Poster Session 08 Program Schedule
02/16/2024
01:45 pm - 03:00 pm
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)
Poster Session 08: Cognition | Cognitive Reserve Variables
Final Abstract #10
Analysis of Western and Mediterranean Diets on Brain Function and Cognition: A Systematic Review
Nikhil Bhimireddy, Olentangy Orange High School, Lewis Center, United States
Paul Lewis, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, United States
Category: Neurodegenerative Disorders
Keyword 1: cognitive functioning
Keyword 2: memory: normal
Keyword 3: dementia - Alzheimer's disease
Objective:
Access to quality food has been limited with the uptake of processed foods. This study aims to analyze the role of a Western-style diet high in processed foods and a Mediterranean-style diet composed of produce and unsaturated fats on brain function and cognition.
Participants and Methods:
A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines using various iterations of predetermined search terms such as “western diet”, “mediterranean diet”, and “brain cognition” in databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, PsycInfo, and Cochrane. 696 articles were found in the initial search and narrowed to 208 after the removal of duplicates and articles not in the English language. Articles were then further narrowed based on relevance to the study (main findings) and presented results (showing a correlation between the type of diet and brain cognition, health, or function). 19 total sources were used in this systematic analysis.
Results:
Out of the 19 sources, 10 sources exclusively examined a Western-style diet, 7 sources exclusively examined a Mediterranean-style diet, and the remaining 2 sources considered both diets in study. Neuropsychological tests were administered along with observational and clinical studies to measure the effects of diet on brain cognition and function. Aβ40 levels were seen to decrease with the Mediterranean diet and increase with the Western diet (P = 0.026). Additionally, through qualitative studies, consumption of a Mediterranean diet was associated with increased cognitive function (P = 0.003). A Mediterranean-style diet was shown to have substantial changes in the gut microbiome and was correlated with a reduced risk for Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases (P = 0.023).
Many studies indicated that individuals associated with a Mediterranean-style diet experienced decreased cognitive decline and a decreased risk for neurodegenerative diseases. Post-data analysis, the results demonstrated that rodents on a Mediterranean-style diet experienced less cognitive decline and higher brain functions. In human models, the Mediterranean diet had increased effects on both global cognition (P = 0.034) and semantic memory (P = 0.04). Rodents on a Western-style diet suffered from decreased cognitive function which was measured through cognitive performance tests. Rodents on a Western-style high-calorie diet took more time to navigate the hidden platform (P = 0.02) and also took a longer route to the platform (P = 0.03).
A Western diet’s high fat and sugar intake was shown to reduce hippocampal-dependent learning memory. Additionally, the Western diet's low-fiber content was shown to induce cognitive impairment as there are alterations in the gut-microbiota-hippocampal axis.
Stress was also shown to be a concern with the consumption of a Western-style diet causing an abnormal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, leading to cognitive impairment and increased risk of neurodegenerative disease through both clinical and observational studies.
Conclusions:
A Western-style diet was associated with cognitive decline and risk for neurodegenerative diseases in both humans and animal models. More research conducted on Western and Mediterranean diets could provide further insight into the role diets play on neurodegenerative diseases and potentially lead to public health and clinical interventions for patients.
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