scholarly journals Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Other Lifestyle Factors in the Prevention of Cognitive Decline and Dementia

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 4080
Author(s):  
Ligia J. Dominguez ◽  
Nicola Veronese ◽  
Laura Vernuccio ◽  
Giuseppina Catanese ◽  
Flora Inzerillo ◽  
...  

Multiple factors combined are currently recognized as contributors to cognitive decline. The main independent risk factor for cognitive impairment and dementia is advanced age followed by other determinants such as genetic, socioeconomic, and environmental factors, including nutrition and physical activity. In the next decades, a rise in dementia cases is expected due largely to the aging of the world population. There are no hitherto effective pharmaceutical therapies to treat age-associated cognitive impairment and dementia, which underscores the crucial role of prevention. A relationship among diet, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors with cognitive function has been intensively studied with mounting evidence supporting the role of these determinants in the development of cognitive decline and dementia, which is a chief cause of disability globally. Several dietary patterns, foods, and nutrients have been investigated in this regard, with some encouraging and other disappointing results. This review presents the current evidence for the effects of dietary patterns, dietary components, some supplements, physical activity, sleep patterns, and social engagement on the prevention or delay of the onset of age-related cognitive decline and dementia.

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 2118
Author(s):  
Alina Mihaela Dimache ◽  
Delia Lidia Șalaru ◽  
Radu Sascău ◽  
Cristian Stătescu

The burden of cognitive disorders is huge and still growing, however the etiology and the degree of cognitive impairment vary considerably. Neurodegenerative and vascular mechanisms were most frequently assessed in patients with dementia. Recent studies have shown the possible involvement of triglycerides levels in cognitive function through putative mechanisms such as brain blood barrier dysfunction or amyloid metabolism imbalance, but not all research in the field found this association. Several clinical studies evaluated the relationship between different forms of cognitive decline and levels of serum triglycerides, independent of other cardiovascular risk factors. This review focuses on the role of triglycerides in cognitive decline, cerebral amyloidosis and vascular impairment. Considering that the management of hypertriglyceridemia benefits from lifestyle modification, diet, and specific drug therapy, future studies are requested to appraise the triglycerides–cognitive impairment relationship.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shashi Agarwal

Cognitive decline is a growing medical concern. It includes age-related cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia. Dementia results in considerable dysfunction in life and is associated with an increase in mortality. Since there is no cure at this time, attention is being increasingly directed towards prevention. Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, alcoholism, physical inactivity, poor diet, improper sleep, and loneliness are repeatedly being recognized as modifiable factors that can reduce cognitive decline. This manuscript briefly reviews the lifestyle-cognition relationship.  


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Jessie S. Clark ◽  
Bradley S. Simpson ◽  
Karen J. Murphy

Abstract Chronic inflammation is known to be a predominant factor in the development of many age-related conditions including CVD, type II diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. Previous studies have demonstrated that during the ageing process there is an increase in inflammatory biomarkers, which may be partially brought about by detrimental changes in the gut microbiota. The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and physical activity (PA) are protective against inflammation and chronic disease, and emerging evidence has shown that these effects may be partially mediated through favourable changes in the gut microbiota. In this review, we have evaluated the published literature on the effect of a MedDiet and PA on the gut microbiota. We also discuss the relationship between the gut microbiota and inflammation with a focus on healthy ageing. While inconsistent study designs make forming definitive conclusions challenging, the current evidence suggests that both a MedDiet and PA are capable of modifying the gut microbiota in a way that is beneficial to host health. For example, the increases in the relative abundance of SCFA producing bacteria that are considered to possess anti-inflammatory properties. Modification of the gut microbiota through a MedDiet and PA presents as a potential method to attenuate age-related increases in inflammation, and additional studies utilising older individuals are needed to fill the knowledge gaps existing in current literature.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 305
Author(s):  
Carlo Tomino ◽  
Sara Ilari ◽  
Vincenzo Solfrizzi ◽  
Valentina Malafoglia ◽  
Guglielmo Zilio ◽  
...  

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia are clinically prevalent in the elderly. There is a high risk of cognitive decline in patients diagnosed with MCI or dementia. This review describes the effectiveness of Ginkgo biloba leaf special extract EGb 761® for the treatment of dementia syndromes and EGb 761® combination therapy with other medications for symptomatic dementia. This drug has shown convincing results, improving cognitive function, neuropsychiatric symptoms and consequent reduction of caregiver stress and maintenance of autonomy in patients with age-related cognitive decline, MCI and mild to moderate dementia. Currently, there is little evidence to support the combination therapy with anti-dementia drugs and, therefore, more evidence is needed to evaluate the role of EGb 761® in mixed therapy.


2009 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunhwan Lee ◽  
Joung Hwan Back ◽  
Jinhee Kim ◽  
Si-Heon Kim ◽  
Duk L. Na ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackground:An increasing body of evidence suggests that health behaviors may protect against cognitive impairment and dementia. The purpose of this study was to summarize the current evidence on health behavioral factors predicting cognitive health through a systematic review of the published literature.Methods:PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO databases were searched for studies on community representative samples aged 65 and older, with prospective cohort design and multivariate analysis. The outcome – cognitive health – was defined as a continuum of cognitive function ranging from cognitive decline to impairment and dementia, and health behaviors included physical activity, smoking, alcohol drinking, body mass index, and diet and nutrition.Results:Of 12,105 abstracts identified, 690 relevant full-texts were reviewed. The final yield amounted to 115 articles of which 37 studies were chosen that met the highest standards of quality. Leisure time physical activity, even of moderate level, showed protective effects against dementia, whereas smoking elevated the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Moderate alcohol consumption tended to be protective against cognitive decline and dementia, but nondrinkers and frequent drinkers exhibited a higher risk for dementia and cognitive impairment. Midlife obesity had an adverse effect on cognitive function in later life. Analysis showed vegetable and fish consumption to be of benefit, whereas, persons consuming a diet high in saturated fat had an increased dementia risk.Conclusion:The review demonstrates accumulating evidence supporting health behavioral effects in reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Results indicate potential benefits of healthy lifestyles in protecting cognitive health in later life.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (22) ◽  
pp. 2428-2442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ligia J. Dominguez ◽  
Mario Barbagallo ◽  
Mariana Muñoz-Garcia ◽  
Justyna Godos ◽  
Miguel Angel Martinez-Gonzalez

The decline in cognitive function is generally the result of the complex interaction of several factors. First of all, age, but also demographic, educational, genetic, socio-economic, and environmental determinants, including nutrition. Cognitive decline and dementia prevalence are increasing, and they are projected to continue increasing in the next decades due to the aging of the world population. Currently, there are no effective pharmacological treatments for these devastating and disabling conditions, which emphasize the key role of preventive strategies. There is compelling evidence of the role of diet and lifestyle on cognitive function. Therefore, dietary/ nutritional approaches that contribute to prevent, or slow cognitive decline may have a remarkable public health impact. Numerous studies have explored the role of dietary components and patterns on age-associated cognitive decline, with accruing evidence that combinations of foods and nutrients can have synergistic effects beyond those attributable to individual foods or nutrients. Dietary patterns show the strongest evidence for slowing the development of cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias including the Mediterranean diet, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet, and their combination (the MedDiet-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay - MIND), among others with few positive results. There are also dietary patterns with no evidence of such effects. This review examines the evidence for the effects of some dietary patterns as neuroprotective with a potential to delay cognitive decline and the onset of dementia.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iréné Lopez-Fontana ◽  
Carole Castanier ◽  
Christine Le Scanff ◽  
Alexandra Perrot

This study aimed to investigate if the impact of both recent and long-term physical activity on age-related cognitive decline would be modified by sex. One-hundred thirty-five men (N = 67) and women (N = 68) aged 18 to 80 years completed the Modifiable Activity Questionnaire and the Historical Leisure Activity Questionnaire. A composite score of cognitive functions was computed from five experimental tasks. Hierarchical regression analyses performed to test the moderating effect of recent physical activity on age-cognition relationship had not revealed significant result regardless of sex. Conversely, past long-term physical activity was found to slow down the age-related cognitive decline among women (β = 0.22,p = .03), but not men. The findings support a lifecourse approach in identifying determinants of cognitive aging and the importance of taking into account the moderating role of sex. This article presented potential explanations for these moderators and future avenues to explore.


Author(s):  
Yvonne Rogalski ◽  
Muriel Quintana

The population of older adults is rapidly increasing, as is the number and type of products and interventions proposed to prevent or reduce the risk of age-related cognitive decline. Advocacy and prevention are part of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA’s) scope of practice documents, and speech-language pathologists must have basic awareness of the evidence contributing to healthy cognitive aging. In this article, we provide a brief overview outlining the evidence on activity engagement and its effects on cognition in older adults. We explore the current evidence around the activities of eating and drinking with a discussion on the potential benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, alcohol, and coffee. We investigate the evidence on the hypothesized neuroprotective effects of social activity, the evidence on computerized cognitive training, and the emerging behavioral and neuroimaging evidence on physical activity. We conclude that actively aging using a combination of several strategies may be our best line of defense against cognitive decline.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. e046879
Author(s):  
Bernhard Grässler ◽  
Fabian Herold ◽  
Milos Dordevic ◽  
Tariq Ali Gujar ◽  
Sabine Darius ◽  
...  

IntroductionThe diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), that is, the transitory phase between normal age-related cognitive decline and dementia, remains a challenging task. It was observed that a multimodal approach (simultaneous analysis of several complementary modalities) can improve the classification accuracy. We will combine three noninvasive measurement modalities: functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), electroencephalography and heart rate variability via ECG. Our aim is to explore neurophysiological correlates of cognitive performance and whether our multimodal approach can aid in early identification of individuals with MCI.Methods and analysisThis study will be a cross-sectional with patients with MCI and healthy controls (HC). The neurophysiological signals will be measured during rest and while performing cognitive tasks: (1) Stroop, (2) N-back and (3) verbal fluency test (VFT). Main aims of statistical analysis are to (1) determine the differences in neurophysiological responses of HC and MCI, (2) investigate relationships between measures of cognitive performance and neurophysiological responses and (3) investigate whether the classification accuracy can be improved by using our multimodal approach. To meet these targets, statistical analysis will include machine learning approaches.This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first study that applies simultaneously these three modalities in MCI and HC. We hypothesise that the multimodal approach improves the classification accuracy between HC and MCI as compared with a unimodal approach. If our hypothesis is verified, this study paves the way for additional research on multimodal approaches for dementia research and fosters the exploration of new biomarkers for an early detection of nonphysiological age-related cognitive decline.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval was obtained from the local Ethics Committee (reference: 83/19). Data will be shared with the scientific community no more than 1 year following completion of study and data assembly.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04427436, registered on 10 June 2020, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT04427436.


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