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Dietary and Non-dietary Modulators of Cognitive Function—2nd Edition

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (16 August 2023) | Viewed by 10103

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
Interests: aging; Alzheimer’s disease; neurodegeneration; ADHD; nutrition; gut–brain axis; drug development
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on factors that modulate brain function and may have the potential to influence its functions in the long run. On the one hand, the brain depends on a steady and sufficient supply of oxygen and dietary ingredients for proper functioning. On the other hand, genetic predispositions and epigenetic and environmental factors may influence brain development and functioning. Any such disbalance may lead to the manifestation of developmental disorders at a young age, compromised daily capabilities, or age-associated brain disorders.

This Special Issue aims to showcase state-of-the-art contributions that discuss the role of implicated cues in cognitive functions, including genetic effects, neurodegeneration, nutritional compounds, etc. Mechanistic and epidemiological studies in vitro, in vivo, and on human subjects will be considered for publication. We encourage the submission of original research articles, reviews, and meta-analyses. Potential topics may include but are not limited to the nervous system, neurogenesis, mechanisms of cognitive function, brain development, brain aging, microbiome and brain, genetic modifications, genetic engineering, polymorphisms, age-related brain dysfunction, dietary bioactives, malnutrition, nutrition and chronic conditions, genetic predisposition, metabolism, and omics.

Dr. M. Hasan Mohajeri
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • mechanisms of cognitive function
  • microbiome and the brain
  • genetic modifications, genetic engineering, polymorphisms
  • age-related brain dysfunction
  • dietary bioactives
  • malnutrition
  • nutrition and brain function
  • genetic predisposition
  • metabolism
  • omics

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 735 KiB  
Article
Effects of a Raisin Supplement on Cognitive Performance, Quality of Life, and Functional Activities in Healthy Older Adults—Randomized Clinical Trial
by María José Rodrigo-Gonzalo, Susana González-Manzano, María Carmen Pablos-Hernández, Roberto Méndez-Sánchez, Begoña Ayuda Duran, Jesús González-Sánchez, Fausto Barbero-Iglesias, Ana María González-Paramás and José Ignacio Recio-Rodríguez
Nutrients 2023, 15(12), 2811; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15122811 - 20 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2827
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of consuming 50 g of raisins on cognitive performance, quality of life, and functional activities in healthy older adults. This is a parallel randomized controlled clinical trial, in which 80 subjects over 70 [...] Read more.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of consuming 50 g of raisins on cognitive performance, quality of life, and functional activities in healthy older adults. This is a parallel randomized controlled clinical trial, in which 80 subjects over 70 years of age participated. For 6 months, the intervention group (IG; n = 40) consumed 50 g of raisins per day added to their usual diet, whereas the control group (CG; n = 40) received no supplement. All variables were measured at baseline and at 6 months. Cognitive performance assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) test shows a difference of 3.27 points (95% CI 1.59 to 4.96), p ≤ 0.001, favorable to the IG, after the intervention. Among the cognitive performances, an improvement is observed in the IG in orientation, assessed both with the MOCA test 0.49 (95% CI 0.10 to 0.87), p = 0.014, and with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) test, 0.36 (95% CI 0.02 to 0.70), p = 0.038. In visuospatial/executive capacity and in language, improvements were also observed in the IG, 1.36 (95% CI 0.77 to 1.95), p = 0.001, and 0.54 points (95% CI 0.12 to 0.96), p = 0.014, respectively. Immediate and delayed recall, assessed with the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, improved in the IG. In addition, the IG showed a better quality of life and greater autonomy in instrumental activities of daily living after 6 months. No significant changes were observed in the rest of the variables analyzed. Therefore, the consumption of 50 g of raisins produces a slight improvement in cognitive performance, quality of life, and functional activities in the elderly. Full article
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16 pages, 3971 KiB  
Article
Early Life Obesity Increases Neuroinflammation, Amyloid Beta Deposition, and Cognitive Decline in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
by Simon W. So, Kendra M. Fleming, Joshua P. Nixon and Tammy A. Butterick
Nutrients 2023, 15(11), 2494; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15112494 - 27 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1866
Abstract
Obesity, a known risk factor of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), increases the activation of microglia, leading to a proinflammatory phenotype. Our previous work shows that a high fat diet (HFD) can cause neuroinflammation and cognitive decline in mice. We hypothesized that proinflammatory activation of [...] Read more.
Obesity, a known risk factor of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), increases the activation of microglia, leading to a proinflammatory phenotype. Our previous work shows that a high fat diet (HFD) can cause neuroinflammation and cognitive decline in mice. We hypothesized that proinflammatory activation of brain microglia in obesity exacerbates AD pathology and increases the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques. Presently, we tested cognitive function in 8-month-old male and female APP/PS1 mice fed a HFD, starting at 1.5 months of age. Locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, behavioral despair, and spatial memory were all assessed through behavioral tests. Microgliosis and Aβ deposition were measured in multiple brain regions through immunohistochemical analysis. Our results show that a HFD decreases locomotor activity, while increasing anxiety-like behavior and behavioral despair independent of genotype. A HFD led to increased memory deficits in both sexes, with HFD-fed APP/PS1 mice performing the worst out of all groups. Immunohistochemical analysis showed increased microgliosis in mice fed a HFD. This was accompanied by an increase in Aβ deposition in the HFD-fed APP/PS1 mice. Together, our results support that HFD-induced obesity exacerbates neuroinflammation and Aβ deposition in a young adult AD mouse model, leading to increased memory deficits and cognitive decline in both sexes. Full article
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15 pages, 1524 KiB  
Article
The Association between Coffee and Tea Consumption at Midlife and Risk of Dementia Later in Life: The HUNT Study
by Denise Abbel, Bjørn Olav Åsvold, Marit Kolberg, Geir Selbæk, Raymond Noordam and Håvard Kjesbu Skjellegrind
Nutrients 2023, 15(11), 2469; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15112469 - 25 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4953
Abstract
Background: Studies exploring the possible protective effect of coffee and tea consumption on dementia have shown inconsistent results so far. We aimed to investigate whether consumption of tea and different types of coffee at midlife are associated with dementia later in life and [...] Read more.
Background: Studies exploring the possible protective effect of coffee and tea consumption on dementia have shown inconsistent results so far. We aimed to investigate whether consumption of tea and different types of coffee at midlife are associated with dementia later in life and whether sex or ApoE4 influence such association. Methods: We included 7381 participants from the Norwegian HUNT Study. Self-reported questionnaires assessed daily consumption of coffee and tea at baseline. After 22 years, individuals 70 years or older were screened for cognitive impairment. Results: General coffee consumption and tea consumption was not associated with dementia risk. Compared to daily consumption of 0–1 cups of coffee, daily consumption of ≥8 cups of boiled coffee was associated with increased dementia risk in women (OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.10–3.04, p-value for trend = 0.03) and daily consumption of 4–5 cups of other types of coffee was associated with a decrease in dementia risk in men (OR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.32–0.72, p-value for trend = 0.05). Furthermore, the association between boiled coffee and increased dementia risk was only found in ApoE4 non-carriers. Differences by sex or ApoE4 carrier status were not supported by strong statistical evidence for interaction. Tea consumption was not associated with dementia risk. Conclusion: type of coffee may play a role in the direction of the association between coffee-drinking habits and dementia later in life. Full article
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