Cognitive Health and Dietary Factors

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Questions and Answers

What effect does a decrease in Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) have on Aβ deposits?

It results in a decrease in Aβ deposits.

How does the ketogenic diet contribute to cardiovascular health according to the content?

It improves insulin secretion and sensitivity, leading to a decrease in atherosclerosis.

What combined dietary approach does the MIND diet represent?

It combines the benefits of the DASH and Mediterranean diets.

What was the age range of participants in the MIND trial?

Participants were aged 58 to 98 years. Signup and view all the answers

What is one key outcome of the MIND diet in relation to cognitive decline?

The MIND diet shows the best overall improvement for reducing cognitive decline. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of treatment for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) given the lack of FDA-approved drugs?

The primary focus is on managing underlying causes such as depression, high blood pressure, and sleep disturbances. Signup and view all the answers

List three types of non-pharmacological interventions recommended for MCI management.

Physical activity, cognitive interventions, and dietary and nutritional interventions. Signup and view all the answers

What are the four categorized types of cognitive interventions for MCI?

The four types are cognitive stimulation, cognitive training, cognitive rehabilitation, and multicomponent interventions. Signup and view all the answers

How do cholinesterase inhibitors relate to the treatment of MCI compared to Alzheimer's Disease (AD)?

Cholinesterase inhibitors are prescribed for AD to address memory loss but are not approved for MCI treatment. Signup and view all the answers

In a meta-analysis by Wang et al. (2020), which cognitive intervention ranked highest for effectiveness?

Cognitive stimulation (CS) ranked the highest for effectiveness. Signup and view all the answers

What was one focus of the systematic review conducted by Chen et al (2021) regarding MCI?

It categorized clinical guidelines for MCI treatment into four main sections including risk reduction and pharmacological interventions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main goal of cognitive rehabilitation for MCI patients?

The main goal is to restore a lost impaired cognitive function. Signup and view all the answers

Identify a significant difference in the treatment methodologies between MCI and Alzheimer's Disease.

MCI lacks specific FDA-approved drug treatments, whereas Alzheimer's Disease has approved cholinesterase inhibitors. Signup and view all the answers

What output measure did Wang et al. (2020) use to assess the success of cognitive interventions?

They used the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) as the output measure. Signup and view all the answers

Name at least two intervention strategies discussed in the interactive task for preventing cognitive decline.

Physical activity and cognitive interventions are two strategies discussed. Signup and view all the answers

What role does nutrition play in cognitive health according to the information provided?

Nutrition provides neuroprotective mechanisms and ensures the right micronutrients are present to optimize brain function. Signup and view all the answers

Which three diets have been linked to improvements in cognitive function?

The DASH diet, Ketogenic diet, and Mediterranean diet are linked to improvements in cognitive function. Signup and view all the answers

How does the DASH diet benefit brain health specifically?

The DASH diet improves cardiovascular health, which in turn increases blood flow and nutrients to the brain. Signup and view all the answers

What specific nutrients were mentioned as beneficial for brain health?

B vitamins and folic acid are consistently reported to be beneficial for brain health. Signup and view all the answers

What advantages does the Mediterranean diet offer for cognitive function?

The Mediterranean diet provides high intake of monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, and antioxidants from fruits and vegetables. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Overview of Lecture

Topics covered include introduction to ageing and dementia, biological ageing, cognitive ageing, neurophysiological and psychosocial ageing.
A discussion on healthy ageing, diagnosis/research, and treatments for MCI and dementia, living with dementia
The overview of the lecture covers current treatment options for MCI and emerging research to improve cognition in MCI.

MCI - Treatment

Currently, there are no FDA-approved drugs or treatments for MCI.
Cholinesterase inhibitors, used for Alzheimer's Disease, have significant side effects and show no reduction in MCI progression.
Treatment focuses on managing underlying causes, such as depression, high blood pressure, and sleep disorders.

Cognitive Interventions and MCI

Cognitive interventions, such as cognitive stimulation, training, and rehabilitation, are potentially beneficial for MCI patients.
This includes multi-component interventions combining physical exercise and/or meditation/nutrition with cognitive activities.
Specific cognitive interventions (cognitive stimulation, training, rehab, physical exercise, and lifestyle factors) were assessed.

Nutrition and MCI

Good nutrition in older adults is associated with successful ageing.
Key micronutrients can affect neuronal activity: 1-carbon metabolism, DNA repair, mitochondrial function, lipid metabolism, neurotransmitter synthesis & synaptogenesis, and amyloidosis, & Tau protein phosphorylation.
Three diets (DASH, Ketogenic, & Mediterranean) were linked to improvements in cognitive function.

Physical Activity and MCI

Studies show benefits in physical activity, especially aerobic exercise, for cognitive improvement in MCI, particularly with executive function and memory.
Mechanisms include brain circulation, myokines from skeletal muscles, and an increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
Studies of lifestyle and neurocognition in older adults with cognitive impairment indicate benefits to physical activity and dietary changes for cognitive function.

Brain Stimulation and MCI

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS).
TMS delivers electrical pulses to specific brain areas (e.g., DLPFC) and fNIRS measures changes in brain activity (oxygenation).
iTBS, or intermittent theta burst stimulation, is a form of TMS that results in improvement on cognitive function after the intervention, particularly in younger and middle-aged adults.
Preliminary results suggest potential for this stimulation in the treatment of MCI and related conditions.

Review of Cognitive Interventions in MCI (Wang et al., 2020)

A meta-analysis of 25 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) explored cognitive interventions for MCI.
Specific intervention types were ranked by effect size: cognitive stimulation (CS), physical activity (PE), memory training (MI), multicomponent treatment (MT), & cognitive rehabilitation (CR) were found to be the most effective. MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination) was used to measure cognitive outcomes before and after intervention.

Reading List

Included studies were related to the topic of dementia, MCI and treatment, physical activity, lifestyle, nutrition, cognitive intervention, and brain stimulation.
Studies were included to inform the reader about the specific interventions used and their effects on brain activity and function.

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Description

Explore the interplay between diet and cognitive health with this quiz focused on the MIND diet, Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP), and interventions for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Discover outcomes of dietary approaches and non-pharmacological management strategies for cognitive decline. Test your knowledge on the latest findings in cognitive health and dietary impacts.