New GSA report touts power of nutrition to combat dementia and boost brain health

08 Apr 2024 --- A new publication by the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), titled “Insights and Implications in Gerontology: The Vital Role of Nutrition in Brain Health,” evaluates critical nutritional choices that enhance cognition and decrease the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in later life.

The report finds that as much as 40% of dementia diagnoses can be averted by modifying eating behavior. 

The authors focus on a person-centered approach that ties conversations about nutrition to patient goals. Carrying out conversations about diet and health is considered an effective strategy. The publication posits that cultivating a healthy diet is a behavioral strategy that can help prevent the development of dementia as people age.

“Broaching the topic of diet and nutrition can be challenging. I start by asking patients what their goals are. These goals could include physical goals such as maintaining muscle mass, cognitive goals such as preserving memory, as well as functional goals such as being able to travel or play with grandchildren,” says Dr. Kathryn Porter Starr, Duke University School of Medicine and Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

“Linking information about nutrition to helping adults achieve their goals is an effective strategy for stimulating motivation to implement healthy changes.” 

Boosting brain function
The publication reports on the roles of vitamins and minerals in nutrition and brain function. It focuses on how to implement person-centered conversations about the impact of diet and nutrition on overall wellness, including brain health.

It recommends three well-known diets to boost brain health — the Mediterranean diet, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet (DASH) and the Mediterranean and DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND).

People are generally discouraged from eating less high-fat dairy products, red meat, fried food and processed food and encouraged to eat more leafy green and cruciferous vegetables, berries, beans, nuts, whole grains, and protein-rich foods such as fish, seafood and chicken. 

The MIND diet has the strongest correlation to improved cognition. DASH dieters are reported to be at least 7.5 biological years younger in their cognitive abilities.The GSA’s new publication focuses on nutrition interventions to assess and boost brain health.  

Meanwhile, cognition-boosting ingredients are emerging as a lifespan megatrend as consumers of all ages look to enhance their brain power. Older generations want to support cognition throughout the latter half of their lives, while younger populations want support for brain health and concentration for school and college.

Enhancing nutrition
The GSA has taken information from 11 consensus-based recommendations by the UsAgainst Alzheimer’s risk reduction workgroup that can be implemented through clinical practice to lower the risk of cognitive decline. 

The guidelines delve into neurovascular risk management, physical activity, sleep, nutrition, social activity and cognitive stimulation, while the recommendations around nutrition assess dietary patterns and advise on interventions that improve brain health. 

Multivitamin/mineral (MVM) supplementation is supported to reach the proper levels of micronutrients that support brain health because, in some cases, the right quantities cannot be reached through diet. MVMs can decrease vitamin deficiencies that increase the risk of impaired cognition. Many people can benefit from eating fortified foods and taking dietary supplements.

The GSA report also endorses patient-centered conversations that actively implement strategies to benefit brain health. Strategies to manage overall health and wellness include exercise, social stimulation and managing vascular risk factors, which are useful as primary prevention.

“I would love for everybody to get all of their micronutrients from food. Unfortunately, for most older adults, it’s really challenging to do that due to physiological changes that occur with aging and certain disease states that affect absorption, so we often recommend a multivitamin,” says Starr.

Signs of cognitive decline
Normal cognitive aging is distinct from more severe changes that impact normal daily activities such as driving, calling and navigating. Taking longer to learn something new or being forgetful are typical signs of aging cognition.

Asking the same questions repeatedly, getting lost in a familiar place, struggling to follow recipes or directions, being confused about time, people and places, poor hygiene and dangerous behaviors are signs indicating cognitive impairment.

In cases of mild cognitive impairment, the person can perform daily living activities and live independently, but it can be an early sign of dementia. A few symptoms include losing things often, forgetting to attend events and appointments, and difficulty finding the right words. 

Good nutrition is vital in combating these aging complications. The GSA urges clinicians to annually assess the dietary eating patterns and habits of people 45 years and older. In cases where the person has a poor diet, they are encouraged to counsel the patient on the value of diet and suggest beneficial modifications. 

By Inga de Jong