The Role of Nutrition in Cognitive Function and Brain Ageing in the Elderly

Current Nutrition Reports volume 7, pages139–149(2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The purposes of this review were to examine literature published over the last 5 years and to evaluate the role of nutrition in cognitive function and brain ageing, focussing on the Mediterranean diet (MeDi), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diets.

Recent Findings

Results suggest that higher adherence to a healthy dietary pattern is associated with preservation of brain structure and function as well as slower cognitive decline, with the MIND diet substantially slowing cognitive decline, over and above the MeDi and DASH diets.

Summary

Whilst results to-date suggest adherence to a healthy diet, such as the MeDi, DASH, or MIND, is an important modifiable risk factor in the quest to develop strategies aimed at increasing likelihood of healthy brain ageing, further work is required to develop dietary guidelines with the greatest potential benefit for public health; a research topic of increasing importance as the world’s population ages.

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Affiliations

  1. Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease Research & Care, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia

    Samantha L. Gardener & Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith

  2. Australian Alzheimer’s Research Foundation (Hollywood Private Hospital), Perth, WA, Australia

    Samantha L. Gardener & Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith

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  1. Samantha L. Gardener
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  2. Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith
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Correspondence to Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith.

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Samantha L. Gardener and Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith declare they have no conflict of interest.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Neurological Disease and Cognitive Function

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Gardener, S.L., Rainey-Smith, S.R. The Role of Nutrition in Cognitive Function and Brain Ageing in the Elderly. Curr Nutr Rep 7, 139–149 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-018-0229-y

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Keywords

  • Nutrition
  • Diet
  • Dietary patterns
  • Mediterranean diet
  • MeDi
  • Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet
  • DASH diet
  • Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay diet
  • MIND diet
  • Cognition
  • Cognitive decline
  • Magnetic resonance imaging
  • MRI
  • Brain volume
  • Glucose metabolism
  • Amyloid beta
  • Ageing
  • Alzheimer’s disease