title: Components of a Mediterranean diet and their impact on cognitive functions in aging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adhering to the Mediterranean diet (MeDi) is known to be beneficial with regard to many age-associated diseases including cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Recent studies also suggest an impact on cognition and brain structure, and increasing effort is made to track effects down to single nutrients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to review whether two MeDi components, i.e., long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (LC-n3-FA) derived from sea-fish, and plant polyphenols including resveratrol (RSV), exert positive effects on brain health in aging.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  We summarized health benefits associated with the MeDi and evaluated available studies on the effect of (1) fish-consumption and LC-n3-FA supplementation as well as (2) diet-derived or supplementary polyphenols such as RSV, on cognitive performance and brain structure in animal models and human studies. Also, we discussed possible underlying mechanisms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A majority of available studies suggest that consumption of LC-n3-FA with fish or fishoil-supplements exerts positive effects on brain health and cognition in older humans. However, more large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to draw definite recommendations. Considering polyphenols and RSV, only few controlled studies are available to date, yet the evidence based on animal research and first interventional human trials is promising and warrants further investigation. In addition, the concept of food synergy within the MeDi encourages future trials that evaluate the impact of comprehensive lifestyle patterns to help maintaining cognitive functions into old age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huhn
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Shahrzad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kharabian Masouleh
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Research Centre 1052 'Obesity Mechanisms', Subproject A1, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig Leipzig, Germany ; IFB Adiposity Diseases, University of Leipzig Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stumvoll
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig, Germany ; Collaborative Research Centre 1052 'Obesity Mechanisms', Subproject A1, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villringer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig, Germany ; Collaborative Research Centre 1052 'Obesity Mechanisms', Subproject A1, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: A Veronica
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Witte
keywords: brain structure; cognition; memory; omega-3 fatty acids; plasticity; polyphenols; resveratrol