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References related to brain function, neuroscience, intelligence, and nutrition

Memory foods - how to get smarter

1. Cognitive aging, childhood intelligence, and the use of food supplements: possible involvement of n–3 fatty acids Lawrence J Whalley et al Am. J. Clinical Nutrition,  Dec 2004;  80:  1650 - 1657. Results: …At the age of 64 y, cognitive function was higher in food supplement users than in nonusers before adjustment for childhood IQ. After adjustment for childhood IQ, digit symbol (mental speed) test scores were higher in food supplement users. Fish-oil supplement users consumed more vitamin C and vegetable and cereal fiber than did non-supplement-users. In a nested case-control study, erythrocyte membrane n–3 content was higher in fish-oil supplement users than in nonusers, but cognitive function did not differ significantly between groups. Total erythrocyte n–3 fatty acids and the ratio of docosahexaenoic acid to arachidonic acid was associated with better cognitive function in late life before and after adjustment for childhood IQ. Conclusions: Food supplement use and erythrocyte n–3 content are associated with better cognitive aging. If associations with n–3 content are causal, optimization of n–3 and n–6 fatty acid intakes could improve retention of cognitive function in old age.

2. Higher Dietary Intake of Lignans Is Associated with Better Cognitive Performance in Postmenopausal Women Oscar H. Franco, et al J. Nutr. 2005 135: 1190-1195.   [Abstract]

"community-based survey among 394 postmenopausalwomen… After adjustment for confounders,increasing dietary lignans intake was associated with betterperformance on the MMSE [cognitive performance test]"

From Linus Pauling Institute Spring/Summer 2004 Research Report; Bruce Ames; Micronutrient inadequacy and cognitive dysfunction: "...deficiencies in zinc, iron, folate/B-12/B-6 or the essential omega-3 fatty acids show convincing evidence for impairment of cognitive function...The long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, DHA and EPA, are essential for proper brain development. These fatty acids are found in fish oil, or can be made in the body, somewhat inefficiently, from linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid present in certain nuts and vegetable oils...[these omega-3 oils] make up 30% of the fatty acids of the neurons and appear to be the factors in breast milk that account for the increased intelligence of children fed breast milk compared to formula. The American diet is quite low in these essential fatty acids. In adulthood, deficiency is involved in cognitive impairment with dementia and neurodegenerative impairment associated with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease...attention-deficit disorder..."

3. Ugo Lucca et al, Homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B-12 in mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer disease, and vascular dementia
Am J Clin Nutr 2004 80: 114-12

Conclusions: These findings suggest that relative folate deficiency may precede vascular dementia and Alzheimer disease onset. Hyperhomocysteinemia might also be an early risk factor for cognitive decline in the elderly, but its role in dementia development must be addressed in future longitudinal studies.

Alzheimer's, Parkinson's link