Anti-Aging News: U.S Scientists Identify Nutrients That Can Slow Brain Aging

Anti-Aging News: Scientists have long been studying the brain with the goal of aiding healthier aging. While much is known about risk factors for accelerated brain aging, less has been uncovered to identify ways to prevent cognitive decline. However, a new study from the University of Nebraska -Lincoln's Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign that is covered in this Anti-Aging News report sheds light on how specific nutrients may play a pivotal role in healthy brain aging.


U.S Scientists Identify Nutrients That Can Slow Brain Aging
 
The Study
The team, led by Dr Aron Barbey, director of the Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior, alongside Dr Jisheng Wu, a doctoral student at Nebraska, and Dr Christopher Zwilling, a research scientist at UIUC, conducted a comprehensive study combining state-of-the-art innovations in neuroscience and nutritional science. They aimed to identify a specific nutrient profile in participants who performed better cognitively.
 
The study involved 100 cognitively healthy participants aged 65 - 75. These individuals provided demographic information, body measurements, and details of their physical activity. Blood plasma was collected after a fasting period to analyze nutrient biomarkers. Participants also underwent cognitive assessments and MRI scans. The results revealed two types of brain aging among the participants - accelerated and slower-than-expected. Those with slower brain aging had a distinct nutrient profile.
 
Key Nutrients for Brain Health
The beneficial nutrient blood biomarkers were a combination of fatty acids (vaccenic, gondoic, alpha-linolenic, eicosapentaenoic, eicosadienoic, and lignoceric acids), antioxidants, and carotenoids including cis-lutein, trans-lutein, and zeaxanthin, two forms of vitamin E, and choline. This nutrient profile aligns with nutrients found in the Mediterranean diet, which research has previously associated with healthy brain aging.
 
"We investigated specific nutrient biomarkers, such as fatty acid profiles, known in nutritional science to potentially offer health benefits. This aligns with the extensive body of research in the field demonstrating the positive health effects of the Mediterranean Diet, which emphasizes foods rich in these beneficial nutrients," Dr Barbey said.
 
A Comprehensive Approach
Dr Barbey noted that previous research on nutrition and brain aging has mostly relied on food frequency questionnaires, which are dependent on participants' recall. This study is one of the first and the largest to combine brain imaging, blood biomarkers, and validated cognitive assessments.
 
"The unique aspect of our study lies in its comprehensive approach, integrating data on nutrition, cognitive function, and brain imaging," Dr Barbey said. "This allows us to build a more robust understanding of the relationship between these factors. We move beyond simply measuring cognitive perfo rmance with traditional neuropsychological tests."
 
The Role of Fatty Acids
In the study, the fatty acid profile of individuals with delayed brain aging included higher concentrations of EPA, ALA, docosadienoic acid, and eicosadienoic acid, all of which are known to reduce inflammation. Inflammation can disrupt brain homeostasis and has been linked to cognitive decline and increased risk of dementia.
 
Eicosanoids, signaling molecules responsible for cellular functions regulating inflammation and the central nervous system, derive from different fatty acids. The ω-6 AA pathway promotes inflammation, whereas the ω-3 DGLA and EPA pathways are less inflammatory or even anti-inflammatory. Greater presence of anti-inflammatory generating ω-3 EPA in the diet can reduce inflammatory eicosanoids.
 
The Importance of Carotenoids
Three carotenoids - cis-lutein, trans-lutein, and zeaxanthin - figure prominently in the nutrient profile of delayed brain aging. Carotenoid-rich foods include spinach, kale, corn, bell peppers, tomatoes, watermelon, grapefruit, cantaloupe, broccoli, and carrots. Carotenoids accumulate in the retina of the eye and in the brain, and greater consumption of carotenoids increases their concentration in these tissues. They benefit the brain due to their antioxidant properties, which protect the brain from oxidative stress.
 
Vitamins for Cognitive Health
Vitamin E and choline were identified as important nutrients in promoting cognitive and brain health. High concentrations of Vitamin E in plasma are associated with better cognitive performance in healthy populations, aging populations, and Alzheimer’s disease patients. Vitamin E’s efficacy in mitigating cognitive decline is likely due to its antioxidant properties and its ability to aid in the transporting of fatty acids.
 
Choline, an essential nutrient, plays critical roles in cognitive and brain health. It is necessary for the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, the predominant lipid in cell membranes, and for the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter important for memory and muscle control.
 
Future Research and Implications
The researchers plan to continue exploring this nutrient profile as it relates to healthy brain aging. Barbey said that in the future, the findings might help develop therapies and interventions to promote brain health.
 
"An important next step involves conducting randomized controlled trials. In these trials, we will isolate specific nutrients with favorable associations with cognitive function and brain health and administer them in the form of nutraceuticals," Dr Barbey said. "This will allow us to definitively assess whether increasing the levels of these specific nutrient profiles reliably leads to improvements in cognitive test performance and measures of brain structure, function, and metabolism."
 
Conclusion
The study highlights the potential of specific nutrients to promote healthy brain aging. The findings suggest that a nutrient profile rich in certain fatty acids, carotenoids, and vitamins, similar to those found in the Mediterranean diet, can support cognitive function and brain health in older adults. Future research, including randomized controlled trials, will be crucial in validating these findings and developing effective dietary interventions to support brain health as we age
.
This groundbreaking research marks a significant step forward in our understanding of the relationship between diet, nutrition, and brain health. As the population ages, these insights could lead to new strategies to maintain cognitive function and improve quality of life for older adults.
 
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: NPJ Aging.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41514-024-00150-8
 
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