Role of Food in Brain Health Flashcards
What pathways in diet and brain health are affected by what you eat?
Inflammation
Oxidative Stress
Brain plasticity
Microbiota-gut axis
Mitochondrial dysfunction
What vitamins and nutrients are particularly important for brain health?
Vitamins:
- A
- Bs (1, 6, 9 (folate), and 12)
- C
- D
- E
Omega 3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids
Vitamin B1 (THIAMINE)
- Function
- Sources
- Who is at risk for deficiency
- How might people with a B1 deficiency present?
- Used as a co-factor by most dehydrogenase complexes involved in energy metabolism (i.e. pyruvate dehydrogenase)
- At risk:
- Alcohol use disorder (due to malnutrition)
- intestinal malabsorption
- long term diuretic use
- Presentation:
- Dry beriberi (neurological symptoms, depression, weakness, tingling arms/legs, paralysis)
- Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (mental confusion, psychosis, memory loss, coma, death)
Wernicke - Korsakoff Syndrome
- Cause?
- Why called syndrome?
- 2 stages?
- How does alcohol affect thiamine function?
- Why such a huge impact on brain?
- Thiamine deficiency that is most commonly caused by alcohol abuse
- B/c patients present with spectrum of disease
- 1) Wernicke encephalopathy (acute and reversible) (2) Korsakoff syndrome (chronic and irreversible)
- Reduces absorption, reduces storage, reduces conversion to active form
- Brain dependent on glucose for energy, disruption of glucose metabolism is devastating
Vitamin B9 (FOLATE)
- Function
- Sources
- Conditions that can arise from deficits
- Amino acid metabolism, DNA synthesis, RBC production
- Mostly in developing fetuses, neural tube defects
Vitamins B6 and B12
- Functions
- Sources
- Who is at risk for deficiency
Maintenance of CNS = myelin sheath maintenance
Sources B12 = exclusively animal products
Sources B6 = grains, animal products, legumes, nuts
Folate, B12 and B6 are required for metabolism of […] and low levels of these vitamins are implicated in […] and […] diseases
Homocysteine
Cardiovascular and neurodegenerative
Lowering homocysteine levels in individuals with neurodegenerative symptoms by supplementation of B vitamins has what effect on their brain atrophy rates?
Increased B vitamins –> lower homocysteine –> decreased rate of atrophy –> slows cognitive decline
Vitamins A, C and E are all […]
Antioxidants
Vitamins A C and E reduce oxidative stress, which has what effects on the body (4), among others?
What is the impact of Vitamins A and C on risk of Alzheimers?
Vit A - dietary intake may lower risk
Vit C - sufficient intake may reduce beta amyloid accumulation and deposition
What effect do vitamins A, C and E have on cardiovascular disease?
Reduce risk for developing CVD and stroke
- Vitamin D deficiency increases risk of […] and […] in older adults
- Lower vitamin D is associated with […] risk of stroke
- cognitive decline and dementia
- increased
At what stages of life does vitamin D have the greatest impact on the brain?
Prenatal - deficiency in utero can lead to decreased neurocognition potential
Younger ages - deficiency can ead to decreased cognitive reserve
Older ages - deficiency can lead to incresed neurocognitive loss
What are the 3 omega 3 PUFAs we should know?
EPA (fish oil)
DHA (fish oil)
ALA (plant oil)
What functions do omega 3 PUFAs have on brain and cardiovascular health?
Brain
- develop CNS
- cell membrane maintenance
- basis of hormones
Heart
- Inhibits LDL synthesis and accelerates elimination
Chronic, excess intake of […] and […] leads to impairments in neuronal plasticity, learning, memory and behavior and puts you at risk for CVD
Sugar
Saturated fats
Adherence to the mediterranean diet pattern has what effect on stroke, cognitive impariment and depression?
Reduce risk for all 3
What is the mediterranean diet pattern?
