Plants, Plants, and More Plants: Plant-Derived Nutrients and Their Protective Roles in Cognitive Function, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Other Dementias

• Published in: Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Vol. 58; no. 8; p. 1025
• Main Authors: Ding, Helen, Reiss, Allison B, Pinkhasov, Aaron, Kasselman, Lora J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 30.07.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Activities of daily living; Age; Alfacalcidol; Alzheimer's disease; Analysis; Animal cognition; Antioxidants; B vitamins; Calcifediol; Care and treatment; Cognitive ability; Dementia; Demographic aspects; Diagnosis; Diet; Disease prevention; Dosage and administration; fiber; Genetic susceptibility; Homocysteine; Hypotheses; Inflammation; Older people; Oxidative stress; Pathogenesis; Physiology, Pathological; plant-based diet; Proteins; Review; Risk factors; Vitamin B; Vitamin D; Vitamin E; vitamin K; United States
• ISSN: 1648-9144; 1010-660X; 1648-9144
• DOI: 10.3390/medicina58081025

Background and Objectives: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, with the risk of developing it attributed to non-modifiable and modifiable factors. Currently, there is no cure for AD. A plant-based diet may protect against cognitive decline, due to the effects of plant-based nutrients such as vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber. The aim of the review is to summarize current literature on plant-based nutrients and their impact on cognition. Materials and Methods: A search was conducted on PubMed for clinical and murine studies, using combinations of the following words: “Alzheimer’s disease”, “dementia”, “cognition”, “plant-based diet”, “mild cognitive impairment”, “vitamin B”, “vitamin C”, “vitamin E, “beta carotene”, “antioxidants”, “fiber”, “vitamin K”, “Mediterranean diet”, “vitamin D”, and “mushrooms”. Results and Conclusions: A diet rich in vitamin B and antioxidants can benefit the cognitive functions of individuals as shown in randomized clinical trials. Vitamin K is associated with improved cognition, although large randomized controlled trials need to be done. Fiber has been shown to prevent cognitive decline in animal studies. Vitamin D may contribute to cognitive health via anti-inflammatory processes. Several medical organizations have recommended a plant-based diet for optimizing cognitive health and potentially helping to prevent dementia.