Gaby
A study conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Illinois and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has revealed that certain nutrients, including specific types of fatty acids, antioxidants, and plant pigments, play a crucial role in slowing down brain aging.
The scientists hope their research will improve care for individuals at risk of diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
What the Researchers Discovered
The team involved 100 cognitively healthy participants aged 65 to 75. All participants underwent a series of tests, including assessments of cognitive functions, brain imaging, and blood biomarker analysis.
The researchers identified a specific nutrient profile in the blood of those with the best cognitive abilities.
Beneficial nutrients included a combination of fatty acids such as vaccenic, gondoic, and alpha-linolenic acids, as well as antioxidants, two forms of vitamin E, choline, and plant pigments like cis-lutein, trans-lutein, and zeaxanthin.
Most importantly, this nutrient profile correlates with the nutrients found in the Mediterranean diet, which has previously been linked to healthy brain aging, as reported by the Independent.
“We studied specific nutrient biomarkers, such as fatty acid profiles, which are known in nutritional science to be potentially beneficial for health. This aligns with large studies in the field that demonstrate the positive impact of the Mediterranean diet on health,” noted Dr. Aaron Barbi, one of the co-authors of the study.
The new research is considered one of the first and largest to combine brain imaging, blood biomarkers, and cognitive ability assessments.
In future studies, the team plans to conduct controlled clinical trials. The researchers aim to determine which specific nutrients are positively associated with cognitive functions and overall brain health.
