Brain foods: the effects of nutrients on brain function.

Full Abstract

It has long been suspected that the relative abundance of specific nutrients can affect cognitive processes and emotions. Newly described influences of dietary factors on neuronal function and synaptic plasticity have revealed some of the vital mechanisms that are responsible for the action of diet on brain health and mental function. Several gut hormones that can enter the brain, or that are produced in the brain itself, influence cognitive ability. In addition, well-established regulators of synaptic plasticity, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor, can function as metabolic modulators, responding to peripheral signals such as food intake. Understanding the molecular basis of the effects of food on cognition will help us to determine how best to manipulate diet in order to increase the resistance of neurons to insults and promote mental fitness.

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Author information

Author/s: Gómez-Pinilla, Fernando (F);

Affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90095, California, USA. fgomezpi(-atsign-)mednet.ucla.edu

Grants: NS50465 (Agency:United States NINDS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Review

Journal: Nature reviews. Neuroscience (Nat Rev Neurosci), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jul; vol 9 (issue 7) : pp 568-78

Dates: Created 2008/06/23; Completed 2008/07/25;

PMID: 18568016, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals
Brain - metabolism
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - metabolism
Cognition - physiology
Diet
Eating
Energy Metabolism

Associated Chemicals: Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (0)

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