Links between key nutrients and higher cognition and brain health found by a new study

A new study has found that the Mediterranean diet has several nutrients that are linked to healthy brain connectivity and higher cognitive performance in older adults. The study used a more reliable research method that’s called a nutrient biomarker pattern analysis, which recognizes concentrations of specific nutrients found in a person’s blood, as opposed to the traditional system that asks individuals to recall their meals.

The study was conducted by researchers in University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign which was then printed the NeuroImage journal. For the purpose of the study, researchers tested 32 different nutrients that are associated with the Mediterranean diet in 116 participants. The participants were all healthy adults between the ages of 65 to 75.The researchers found an enhanced performance on standard cognitive and memory tests in participants who had a higher level of certain nutrients.

Aron Barbey, who is a part of the research team, said that there are five biomarkers that are linked to higher cognitive performance. They include a mix of Omega 3’s and 6’s which are usually found in walnuts, flaxseeds and fish; carotenoids, which gives carrots their orange color; lycopene, which is the robust red pigment found in fruits such as watermelon and tomatoes and Vitamin D, which can be found in orange juice and salmon.

He also said that the findings showed potential to create a unique nutritional approach for everyone based on their nutritional based on their respective dietary profile. But doing so would require more studies and research.

The team plans to evaluate nutrients in a random order, to find a link between them and their effect on the cognitive abilities. Barbey concluded by saying that the results could then be sharpened by taking individual differences into account and creating a personalized diet.