The Impact of Nutrition on Cognitive Function: Its Role in Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 July 2024 | Viewed by 747

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Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zürich, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute for Neuroscience, Schorenstrasse 16, 8603 Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
Interests: eating disorders; maternal overnutrition; psychiatric disorders; addiction; stress; nutrition; cognitive function; aging
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The relationship between nutrition and cognitive health has been a significant research focus. Nutrition, whether adequate or excessive, during adulthood or early developmental stages (prenatal or postnatal), plays a pivotal role in shaping cognitive abilities and resilience. Overnutrition, often manifesting as obesity, has been linked to a heightened risk of developing neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's. Excess intake of saturated fats and sugars, commonly seen in Western diets, has been associated with poor cognitive performance and faster cognitive decline. Conversely, malnutrition during critical developmental windows can lead to long-lasting cognitive impairments. Prenatal and early postnatal nutrition are particularly vital, as deficiencies or excesses during these periods can influence neural development, synaptic plasticity and brain structure, thereby predisposing individuals to cognitive deficits and an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases later in life. In summary, nutrition has a profound impact on cognitive health, and imbalances, either as deficiencies or excesses, can expedite cognitive aging and elevate the risk of neurodegenerative conditions.

Dr. Daria Peleg-Raibstein
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • aging
  • cognition
  • neurodegenerative disorders
  • nutrition
  • overnutrition
  • prenatal
  • postnatal
  • maternal diet

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 768 KiB  
Article
Unlocking Cognitive Potential: Association of Sarcopenia and Mediterranean Diet on Cognitive Function in Community-Dwelling Elderly of the Dalmatian Region
by Julija Jelaska, Marijana Vučković, Ivana Gugić Ordulj, Ela Kolak, Lucija Šolić Šegvić, Zdravka Đapić Kolak, Irena Keser and Josipa Radić
Nutrients 2024, 16(7), 991; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16070991 - 28 Mar 2024
Viewed by 578
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the association between muscle strength, adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MeDi) and cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly. General data, data of body composition and anthropometric parameters, clinical and laboratory findings, cognitive test questionnaires (Mini-Mental State [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to determine the association between muscle strength, adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MeDi) and cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly. General data, data of body composition and anthropometric parameters, clinical and laboratory findings, cognitive test questionnaires (Mini-Mental State Examination—MMSE, Trail Making Test—TMT, Symbol Digit Modalities Test—SDMT), and nutritional assessments (Mini Nutritional Assessment—MNA, Mediterranean Diet Serving Score—MDSS) were obtained for each study participant. Handgrip strength (HS) was used as one of the key parameters for defining probable sarcopenia, among the Short Physical Performance Battery test (SPPB) (for defining physical activity) and the strength, assistance with walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls questionnaire (SARC-F). Our cross-sectional study involved 114 participants aged ≥ 60 years, and two-thirds of the participants were female (76.3% vs. 23.7%). Probable sarcopenia was found in 34.7% of them. Using bivariate regression analysis, cognitive deficit among the sarcopenic population was associated with the following groups of collected data: (a) sociodemographic-associated factors—advanced age (OR: 1.07; p = 0.004), single marital status (OR: 3.25; p = 0.03), and low level of education (OR: 0.22; p < 0.003); (b) behavioral-associated factors—duration of institutionalization (OR: 1.05; p = 0.007), performance of heavy physical work (OR: 6.26; p = 0.001), low physical activity (OR: 0.08; p = 0.002), and risk of malnutrition (OR: 3.87; p = 0.005); (c) disease-related factors—loss of appetite (OR: 2.24; p = 0.04), information processing speed (OR: 0.88; p < 0.001), blood pressure systolic/diastolic variables (OR: 0.96/0.96; p = 0.002/0.02), medications (OR: 1.19; p = 0.005), predictive sarcopenia score ≥ 4 (OR: 3.1; p = 0.003), and low muscle strength (OR: 0.92; p = 0.002). Cognitive preservation among the sarcopenic population was associated with married status (OR: 0.23; p = 0.20), a high level of education (OR: 0.18; p = 0.002), smoking (OR: 0.33; p = 0.02), high physical activity (OR: 0.07; p < 0.001), and dietary habits using poultry (OR: 0.12; p = 0.004). The results suggest a significant association between sarcopenia and cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly, highlighting the need for regular nutritional interventions in this special population. Full article
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