title: Nutrient intake and brain biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease in at-risk cognitively normal individuals: a cross-sectional neuroimaging pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is increasing evidence to suggest that diet, one of the most important modifiable environmental factors, may play a role in preventing or delaying cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study examines the relationship between dietary nutrients and brain biomarkers of AD in cognitively normal individuals (NL) with and without AD risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of an ongoing brain imaging study, participants received clinical and laboratory examinations, a neurocognitive test battery, positron emission tomography (PET) with (11)C-Pittsburgh Compound-B (PiB; a measure of amyloid-β (Aβ) load) and (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG; a proxy of neuronal activity), and completed semiquantitative food frequency questionnaires.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research centre affiliated with the Alzheimer's disease Core Center at New York University School of Medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  49 NL individuals (age 25-72 years, 69% women) with dietary information, (11)C-PiB and (18)F-FDG PET scans were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Controlling for age and total caloric intake, higher intake of vitamin B12, vitamin D and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) was associated with lower Aβ load in AD regions on PiB-PET, while higher intake of β-carotene and folate was associated with higher glucose metabolism on FDG-PET. β-carotene and folate were associated with reduced glucose metabolism for women, apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 (APOE4) carriers and participants with positive AD family history, but not for their risk-free counterparts. The associations of vitamin B12, vitamin D and ω-3 PUFA with PiB retention were independent of gender, APOE and family history. The identified nutrient combination was associated with higher intake of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, fish and legumes, and lower intake of high-fat dairies, meat and sweets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data provide a potential pathophysiological mechanism for epidemiological findings showing that dietary interventions may play a role in the prevention of AD. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether there is a direct link between nutrient intake, brain biomarkers and risk of AD.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Mosconi
authors: Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Murray
authors: Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Davies
authors: Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors: Schantel
authors: S
authors: Williams
authors: Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Pirraglia
authors: Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors: Nicole
authors: N
authors: Spector
authors: Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors: Wai H
authors: WH
authors: Tsui
authors: Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors: Tracy
authors: T
authors: Butler
authors: Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors: Ricardo S
authors: RS
authors: Osorio
authors: Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors: Lidia
authors: L
authors: Glodzik
authors: Department of Radiology, Citigroup Biomedical Imaging Center (CBIC), Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA.
authors: Shankar
authors: S
authors: Vallabhajosula
authors: Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors: Pauline
authors: P
authors: McHugh
authors: Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA Steven and Alexandra Cohen Veterans Center for PTSD and TBI, New York, New York, USA.
authors: Charles R
authors: CR
authors: Marmar
authors: Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors: Mony J
authors: MJ
authors: de Leon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059906:Neuroimaging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
keywords: Nuclear Medicine; Nutrition & Dietetics; Radiology & Imaging