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Nutrients and bioactives in green leafy vegetables and cognitive decline: Prospective study
Martha Clare Morris1, Yamin Wang2, Lisa L Barnes2
1From the Departments of Internal Medicine (M.C.M., Y.W.), Preventive Medicine (Y.W.), Behavioral Sciences (L.L.B.), and Neurological Sciences (L.L.B., D.A.B.), and Rush Alzheimer Disease Center (L.L.B., D.A.B.), Rush University, Chicago, IL; and Tufts Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (B.D.-H., S.L.B.), Tufts University, Boston, MA. Martha_C_Morris@rush.edu.
Neurology
|December 22, 2017
Summary
Eating green leafy vegetables daily may slow cognitive decline. Key nutrients like vitamin K, lutein, and folate are linked to better brain health and aging.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Dietary Epidemiology
Background:
- Cognitive decline is a major concern in aging populations.
- Green leafy vegetables (GLVs) are rich in nutrients linked to brain health.
- Understanding specific GLV components' impact on cognition is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the individual associations of primary nutrients and bioactives in GLVs with cognitive decline.
- To identify which specific compounds contribute most to cognitive preservation.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 960 participants (ages 58-99) from the Memory and Aging Project.
- Utilized food frequency questionnaires and repeated cognitive assessments over ~4.7 years.
- Linear mixed models adjusted for various lifestyle and demographic factors.
Main Results:
- Higher GLV consumption was associated with slower cognitive decline, equivalent to 11 years younger.
- Increased intake of phylloquinone, lutein, folate, α-tocopherol, nitrate, and kaempferol individually correlated with slower decline.
- β-carotene showed a non-significant trend (p=0.08) towards slower decline.
Conclusions:
- Consuming approximately one serving of GLVs daily may help mitigate age-related cognitive decline.
- Specific nutrients like phylloquinone, lutein, nitrate, folate, α-tocopherol, and kaempferol are key contributors.
- Dietary strategies focusing on GLVs can support cognitive aging.
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