Healthy Brain Ageing Flashcards
What functions in the brain are lost with ageing?
Memory, executive function, processing speed, reasoning and general cognitive function decline.
What may influence the rate and magnitude of decline of neurodegenerative ability?
Highly individual but
Genetic factors - E4 allele of APOE gene,
Lifestyle factors - smoking, diet (good may help but bad doesn’t cause), PA
Why is it important to target neurodegenerative diseases for interventions?
They place a huge burden on NHS and society as they are mega debilitating and incurable,
Progressive degeneration until death,
Can cause problems with movement (ataxia) and cognitive function.
Why is an intervention important fro Alzheimer’s?
If the onset of Alzheimer’s was delayed by 2 years, the worldwide prevalence by 2050 would be 22 million lower, saving billions of ££ and minimise suffering.
What nutrition is recommended for healthy brain ageing and why?
Mediterranean diet as it’s been linked to better cognitive function and lower risk of poor cognition, decreased risk of CV disease
What are the mechanisms behind the Mediterranean diet having beneficial health outcomes?
- decreased OS and inflammation
- improved glucose homeostasis
- increase NO availability
- improved vascular function And brain perfusion
- modulation of the gut microbiome
Why is PA beneficial for healthy brain ageing?
- better cognitive function (executive function, memory etc)
- risk of all cause dementia and Alzheimer’s decreases with PA
How is PA beneficial for healthy brain ageing?
- induction of antioxidant pathways
- reduced neuroinflammation
- neurogenesis
- enhanced synaptic plasticity
- decreased amyloid burden
- augmented cerebrovascular blood flow
Overall, what is recommended for healthy brain ageing?
Mediterranean diet, PA, cognitive training, social support
