Food and Microbiota Metabolites Associate with Cognitive Decline in Older Subjects: A 12-Year Prospective Study

Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 2021 · DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.202100606 · Published: October 28, 2021

Neurology Nutrition & Dietetics Bioinformatics

Simple Explanation

This study looks at the connection between what we eat, the bacteria in our guts, and how our brains age. It followed older adults for 12 years. The study found that certain substances made when our bodies break down cocoa, coffee, mushrooms, and red wine, or when gut bacteria break down plant-based foods, are linked to a lower risk of cognitive decline. On the other hand, substances related to unhealthy foods, like artificial sweeteners and alcohol, were linked to a higher risk. This suggests that diet and gut health play a role in keeping our minds sharp as we age.

Study Duration

12 Years

Participants

842 older subjects (Bordeaux, n = 418; Dijon, n = 424)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Metabolites derived from cocoa, coffee, mushrooms, and red wine are associated with reduced cognitive decline.
2
Metabolites related to unhealthy dietary components, such as artificial sweeteners and alcohol, are negatively associated with cognitive decline.
3
Disturbances in the metabolism of aromatic amino acids and fatty acids are implicated in the early pathogenesis of cognitive decline.

Research Summary

This study investigated the role of diet and gut microbiota in cognitive decline (CD) using a 12-year prospective study design involving two separate sample sets from Bordeaux and Dijon. The findings suggest a protective association between metabolites derived from polyphenol-rich foods, cocoa, coffee, mushrooms, and red wine with CD, and a negative association with metabolites related to unhealthy dietary components like alcohol and artificial sweeteners. The study also highlights the involvement of disturbances in central metabolic pathways, such as the metabolism of aromatic amino acids and fatty acids, in the early pathogenesis of CD.

Practical Implications

Dietary Recommendations

Encourage diets rich in polyphenol-rich foods, cocoa, coffee, and mushrooms to potentially reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

Targeted Therapies

Develop targeted therapies focusing on modulating gut microbiota and metabolic pathways related to aromatic amino acids and fatty acids to preserve cognitive health.

Public Health Strategies

Implement public health strategies to promote healthy dietary habits and reduce the consumption of unhealthy dietary components like alcohol and artificial sweeteners.

Study Limitations

1
Only baseline serum samples were available, limiting the ability to examine longitudinal changes in the food metabolome.
2
The 12-year storage of samples could have impacted the levels of some labile metabolites.
3
Metabolites are prone to errors (e.g., lack of specificity, inter-individual variability factors), so associations between foods and CD must be interpreted with caution.

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