title: Dietary lipids are differentially associated with hippocampal-dependent relational memory in prepubescent children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies in rodents and older humans have shown that the hippocampus-a brain structure critical to relational/associative memory-has remarkable plasticity as a result of lifestyle factors (eg, exercise). However, the effect of dietary intake on hippocampal-dependent memory during childhood has remained unexamined.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the cross-sectional relation of dietary components characteristic of the Western diet, including saturated fatty acids (SFAs), omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids, and refined sugar, with hippocampal-dependent relational memory in prepubescent children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants aged 7-9 y (n = 52) reported their dietary intake by using the Youth-Adolescent Food-Frequency Questionnaire and completed memory tasks designed to assess relational (hippocampal-dependent) and item (hippocampal-independent) memory. Performance on the memory tasks was assessed with both direct (accuracy) and indirect (eye movement) measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Partial correlations adjusted for body mass index showed a positive relation between relational memory accuracy and intake of omega-3 fatty acids and a negative relation of both relational and item memory accuracy with intake of SFAs. Potential confounding factors of age, sex, intelligence quotient, socioeconomic status, pubertal timing, and aerobic fitness (maximal oxygen volume) were not significantly related to any of the dietary intake measures. Eye movement measures of relational memory (preferential viewing to the target stimulus) showed a negative relation with intake of added sugar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SFA intake was negatively associated with both forms of memory, whereas omega-3 fatty acid intake was selectively positively associated with hippocampal-dependent relational memory. These findings are among the first to show a link between habitual dietary intake and cognitive health as pertaining to hippocampal function in childhood. The Fitness Improves Thinking Kids (FITKids) and FITKids2 trials were registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01334359 and NCT01619826, respectively.
authors: Department of Psychology (CLB, JMM, AFK, CHH, and NJC), the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology (CLB, JMM, AFK, CHH, and NJC), the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health (NAK, LBR, ESD, RDM, MRS, AFK, and CHH), and the Center for Nutrition, Learning, and Memory (AFK, CHH, and NJC), Neuroscience Program (AFK, CHH, and NJC), University of Illinois, Urbana, IL.
authors: Carol L
authors: CL
authors: Baym
authors: Naiman A
authors: NA
authors: Khan
authors: Jim M
authors: JM
authors: Monti
authors: Lauren B
authors: LB
authors: Raine
authors: Eric S
authors: ES
authors: Drollette
authors: R Davis
authors: RD
authors: Moore
authors: Mark R
authors: MR
authors: Scudder
authors: Arthur F
authors: AF
authors: Kramer
authors: Charles H
authors: CH
authors: Hillman
authors: Neal J
authors: NJ
authors: Cohen
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3