title: Nutrient intake and cerebral metabolism in healthy middle-aged adults: Implications for cognitive aging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Growing evidence suggests dietary factors influence cognition, but the effects of nutrient intake on cerebral metabolism in adults are currently unknown. The present study investigated the relationship between major macronutrient intake (fat, carbohydrate, and protein) and cerebral neurochemical profiles in middle-aged adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six adults recorded dietary intake for 3 days prior to completing cognitive testing and a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) scan.1H-MRS of occipitoparietal gray matter was used to assess glutamate (Glu), N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), and myo-inositol (mI) relative to creatine (Cr) levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regression analyses revealed that high intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) was associated with lower cerebral Glu/Cr (P = 0.005), and high intake of saturated fat (SFA) was associated with poorer memory function (P = 0.030) independent of age, sex, education, estimated intelligence, total caloric intake, and body mass index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In midlife, greater PUFA intake (ω-3 and ω-6) may be associated with lower cerebral glutamate, potentially indicating more efficient cellular reuptake of glutamate. SFA intake, on the other hand, was linked with poorer memory performance. These results suggest that dietary fat intake modification may be an important intervention target for the prevention of cognitive decline.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , The University of Texas at Austin , USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oleson
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , The University of Texas at Austin , USA.
authors.forename: Mitzi M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Gonzales
authors.affiliation: b Department of Kinesiology and Health Education , The University of Texas at Austin , USA.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tarumi
authors.affiliation: c Department of Nutritional Sciences , The University of Texas at Austin , USA.
authors.forename: Jaimie N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , The University of Texas at Austin , USA.
authors.forename: Carolyn K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Cassill
authors.affiliation: b Department of Kinesiology and Health Education , The University of Texas at Austin , USA.
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , The University of Texas at Austin , USA.
authors.forename: Andreana P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Haley
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D003071:Cognition; D000066492:Cognitive Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003401:Creatine / Q000032:analysis; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D003401:Creatine
keywords: Aging; Diet; Executive function; Memory; Polyunsaturated fat; Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Saturated fat