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Nutrients
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Dietary and Non-dietary Modulators of Cognitive Function
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Dietary and Non-dietary Modulators of Cognitive Function

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Micronutrients and Human Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (12 January 2023) | Viewed by 23747

Special Issue Editor

Dr. M. Hasan Mohajeri

E-Mail Website
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
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on factors that modulate brain function and may have the potential of influencing 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 of young ages, compromised daily capabilities, or age-associated brain disorders.

The goal of this Special Issue is to showcase state-of-the-art contributions discussing the role of cues that are implicated in cognitive functions including genetic effects, neurodegeneration, nutritional compounds, etc. Mechanistic as well as 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.

PD Dr. M. Hasan Mohajeri
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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 brain
  • Genetic modifications, genetic engineering, polymorphisms
  • Age-related brain dysfunction
  • Dietary bioactives
  • Malnutrition
  • Nutrition and brain function
  • Genetic predisposition
  • Metabolism
  • Omics

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

3 pages, 200 KiB  
Editorial
Dietary and Non-Dietary Modulators of Cognitive Function
by M. Hasan Mohajeri
Nutrients 2023, 15(13), 3015; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu15133015 - 01 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1085
Abstract
Manifold internal and external factors may influence brain function in the long run, including genetic predispositions as well as epigenetic and environmental factors [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary and Non-dietary Modulators of Cognitive Function)

Research

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16 pages, 2649 KiB  
Article
Identification of Nordic Berries with Beneficial Effects on Cognitive Outcomes and Gut Microbiota in High-Fat-Fed Middle-Aged C57BL/6J Mice
by Fang Huang, Nittaya Marungruang, Olha Kostiuchenko, Nadiia Kravchenko, Stephen Burleigh, Olena Prykhodko, Frida Fåk Hållenius and Lovisa Heyman-Lindén
Nutrients 2022, 14(13), 2734; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu14132734 - 30 Jun 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2517
Abstract
High-fat diets are associated with neuronal and memory dysfunction. Berries may be useful in improving age-related memory deficits in humans, as well as in mice receiving high-fat diets. Emerging research has also demonstrated that brain health and cognitive function may be related to [...] Read more.
High-fat diets are associated with neuronal and memory dysfunction. Berries may be useful in improving age-related memory deficits in humans, as well as in mice receiving high-fat diets. Emerging research has also demonstrated that brain health and cognitive function may be related to the dynamic changes in the gut microbiota. In this study, the impact of Nordic berries on the brain and the gut microbiota was investigated in middle-aged C57BL/6J mice. The mice were fed high-fat diets (60%E fat) supplemented with freeze-dried powder (6% dwb) of bilberry, lingonberry, cloudberry, blueberry, blackcurrant, and sea buckthorn for 4 months. The results suggest that supplementation with bilberry, blackcurrant, blueberry, lingonberry, and (to some extent) cloudberry has beneficial effects on spatial cognition, as seen by the enhanced performance following the T-maze alternation test, as well as a greater proportion of DCX-expressing cells with prolongation in hippocampus. Furthermore, the proportion of the mucosa-associated symbiotic bacteria Akkermansia muciniphila increased by 4–14 times in the cecal microbiota of mice fed diets supplemented with lingonberry, bilberry, sea buckthorn, and blueberry. These findings demonstrate the potential of Nordic berries to preserve memory and cognitive function, and to induce alterations of the gut microbiota composition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary and Non-dietary Modulators of Cognitive Function)
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Graphical abstract

18 pages, 2235 KiB  
Article
Effects of Diastolic Blood Pressure on Brain Structures and Cognitive Functions in Middle and Old Ages: Longitudinal Analyses
by Hikaru Takeuchi and Ryuta Kawashima
Nutrients 2022, 14(12), 2464; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu14122464 - 14 Jun 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2345
Abstract
Hypertension is a pervasive public health concern due to strong associations with cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Alternatively, the associations between hypertension and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease are complex and recent large sample studies reported positive associations. In this paper, we examine the [...] Read more.
Hypertension is a pervasive public health concern due to strong associations with cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Alternatively, the associations between hypertension and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease are complex and recent large sample studies reported positive associations. In this paper, we examine the associations between diastolic blood pressure (BP) and subsequent changes in brain structure and cognitive function over several years by multiple regression analyses (with adjustment for a wide range of potential confounding variables) among a large cohort from the UK Biobank. Higher baseline diastolic BP was associated with a slightly smaller relative increase (relative improvements) in reaction time and a slightly greater reduction in depression scores. Higher baseline diastolic BP was also associated with a greater total gray matter volume (GMV) retention, while aging alone was associated with GMV reduction. White matter microstructural analyses revealed that a greater diastolic BP was associated with reduced longitudinal mean and regional fractional anisotropy, greater increases in mean and regional mean diffusivity, radial diffusivity, and axial diffusivity, a greater decline in mean intracellular volume fraction, and greater increases in mean and regional isotropic volume fraction. These white matter microstructural changes were consistent with those seen in the aging process. Additional analyses revealed a greater cheese intake level at baseline, which is associated with a subsequent decline in diastolic BP and a relative subsequent increase in depressive tendency together with a relative increase in fluid intelligence and visuospatial memory performance. These results are congruent with the view that a higher BP in the aging brain has a complex role. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary and Non-dietary Modulators of Cognitive Function)
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12 pages, 1884 KiB  
Article
Diet and Dementia: A Prospective Study
by Hikaru Takeuchi and Ryuta Kawashima
Nutrients 2021, 13(12), 4500; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu13124500 - 16 Dec 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4751
Abstract
Whether dietary and nutrition and dietary patterns are associated with the development of dementia is an interesting research question. Participants of a longitudinal cohort study that included European adults who were middle to old aged at baseline and who had not been diagnosed [...] Read more.
Whether dietary and nutrition and dietary patterns are associated with the development of dementia is an interesting research question. Participants of a longitudinal cohort study that included European adults who were middle to old aged at baseline and who had not been diagnosed with dementia at baseline (2006–2010) and had not been diagnosed with dementia or died within 5 years after baseline were followed up (until 2018) and analyzed. Associations between intake frequency of each food class measured by the food-frequency questionnaire at baseline and incident dementia 5 years after baseline were analyzed after correcting for confounding variables. A total of approximately 340,000 participants and 900 cases were included in the analysis for each food class. Cox proportional hazard models with self-reported intake level of each food category divided into four mostly equally divided categorical variables revealed a high intake of bread, moderate total meat and total fish intake and low vegetable and fruit intake were thus associated with a small but significant decrease in the onset risk of dementia, while poultry and cereal were not. These findings are mostly inconsistent with the idea that Mediterranean diet is associated with lower risk of subsequent incident dementia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary and Non-dietary Modulators of Cognitive Function)
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19 pages, 2672 KiB  
Article
High-Phytate Diets Increase Amyloid β Deposition and Apoptotic Neuronal Cell Death in a Rat Model
by Hyo-Jung Kim, Yun-Shin Jung, Yun-Jae Jung, Ok-Hee Kim and Byung-Chul Oh
Nutrients 2021, 13(12), 4370; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu13124370 - 06 Dec 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2736
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation in the hippocampus is an essential event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Insoluble Aβ is formed through the sequential proteolytic hydrolysis of the Aβ precursor protein, which is cleaved by proteolytic secretases. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms of Aβ accumulation [...] Read more.
Amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation in the hippocampus is an essential event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Insoluble Aβ is formed through the sequential proteolytic hydrolysis of the Aβ precursor protein, which is cleaved by proteolytic secretases. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms of Aβ accumulation remain elusive. Here, we report that rats fed high-phytate diets showed Aβ accumulation and increased apoptotic neuronal cell death in the hippocampus through the activation of the amyloidogenic pathway in the hippocampus. Immunoblotting and immunohistochemical analyses confirmed that the overexpression of BACE1 β-secretase, a critical enzyme for Aβ generation, exacerbated the hippocampal Aβ accumulation in rats fed high-phytate diets. Moreover, we identified that parathyroid hormone, a physiological hormone responding to the phytate-mediated dysregulation of calcium and phosphate homeostasis, plays an essential role in the transcriptional activation of the Aβ precursor protein and BACE1 through the vitamin D receptor and retinoid X receptor axis. Thus, our findings suggest that phytate-mediated dysregulation of calcium and phosphate is a substantial risk factor for elevated Aβ accumulation and apoptotic neuronal cell death in rats. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary and Non-dietary Modulators of Cognitive Function)
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Review

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19 pages, 1430 KiB  
Review
Neuronutraceuticals Combating Neuroinflammaging: Molecular Insights and Translational Challenges—A Systematic Review
by Shakta Mani Satyam and Laxminarayana Kurady Bairy
Nutrients 2022, 14(15), 3029; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu14153029 - 23 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2080
Abstract
Neuropathologies, such as neuroinflammaging, have arisen as a serious concern for preserving the quality of life due to the global increase in neurodegenerative illnesses. Nowadays, neuronutraceuticals have gained remarkable attention. It is necessary to investigate the bioavailability, off-target effects, and mechanism of action [...] Read more.
Neuropathologies, such as neuroinflammaging, have arisen as a serious concern for preserving the quality of life due to the global increase in neurodegenerative illnesses. Nowadays, neuronutraceuticals have gained remarkable attention. It is necessary to investigate the bioavailability, off-target effects, and mechanism of action of neuronutraceuticals. To comprehend the comprehensive impact on brain health, well-designed randomized controlled trials testing combinations of neuronutraceuticals are also necessary. Although there is a translational gap between basic and clinical research, the present knowledge of the molecular perspectives of neuroinflammaging and neuronutraceuticals may be able to slow down brain aging and to enhance cognitive performance. The present review also highlights the key emergent issues, such as regulatory and scientific concerns of neuronutraceuticals, including bioavailability, formulation, blood–brain permeability, safety, and efficacy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary and Non-dietary Modulators of Cognitive Function)
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51 pages, 7829 KiB  
Review
Overlapping Mechanisms of Action of Brain-Active Bacteria and Bacterial Metabolites in the Pathogenesis of Common Brain Diseases
by Tanja Patricia Eicher and M. Hasan Mohajeri
Nutrients 2022, 14(13), 2661; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu14132661 - 27 Jun 2022
Cited by 44 | Viewed by 7283
Abstract
The involvement of the gut microbiota and the metabolites of colon-residing bacteria in brain disease pathogenesis has been covered in a growing number of studies, but comparative literature is scarce. To fill this gap, we explored the contribution of the microbiota–gut–brain axis to [...] Read more.
The involvement of the gut microbiota and the metabolites of colon-residing bacteria in brain disease pathogenesis has been covered in a growing number of studies, but comparative literature is scarce. To fill this gap, we explored the contribution of the microbiota–gut–brain axis to the pathophysiology of seven brain-related diseases (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder). In this article, we discussed changes in bacterial abundance and the metabolic implications of these changes on disease development and progression. Our central findings indicate that, mechanistically, all seven diseases are associated with a leaky gut, neuroinflammation, and over-activated microglial cells, to which gut-residing bacteria and their metabolites are important contributors. Patients show a pro-inflammatory shift in their colon microbiota, harbouring more Gram-negative bacteria containing immune-triggering lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in their cell walls. In addition, bacteria with pro-inflammatory properties (Alistipes, Eggerthella, Flavonifractor) are found in higher abundances, whereas lower abundances of anti-inflammatory bacteria (Bifidobacterium, Coprococcus, Eucbacterium, Eubacterium rectale, Faecalibacterium, Faecalibacterium prasunitzii, Lactobacillus, Prevotella, Roseburia) are reported, when compared to healthy controls. On the metabolite level, aberrant levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are involved in disease pathogenesis and are mostly found in lower quantities. Moreover, bacterial metabolites such as neurotransmitters (acetylcholine, dopamine, noradrenaline, GABA, glutamate, serotonin) or amino acids (phenylalanine, tryptophan) also play an important role. In the future, defined aberrations in the abundance of bacteria strains and altered bacterial metabolite levels could likely be possible markers for disease diagnostics and follow-ups. Moreover, they could help to identify novel treatment options, underlining the necessity for a deeper understanding of the microbiota–gut–brain axis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary and Non-dietary Modulators of Cognitive Function)
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