keeping your memory & focus sharp: how your diet & nutrition affect cognition, memory &...

Nutrition and Cognition

Omega-3 DHA = anti-inflammatory

Lutein = anti-oxidant

Nutrition and Cognition• Up to 30% of people 50 yrs and older have been estimated to have some

risk or degree of cognitive decline or impairment . By age 65, 50% of thesepeople have been confirmed to have cognitive decline with 1 in 8 diagnosedwith Alzheimer’s disease. (Annals Intern Med, 2008; 148:427-434)

• 20% of people age 70 and older are cognitively impaired, with womenhaving higher rates of dementia than men. Estimated lifetime risk ofAlzheimer’s is 1 in 5 for women and 1 in 10 for men. (Alz.Assoc. 2010 Facts& Figures)

• Cognitive decline is linked to undernutrition and inadequate consumption ofomega 3 –DHA and antioxidants Protein Under-nutrition is estimated tooccur in 80% of patients and accelerates muscle loss and functionincreasing risk of falls

• Targeted and active key nutrients have been clinically shown to effectivelymanage cognition and support adequate nutritional status and health

Nutrition andCognition

What is Cognition• Ability to mentally represent, organize and

manipulate the environment

• Process by which sensory input is transformed,reduced, elaborated, stored, recovered andused.


•Attention •Problem solving•Memory •Reasoning•Processing Speed •Executive functioning

The prevalence of cognitive impairmentThe prevalence of cognitive impairmentamong the elderly increases with age.among the elderly increases with age.

Nearly 40% of those >85 years are cognitively impaired.

Adapted from: Unverzagt et al, Neurology, 2001


0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

65-74 75-84 85+

Age, years

Prev

alenc

e, %

Percentage of persons age 65 or older with moderate orPercentage of persons age 65 or older with moderate orsevere memory impairment, by age and sexsevere memory impairment, by age and sex

Source: National Health Interview Survey


0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 >85

age

percent

MEN

WOMEN

Nutrients of Interest in Age-Related Cognitive Decline

Inflammation and oxidation are believedto be involved in age-related cognitivedecline.

Key Nutrients

• Omega-3 DHA = anti-inflammatory

• Lutein = anti-oxidant


Omega-3 DHAOmega-3 DHA• DHA is present in abundance in certain fish (such

as tuna and bluefish) and marine animal oils.• DHA is a predominant fatty acid in the brain.• Low DHA status is associated with cognitive

decline.

• Elderly individuals had a reduced risk ofAlzheimer’s Disease if ate 1 or more fishmeals/week (Morris et al. 2003)

• Chicago Health and Aging Project: those who ate>1 fish meals/week had a 10-13% reduced rate ofcognitive decline (Morris et al. 2005)


Low levels of omega-3 DHA in the plasma may be aLow levels of omega-3 DHA in the plasma may be arisk factor for cognitive impairment and/or dementiarisk factor for cognitive impairment and/or dementia

*significantly different from other groupssource: Conquer et al, Lipids, 2000


0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Alzheimer'sDisease (n=19)

Other Dementia(n=10)

CognitivelyImpaired (n=35)

Normal (n=19)

DHA

(wt%

of t

otal

) of p

lasm

a ph

osph

olip

id

Lutein• Lutein is one of over 600 known naturally

occurring plant pigments, known ascarotenoids.

• Rich dietary sources of lutein include greenleafy vegetables such as spinach and kale.

• Lutein selectively accumulates in human brain.

• Lutein status is related to cognition.


Green Leafy VegetableGreen Leafy VegetableConsumption (Lutein)Consumption (Lutein)

Older adults consuming the most greenleafy vegetables experienced slowercognitive decline than those consumingthe least amount.

source: Kang et al. Ann Neurol, 2005

Morris et al, Neurology, 2006


Compared to those who consume less green leafyvegetables, those who consume more have a

slower rate of cognitive decline

*rich source of lutein

source: Morris et al, Neurology, 2006


-0.020

-0.015

-0.010

-0.005

0.000

servings green leafy vegetables*/daydi

ffer

ence

in

annu

al r

ate

of

cogn

itiv

e ch

ange

Inflammation and Oxidation are believed to beinvolved in age-related cognitive decline

So how much Ω-3 DHA and Lutein do we consume?• To receive up to (or of 2-4 grams of omega 3/day

(containing160 mg of DHA), one would have to consume“large quantities” of fish such as cold water salmon, tuna andbluefish, and marine animal oils.– 3 oz Salmon = 1.1-1.9 gm– 3 oz canned tuna = 0.17-0.24 gm– 3 oz halibut = 0.6-1.12 gm

• To assure lutein intake is adequate, one would have to take inadequate amounts of green leafy vegetables such as spinachand kale every day.– ½ c cooked kale = 10.3 mg– ½ c cooked spinach = 6.3 mg


Lutein and DHA workLutein and DHA worktogether...together...

• Lutein as an anti-oxidant protects thehighly oxidizable DHA.

• DHA as an anti-inflammatory agentprotects lutein

• DHA modifies transport of lutein intoneural tissue.


Long-Term Memory(Verbal Fluency, more = better)


% o

f b

ase

lin

e

*significantly increased from baseline

Johnson et al, J Nutr Neuroscience,2008

Short-Term Memory(Shopping List, trials to learn list, less = better)


50

60

70

80

90

100

Placebo DHA Lutein Lutein+DHA

% o

f b

ase

lin

e

*significantly increased from baseline


Summary: Effect of Lutein and Omega-3 DHA supplementation on Cognition


Placebo Lutein DHA Lutein+ DHA

Verbal fluency no change improve improve improve

Shopping listmemory test

no change no change no change improve

Word listmemory test


Apartmentmemory test



Summary• Studies in large populations that evaluate intake find

that adequate dietary omega-3 DHA and lutein arerelated to better cognitive function.

• Omega-3 DHA and lutein supplementation improvedcognitive function in older adults.

• Loss of cognitive function in aging (>55 years ofage) is not inevitable!!

• Nutrition and specific nutrient intake may make adifference in cognitive health!


BeneVia ® Memory & Focus

Targeted therapeuticTargeted therapeuticnutrition nutrition ™™

•• Omega 3 DHA/EPAOmega 3 DHA/EPA•• Protein + LuteinProtein + Lutein•• CholineCholine•• Vitamins A, C, D & EVitamins A, C, D & E


For Additional InformationContact Us:

At our website: www.gobenevia.com

By email: [email protected]

By phone: 1-888-855-4442

You can find BeneVia in the Adult NutritionSection!

keeping your memory & focus sharp: how your diet & nutrition affect cognition, memory &...

Documents