Cognitive Activity& Lifespan (2012)

This study investigated cognitive activity & lifespan.  In this study, researchers wanted to compare cognitive and physical activity taken over a person’s lifetime with the amount of a protein called ß-amyloid which had been deposited in their brain. ß-amyloid is the protein which is the key marker of Alzheimer’s disease. In total they studied 86 people (65 healthy older individuals with an average age of 76 years, 10 Alzheimer’s patients with an average age of 75 years, and 11 young healthy people with an average age of 25 years).

The researchers found a significant association between lower levels of ß-amyloid and greater participation in cognitively stimulating activities across the lifespan, particularly when undertaken in early and middle life. The researchers’ findings suggest that keeping your brain active throughout life may prevent or slow deposition of ß-amyloid, perhaps influencing the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Landau SM, Marks SM, Mormino EC, Rabinovici GD, Oh H, O’Neil JP, Wilson RS, Jagust WJ. (2012) Association of Lifetime Cognitive Engagement and Low ß-Amyloid Deposition.Arch Neurol. Jan 23. [Epub ahead of print]

Click here for the abstract

Further info

Omega 3 & Cognitive Performance (2007)

This research investigated omega 3 & cognitive performance. Dutch researchers used data from a trial involving 404 men and women (average age 60 at the start). The researchers report that higher blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids was associated with a 60 % lower decline in mental processing speed over three years.

Dullemeijer C et al., ‘n 3 Fatty acid proportions in plasma and cognitive performance in older adults’, Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Nov;86(5):1479-85

Click here for the abstract

Further info

Fish & Memory (2014)

This study investigated fish & memory. In this study, 260 healthy people were assessed for their level of fish consumption, their cognitive function and also underwent an MRI to assess their brain volume twice with a 10-year interval. It was found that those who ate baked or grilled fish on a weekly basis had better cognitive function and better levels of grey matter in their brain.

Click here for abstract

Raji, C. A., Erickson, K. I., Lopez, O. L., Kuller, L. H., Gach, H. M., Thompson, P. M., Riverol, M., & Becker, J. T. (2014). Regular fish consumption and age-related brain gray matter loss. American journal of preventive medicine, 47(4), 444–451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2014.05.037

Further info

Homocysteine & Cognition (2007)

This study evaluated the association between plasma homocysteine levels and cognition. The presence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in 1215 elderly subjects (aged 60-85years) from Korea was assessed. Individuals with MCI may be at an increased risk for developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Homocysteine levels, in addition to folate and vitamin B12 levels were measured in blood samples. The presence of MCI was assessed by an independent physician using Mayo clinic criteria which included: 1) memory complaint, preferably corroborated by an informant; 2) objective memory impairment for age; 3) largely preserved general cognition; 4) essentially normal activities of daily living; and 5) no dementia.

The results also showed that high homocysteine was associated with low blood folate or vitamin B12 levels suggesting that supplementation of these nutrients may be helpful in reducing elevated homocysteine levels.

The results found a strong association between increased plasma homocysteine levels and risk of MCI. The association appeared to be independent of other well-known risk factors for cognitive decline such as age, sex, education, smoking, marital status, and serum vitamin levels which suggests that hyperhomocysteinemia may be an independent risk factor for MCI in elderly Korean subjects.

Kim, J. et al., ‘Plasma Homocysteine Is Associated with the Risk of Mild Cognitive Impairment in an Elderly Korean Population’, The Journal of Nutrition, 137 (9), 2093-2098, September 2007

Click here for the abstract

Further info

Folate, B12 & cognitive impairment (2007)

This study investigated folate, B12 & cognitive impairment. A high folic acid and B12 intake in the elderly may be protective against age-related memory decline. However, those with a high folic acid intake, from fortified food or supplements, but a low B-12 status have more memory decline and hence a greater risk for dementia. They are also at greater risk of anaemia. This research found that 4% of the elderly in the USA have high folate and low B12 status.

In seniors with low vitamin B-12 status, high serum folate was associated with anemia and cognitive impairment. When vitamin B-12 status was normal, however, high serum folate was associated with protection against cognitive impairment.

Click here for the abstract

M S Morris, ‘Folate and vitamin B-12 status in relation to anemia, macrocytosis, and cognitive impairment in older Americans in the age of folic acid fortification’, Am J Clin Nutr.85(1):193-200, 2007

Further info

B12 & Cognition (2011)

This study investigated B12 & cognition.  This study compared markers of vitamin B12 deficiency with various measures of brain shrinkage (MRI scans) and function (neuropsychological test results) over a 5 year period.  Results indicated that Methylmalonate, a specific marker of B12 deficiency, may affect cognition by reducing total brain volume. However, the effect of homocysteine (nonspecific to vitamin B12 deficiency) on cognitive performance may be mediated through increased white matter hyperintensity and cerebral infarcts.

Tangney CC, Aggarwal NT, Li H, Wilson RS, DeCarli C, Evans DA, Morris MC (2011) Vitamin B12, cognition, and brain MRI measures – A cross-sectional examination. Neurology 77:1276-1282

 Click here for abstract

Further info

Homocysteine & Brain Shrinkage (2011)

This study investigated homocysteine & brain shrinkage. UCLA School of Medicine researchers inlcuding a sample of 732 elderly people subjected to MRI brain scans, found that those with raised homocysteine levels have greater brain shrinkage regardless of age and diagnosis. Among those with cognitive impairment, the greater the homocysteine level the greater was the brain atrophy. The authors state ‘ Vitamin B supplements such as folate may help prevent homocysteine-related atrophy in Alzheimer’s disease by possibly reducing homocysteine levels.’

Click here for the abstract

Rajagopalan, P., Hua, X., Toga, A. W., Jack, C. R., Jr, Weiner, M. W., & Thompson, P. M. (2011). Homocysteine effects on brain volumes mapped in 732 elderly individuals. Neuroreport, 22(8), 391–395. https://doi.org/10.1097/WNR.0b013e328346bf85

Further info

Vitamin D & Cognition (2006)

This study examined vitamin D & cognition. Vitamin D status, cognitive performance, mood, and physical performance in older adults was assessed. 58% of the participants were found to have abnormally low vitamin D levels. Vitamin D deficiency was associated with presence of a mood disorder and with worse performance on 2 measures of mood and cognitive performance.

C H Wilkins et al., ‘Vitamin D deficiency is associated with low mood and worse cognitive performance in older adults’, J Geriatr Psychiatry, 14(12):1032-40, 2006

Click here for the abstract

Further info

Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s (2011)

This study investigated risk factors for Alzheimer’s. This study looked at the evidence regarding seven modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer’s. They calculated that about half of the 33 million cases worldwide could be prevented (that’s 17 million) and calculated that if these risk factors were to be modified to only a ‘relatively modest degree’, specifically by 10-25% as many as 1 – 3 million cases of the current 33 million worldwide could have been prevented.

The risk factors they considered were diabetes, midlife high blood pressure (hypertension), midlife obesity, smoking, depression, cognitive inactivity or low educational attainment, and physical inactivity. A major shortcoming of this report is that they didn’t consider dietary and lifestyle factors such as increasing B vitamins / reducing homocysteine, increasing essential fats and vitamin D, adopting a Mediterranean diet.

Click here for the abstract

Barnes, D. E., & Yaffe, K. (2011). The projected effect of risk factor reduction on Alzheimer’s disease prevalence. The Lancet. Neurology, 10(9), 819–828. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(11)70072-2

 

Further info

Homocysteine & The Brain (2011)

A study conducted by UCLA School of Medicine researchers of 732 elderly people given MRI brain scans finds that those with raised homocysteine levels have greater brain shrinkage regardless of age and diagnosis. Among those with cognitive impairment, the greater the homocysteine level the greater was the brain atrophy. The authors state ‘ Vitamin B supplements may help prevent homocysteine-related atrophy in Alzheimer’s disease by possibly reducing homocysteine levels’.

Rajagopalan P, Hua X, Toga AW, Jack CR Jr, Weiner MW, Thompson PM.  Homocysteine effects on brain volumes mapped in 732 elderly individuals. Neuroreport, 22(8):391-5, 2011.

Clich here for abstract.

Further info