Nutrient biomarker patterns, cognitive function, and fMRI measures of network efficiency in the aging brain
Christopher E Zwilling1, Tanveer Talukdar1, Marta K Zamroziewicz2
1Decision Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.
Neuroimage
|December 12, 2018
Summary
Dietary nutrients, analyzed through nutrient biomarker patterns (NBPs), significantly enhance cognitive function and brain network efficiency in older adults. Specific nutrient patterns, like omega-3 fatty acids, support healthy brain aging and dementia prevention.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Psychology
Background:
- Promoting healthy brain aging is a key research goal in psychological and brain sciences.
- Diet and bioactive food substances show promise for dementia prevention.
- Interdisciplinary research combining nutritional epidemiology and network neuroscience is needed to understand nutrition's role in brain network efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To integrate nutritional epidemiology and network neuroscience methods.
- To apply nutrient biomarker pattern (NBP) analysis to assess plasma nutrient combinations.
- To investigate the collective influence of NBPs on functional brain network efficiency and cognitive health in non-demented elders.
Main Methods:
- Nutrient biomarker pattern (NBP) analysis of plasma nutrients.
- Assessment of cognitive performance (general intelligence, executive function, memory).
- Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure brain network efficiency (small-world propensity) in intrinsic connectivity networks.
- Statistical moderation to examine NBP influence on network efficiency and cognition.
Main Results:
- Five NBPs were linked to enhanced cognitive performance, including patterns rich in omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), lycopene, carotenoids, and vitamins B and D.
- Three NBPs were associated with improved functional brain network efficiency, specifically patterns high in omega-6 PUFAs, omega-3 PUFAs, and carotene.
- Omega-3 PUFAs moderated the fronto-parietal network and general intelligence; omega-6 PUFAs and lycopene moderated the dorsal attention network and executive function.
Conclusions:
- NBPs explain a significant portion of the variance in cognitive performance and functional brain network efficiency.
- A multidisciplinary approach combining NBP analysis and functional brain network efficiency measures is valuable.
- These findings highlight the impact of nutrition on human health, aging, and disease, supporting dietary interventions for brain health.
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