have favorable associations with measures of cognitive performance and brain health.”
To understand why this nutrient combination is so powerful, let’s break down the roles of these nutrients in the brain. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, like those found in fish, nuts, and vegetable oils, are crucial for maintaining the structural integrity of brain cells and facilitating communication between neurons. They also help combat inflammation, which has been linked to age-related cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Vitamin E, abundant in nuts, seeds, and leafy greens, is a potent antioxidant that protects brain cells from oxidative stress – a kind of cellular wear-and-tear that accumulates with age. Choline, found in eggs, meat, and cruciferous vegetables, is essential for producing acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter critical for memory) and maintaining the structural integrity of brain cell membranes.
Lutein and zeaxanthin, the carotenoids highlighted in the study, are primarily found in leafy green vegetables like spinach and kale. These compounds accumulate in the brain and act as potent antioxidants, shielding brain cells from damaging free radicals. Previous research has linked higher lutein and zeaxanthin levels to better memory, processing speed, and executive function in older adults.
Interestingly, the researchers found that study participants naturally clustered into two distinct groups based on their brain health: those displaying age-appropriate brain changes (the “Delayed Aging” group) and those showing more pronounced brain deterioration (the “Accelerated Aging” group). Remarkably, the Delayed Aging group not only had higher blood levels of the key nutrients but also outperformed their Accelerated Aging counterparts on tests of intelligence, memory, and executive function.
What’s more, the researchers calculated each participant’s “brain age” using machine learning algorithms trained on their brain scans. Incredibly, those in the Delayed Aging group had brains that appeared younger than their chronological age would suggest. This finding underscores the potential for nutrition to not just maintain but potentially even reverse some aspects of brain aging.
The study’s lead authors emphasize that their nutrient profile is not meant to be a definitive prescription but rather a starting point for developing targeted “brain-healthy” diets. They stress the importance of obtaining these nutrients from whole foods rather than supplements, as the complex interactions between nutrients in their natural form may be key to their beneficial effects.
While this study represents an exciting leap forward in our understanding of nutrition’s role in brain health, the authors acknowledge some limitations. The study’s cross-sectional design means that causality cannot be definitively established – that is, we can’t say for certain that the nutrient profile directly caused the brain and cognitive differences observed. Additionally, the study sample was relatively small and homogeneous (predominantly white and well-educated), so further research is needed to determine if these findings apply to more diverse populations.
Source: https://studyfinds.org/key-nutrients-healthy-brain-aging/