Proper nutrition is not only essential to normal growth and development but also to maintaining proper brain function. The food you eat provides energy to all your cells. Food also contains essential vitamins, the organic compounds your body cannot produce on its own. Vitamins support the production of healthy red blood cells that carry oxygen to the brain, slow brain atrophy and enhance cognitive function.
Vitamin B, Homocysteine and Brain Impairment
Your body uses the B vitamins, including vitamin B-6, B-12 and folate, to generate coenzymes, nonprotein molecules that bind to and activate enzymes. These coenzymes are essential for the conversion of the amino acid homocysteine into another amino acid: methionine. High levels of homocysteine in the blood promote brain atrophy, which increases the risk for dementia. Smith and associates describe in a study published in "PLoS One" in 2010 how they administered high doses of B vitamins over a two-year period to determine if the rate of brain atrophy in elderly patients experiencing mild cognitive impairment slowed. The study found that patients taking the B vitamin supplements experienced a 29.6 percent decrease in brain atrophy over the group not taking the supplements.
Role of Nutrition on Brain Development
A study published in "Nutritional Neuroscience" looked at the role nutrition plays in the growth and development of the brain. Nutrition is a unique environmental factor because it also affects the genetic expression of factors in the brain. During the preschool years the brain develops a working memory, rapidly creates new nerve synapses, develops inhibitory control and expands attention. By studying the brain during these years Rosales and associates hoped to better understand the role of nutrition. Rapid brain development may require higher intakes of choline, folic acid, zinc, iron and fatty acids. This research study concludes that nutrition plays a vital role in brain development but that additional study needs to be done to look beyond nutritional deficiency to reveal how specific nutrients may enhance brain function.
Alzheimer's Disease and Cholesterol
The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer's disease, according to research published in "Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment." This study assessed the part cholesterol plays in the development of Alzheimer's disease. Cholesterol, a type of fat produced by the body and ingested in foods, is known for its role in increasing the risk for heart disease but it may do the same with Alzheimer's disease. Nutrition plays a vital role in cholesterol levels because consuming high levels of saturated or trans fat increases blood cholesterol levels. Although this study failed to find any significant differences in the LDL, HDL or total cholesterol between cognitive impaired patients and healthy patients, they suggest additional research be conducted because they did find a correlation between the total cholesterol/HDL ratio and memory impairment.
Role of Antioxidants on Brain Function
Antioxidant describes a substance that protects the cell from damage caused by free radicals, negatively charged particles produced during normal biochemical reactions in the body. Oxidative stress may stimulate damage to brain cells that can lead to a loss of memory, dementia or even Alzeimer's disease. Foods high in antioxidants, like blueberries, strawberries and spinach, may not only slow the progression of brain impairment but help reverse age-related deficits, according to research published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
References
- PLoS One: Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial; Smith et. al.; September 2010
- Nutritional Neuroscience: Understanding the Role of Nutrition in the Brain & Behavioral Development of Toddlers and Preschool Children: Identifying and Overcoming Methodological Barriers; Rosales et. al.; October 2009
- "Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment": Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease: Links With Oxidative Stress and Cholesterol Metabolism; Sekler et. al.; August 2008
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Nutrition and Brain Function; August 2007
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