The last five articles by the Brain Fuels (click on titles to read)
August 30, 2010
BrainFuals.com’s articles on brain aging, neuroprotectors, and more
July 23, 2010
Should we start exercising early in life to postpone or prevent age-related cognitive decline?
Exercise during midlife comparing with exercise during late life
Most of the studies into the protective effects of exercise against cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease, followed the elderly people starting their 65s and watched the results, which were relevant to the beneficial effects in late life. However, there are some results where a large cohort of 65-79-year olds has been followed-up for around 21 years so information about physical activity during midlife was available. Those who who participated in at least “leisure-time physical activity” during midlife had significantly lower risks of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease comparing with those who did not exercise at all [1].
Another study has suggested that physical activity at even earlier ages (physical activity between ages 15 and 25 years was asked retrospectively) can improve or preserve cognitive ability in late life [2]. This cognitive decline risk reduction is at least comparable to the eisks reduction reported in studies of physical activity in older persons. Thus, midlife physical activity might be as important for preventing later cognitive decline as is physical activity at older ages.
Sources
- Rovio S, et al. Leisure-time physical activity at midlife and the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Lancet Neurol 2005;4:705–11
- Dik M, Deeg DJ, Visser M, Jonker C. Early life physical activity and cognition at old age. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2003;25:643–53
March 16, 2010
Flavonoids: what they are, food sources, and brain aging
Flavonoids are water soluble plant pigments that plants produce to assist in photosynthesis and are believed to function as antioxidants.
Major dietary sources of flavonoids include fruits, vegetables, cereals, tea, wine and fruit juices.
The main groups of flavonoids and their food sources are:
flavonols – found in onions, leeks and broccoli;
flavones – found in parsley and celery;
isoflavones – found in soyabeans;
flavanones – found in citrus fruit and tomatoes;
flavanols – abundant in green tea, red wine and cocoa; anthocyanidins’ sources include red wine and red berries.
A recent study has provided strong evidence that dietary flavonoid intake preserved cognitive abilities with aging. Isoflavones from soy had positive effects on cognitive function, because they were able to mimic the actions of estrogens in the brain. Isoflavone supplementation had a favourable effect on verbal memory in post-menopausal women.
Brain-imaging studies in humans have demonstrated that the consumption of flavanol-rich cocoa may enhance blood flow to the brain cortex. Berries, in particular blueberries, are effective at reversing age-related deficits in movements and memory.
Animal studies with tea, grape juice or flavonols such as quercetin have shown that they all are beneficial in reversing the course of neuronal and behavioural ageing. Such beneficial effects have been attributed to antioxidant activities, however, there are growing body of evidence that their mechanisms involve a modulation of neurotransmitter release, a stimulation of neurogenesis and changes in neuronal signaling.
Source: Proceedings of the Nutrition Society (2008), 67: 238-252
Flavonoids are water soluble plant pigments that plants produce to assist in photosynthesis and are believed to function as antioxidants. Major dietary sources of flavonoids include fruits, vegetables, cereals, tea, wine and fruit juices.
The main groups of flavonoids and their food sources are:
- flavonols – found in onions, leeks and broccoli;
- flavones – found in parsley and celery;
- isoflavones – found in soyabeans;
- flavanones – found in citrus fruit and tomatoes;
- flavanols – abundant in green tea, red wine and cocoa; anthocyanidins’ sources include red wine and red berries.
A recent study has provided strong evidence that dietary flavonoid intake preserved cognitive abilities with aging. Isoflavones from soy had positive effects on cognitive function, because they were able to mimic the actions of estrogens in the brain. Isoflavone supplementation had a favourable effect on verbal memory in post-menopausal women.
Brain-imaging studies in humans have demonstrated that the consumption of flavanol-rich cocoa may enhance blood flow to the brain cortex. Berries, in particular blueberries, are effective at reversing age-related deficits in movements and memory.
Animal studies with tea, grape juice or flavonols such as quercetin have shown that they all are beneficial in reversing the course of neuronal and behavioural ageing. Such beneficial effects have been attributed to antioxidant activities, however, there are growing body of evidence that their mechanisms involve a modulation of neurotransmitter release, a stimulation of neurogenesis and changes in neuronal signaling.
Source: Proceedings of the Nutrition Society (2008), 67: 238-252
Blueberries, aging, learning, and memory
Phytochemical-rich foods have been shown to be effective at reversing age-related deficits in memory in both animals and humans. Specifically, blueberry were effective in reversing age-related deficits in neuronal signaling and behavioral parameters following 8 weeks of feeding, possibly due to their high flavonoid content. It has been reported that blueberry-supplemented diet may not only retard but also revert declining brain functions due to aging. Young and old rats were trained to memorize objects shown them an hour ago. Old rats receiving 2% of their meals as blueberries performed as young rats while old rats on regular diet failed to memorize the objects at al. In several regions of the brain, old control diet rats had significantly higher levels of so called nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) than young animals on the control diet and old rats eating blueberries (Nutritional Neuroscience, V 7, No 2, 2004, 5-83-9). NF-κB is known for its involvement in vulnerability of neurons to “excitotoxicity” – a toxic biochemical condition occurring during neuronal hyperactivity (Synapse. 2000 Feb;35(2):151-9). Errors in regulation of NF-κB may lead to cancer, inflammation and improper immune development. To resist excitotoxicity, there’s so called Brain-derived neurotrophic factor or BDNF, which function is to help supporting the survival of neurons. Recent data (Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 45, 3, 008, 295-305) on blueberry supplementation may indicate that changes in working memory in aged animals are linked to the effects of flavonoids on BDNF.
It was unclear if phytonutrients from blueberries were able to cross the blood-brain barrier and directly access the brain. Researchers in Barcelona, Spain, investigated this issue. They took old rats and fed them a diet containing 2% blueberries for 2 to 2.5 months, than tested the rats for learning and memory. in the brain areas participating in learning and memory processing and storing – cerebellum, cortex, hippocampus or striatum, 14 antioxidant substances found. The antioxidant content correlated with improvements in learning and memory normally declined in old age rats (and humans). In control rats of same age fed on regular diet, there were no changes in bioche
Phytochemical-rich foods have been shown to be effective at reversing age-related deficits in memory in both animals and humans. Specifically, blueberry were effective in reversing age-related deficits in neuronal signaling and behavioral parameters following 8 weeks of feeding, possibly due to their high flavonoid content. It has been reported that blueberry-supplemented diet may not only retard but also revert declining brain functions due to aging. Young and old rats were trained to memorize objects shown them an hour ago. Old rats receiving 2% of their meals as blueberries performed as young rats while old rats on regular diet failed to memorize the objects at al. In several regions of the brain, old control diet rats had significantly higher levels of so called nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) than young animals on the control diet and old rats eating blueberries (Nutritional Neuroscience, V 7, No 2, 2004, 5-83-9). NF-κB is known for its involvement in vulnerability of neurons to “excitotoxicity” – a toxic biochemical condition occurring during neuronal hyperactivity (Synapse. 2000 Feb;35(2):151-9). Errors in regulation of NF-κB may lead to cancer, inflammation and improper immune development. To resist excitotoxicity, there’s so called Brain-derived neurotrophic factor or BDNF, which function is to help supporting the survival of neurons. Recent data (Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 45, 3, 008, 295-305) on blueberry supplementation may indicate that changes in working memory in aged animals are linked to the effects of flavonoids on BDNF.
It was unclear if phytonutrients from blueberries were able to cross the blood-brain barrier and directly access the brain. Researchers in Barcelona, Spain, investigated this issue. They took old rats and fed them a diet containing 2% blueberries for 2 to 2.5 months, than tested the rats for learning and memory. in the brain areas participating in learning and memory processing and storing – cerebellum, cortex, hippocampus or striatum, 14 antioxidant substances found. The antioxidant content correlated with improvements in learning and memory normally declined in old age rats (and humans). In control rats of same age fed on regular diet, there were no changes in bioche
