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 is the mediterranean diet pattern?
