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Lifestyle and vascular risk effects on MRI-based biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease: a cross-sectional study of middle-aged adults from the broader New York City area.
Mosconi, L, Walters, M, Sterling, J, Quinn, C, McHugh, P, Andrews, RE, Matthews, DC, Ganzer, C, Osorio, RS, Isaacson, RS, et al
BMJ open. 2018;8(3):e019362
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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, affecting nearly 34 million people worldwide. It has been estimated that one in every three cases of AD may be attributable to diet and lifestyle factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of lifestyle and vascular-related risk factors for AD. Researchers studied the brain scans of 116 healthy adults aged 30-60 years. They collected information on factors related to lifestyle, such as diet, physical activity and intellectual enrichment. They also looked at markers for vascular risk such as body mass index (BMI), cholesterol and homocysteine, as well as cognitive function. The researchers found that a Mediterranean-style diet and good insulin sensitivity were both associated with a healthier brain structure. A better score for intellectual enrichment and lower BMI were both associated with better cognition. They concluded that adopting a Mediterranean-style diet and maintaining a healthy weight might reduce the risk of developing AD.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of lifestyle and vascular-related risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD) on in vivo MRI-based brain atrophy in asymptomatic young to middle-aged adults. DESIGN Cross-sectional, observational. SETTING Broader New York City area. Two research centres affiliated with the Alzheimer's disease Core Center at New York University School of Medicine. PARTICIPANTS We studied 116 cognitively normal healthy research participants aged 30-60 years, who completed a three-dimensional T1-weighted volumetric MRI and had lifestyle (diet, physical activity and intellectual enrichment), vascular risk (overweight, hypertension, insulin resistance, elevated cholesterol and homocysteine) and cognition (memory, executive function, language) data. Estimates of cortical thickness for entorhinal (EC), posterior cingulate, orbitofrontal, inferior and middle temporal cortex were obtained by use of automated segmentation tools. We applied confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling to evaluate the associations between lifestyle, vascular risk, brain and cognition. RESULTS Adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet (MeDi) and insulin sensitivity were both positively associated with MRI-based cortical thickness (diet: βs≥0.26, insulin sensitivity βs≥0.58, P≤0.008). After accounting for vascular risk, EC in turn explained variance in memory (P≤0.001). None of the other lifestyle and vascular risk variables were associated with brain thickness. In addition, the path associations between intellectual enrichment and better cognition were significant (βs≥0.25 P≤0.001), as were those between overweight and lower cognition (βs≥-0.22, P≤0.01). CONCLUSIONS In cognitively normal middle-aged adults, MeDi and insulin sensitivity explained cortical thickness in key brain regions for AD, and EC thickness predicted memory performance in turn. Intellectual activity and overweight were associated with cognitive performance through different pathways. Our findings support further investigation of lifestyle and vascular risk factor modification against brain ageing and AD. More studies with larger samples are needed to replicate these research findings in more diverse, community-based settings.
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Association between cognitive function and supplementation with omega-3 PUFAs and other nutrients in ≥ 75 years old patients: A randomized multicenter study.
Baleztena, J, Ruiz-Canela, M, Sayon-Orea, C, Pardo, M, Añorbe, T, Gost, JI, Gomez, C, Ilarregui, B, Bes-Rastrollo, M
PloS one. 2018;13(3):e0193568
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Nutrition may play an important role in the prevention of dementia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a multinutrient supplementation rich in omega-3 fatty acids on the cognitive function of adults aged 75 years and over with either no, or mild, cognitive impairment. Participants were given either a multinutrient capsule (each containing DHA 250 mg, EPA 40 mg, vitamin E 5 mg, phosphatidylserine 15 mg, tryptophan 95 mg, vitamin B 12 5 μg, folate 250 μg and ginkgo biloba 60 mg) or a placebo, three times a day for one year. Supplementation with the multinutrient did not improve overall cognitive function in the group. However, it did result in an improvement in memory in a sub-group of older people who were previously well nourished, but not in those with worse nutritional status.
Abstract
A few studies have assessed the association between omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) and cognitive impairment (CI) in very old adults. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a multinutrient supplementation rich in n-3 PUFA on the cognitive function in an institutionalized ≥75-year-old population without CI or with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A multicenter placebo-controlled double-blind randomized trial was conducted between 2012 and 2013. Cognitive function was assessed at baseline and after one year using 4 neuropsychological tests. Nutritional status was assessed using Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Interaction between Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score and nutritional status were analyzed using linear regression models. A total of 99 participants were randomized to receive placebo or pills rich in n-3 PUFA. After 1-year follow-up, both groups decreased their MMSE score (-1.18, SD:0. 53 and -0.82, SD:0. 63, p = 0.67 for the control and the intervention group respectively). The memory subscale of the MMSE showed an improvement (+0.26, SD:0.18) in the intervention group against a worsening in the control group (-0.11, SD: 0.14; p = 0.09 for differences between groups). Patients at intervention group with normal nutritional status (MNA ≥24) showed an improvement in the MMSE (+1.03, p = 0.025 for differences between 1-y and baseline measurements) against a worsening in the group with malnutrition (MNA<24) (-0.4, p = 0.886 for differences between 1-y and baseline; p of interaction p = 0.05). Supplementation with n-3 PUFA did not show an improvement in the global cognitive function in institutionalized elderly people without CI or with MCI. They only suggest an apparent improvement in memory loss if previously they were well nourished.