1.Food, Mood and Cognition Healthy Food, Healthy You

2. Alzheimers Disease 13%(1 in 8) of those over the age of 65 have Alzheimers Disease(AD) Almost 50% over the age of 85 have AD AD triples healthcare costs for each person AD is linked to such diseases as diabetes and heart disease Causes are linked to diet, environment, and genes 3. Alzheimers Disease It was originally thought that functional declineand memory loss were due to plaques or tangles in the brain that affect the hippocampus in the memory center. Recently, research is suggesting that tangles are not the cause rather the chemical communication between the neurons is impaired. Either way, a healthy diet plays a role in prevention and treatment. 4. Alzheimers Disease It was originally thought that age related physicalchanges in the brain (loss of neurons) resulted in memory loss. It is now known that neurons are not lost with age which means memory loss is not from age. The function of the brain may be more about the physical changes brought on by other diseases, poor lifestyle habits like smoking and poor nutrition. 5. Brain Health Twenty-five percent (25%) of oxygen is carried tothe brain from the carotid arteries to oxidize the glucose in brain cells for the conversion into energy. The brain is highly sensitive to inflammation or what is also referred to as oxidative stress 6. Brain Health Chronic diseases cause an inflammatoryresponse that affects the brain and brain chemistry. Factors that cause chronic inflammation are age, insufficient sleep, unhealthy gut flora, poor diet, smoking, excessive alcohol, lack of exercise, excess caloric intake and obesity. Obesity causes a cellular inflammatory response whereby the cells do not recognize insulin to allow glucose into the cell. 7. Brain Health and Cognition Insulin resistance that is caused by obesity orfrom highly processed diets can lead to a form of brain insulin resistance called central insulin resistance or also referred to as Diabetes Type III. Less insulin gets into the brain to be used by the brain cells that causes a disruption of the action of insulin on brain function. Insulin plays a role in cognitive function, memory and satiety. 8. Brain Health and Mood If insulin levels are chronically low in thebrain, the affect is a loss of cognitive function, loss of memory and loss of appetite regulation. Excessive caloric intake and/or obesity and abdominal adiposity are linked to insulin resistance that causes an increase in triglycerides. The increase in blood triglycerides negatively affects other bioactive hormones such as leptin that helps control mood. 9. Brain Health and Depression Therefore, insulin and central insulin resistancecauses depression. It also has the potential to exacerbate other mental disorders. 10. Depression Controllable Stress, obesity, poor diet, sedentaryDiet relationship Inflammation and Insulin ResistanceDiet treatment? Depression 11. Brain Health and Diet Poor diet quality causes obesity, insulinresistance, inflammation, oxidative stress and reduces the production of neurotrophic factors all of which impairs brain chemistry. Altered brain chemistry affects all organ systems and ones overall health. 12. Poor Diet Quality A Poor Diet Quality (PDQ) is one that is high incalories, refined foods(simple carbohydrates), high sugar, high saturated fatty acids, low fruit and vegetable(low nutrient, low fiber) and low Omega 3 fatty acid especially decosahexaenic acid. 13. PDQ PDQ is linked to common mental disorders suchas depression and anxiety. PDQ increase inflammation that is associated with increased depression. Diets high in refined starches, sugar, trans fatty acids and saturated fatty acids are linked to increases in inflammation. 14. Oxidative Stress As previously mentioned, glucose gets into cellsby the action of insulin. Once glucose is in the cell, it is processed by the organelle known as the mitochondria or power house of the cell. In the presence of oxygen, glucose in the mitochondria is converted into energy. 15. Oxidative Stress Normal by-products of aerobic energy metabolismis free radicals. The body has build in metabolic systems to counter act these free radicals. PDQ however can over tax these systems from the over production of free radicals. Free radicals are also known as charged ions. 16. Oxidative Stress The ionic charge of a free radical damages cellwalls, known as oxidative damage, that damages cellular proteins, fats and DNA. Oxidative stress and damage are also associated with depression. 17. Brain Chemistry Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) isresponsible for the growth and health of neurons. Affects learning and memory. Protective against oxidative stress. BDNF is associated with cognitive impairment, depression, anxiety, other mental disorders, energy metabolism and low levels may be a cause of obesity. 18. Omega 3Refined FoodsSaturated FatsBDNFAnxiety/ DepressionCognitive DeclineMetabolic Disorders 19. Stress It is now well known that chronic stress is a healthhazard. Chronic stress increases the release of cortisol and adrenalin. High glucocorticoids, such as cortisol, cause visceral fat accumulation, overeating, inflammation, gastroint estinal disease, cardiovascular disease, periodontal disease and decreases the function and production of neurons in the hippocampus. 20. GI Health Gut health is directly linked to brain health. The brain controls the GI tract for musclecontraction, readiness for a meal and for elimination. The GI tract conversely communicates with the brain mostly via the vagus nerve. Communication between the brain and gut are for gut fullness(satiety), gut hormones such as leptin and ghrelin for fuel regulation and immunity. 21. GI Health The GI tract has its own nervous system knownas the enteric nervous system (ENS) referred to as the second brain. The ENS has millions of neurons with over 50 million neurotransmitters. Ninety (90) percent of the bodys serotonin and over fifty (50) percent of dopamine is found in the gut. These two hormones play vital roles in mood and sleep. 22. GI Health The GI tract also to a complex microbialenvironment that plays a vital role in immunity. The Brian-Gut axis has effects on motivation, memory, learning and mood. Vagus nerve stimulation is being studied for chronic resistive depression. An unhealthy gut affects the brain and an unhealthy brain affects the gut. 23. GI Health and the Brain The lining of the GI tract is affected byinflammation. Chronic inflammation leads to what is referred to as a leaky gut, a gut that has increased permeability. An example of this is Chrons disease whereby gliadin becomes permeable that stimulates an immune response. An unhealthy gut can cause a systemic or whole body inflammatory response that also affects the brain. 24. GI Health and the Brain Microbes found in the GI tract are unique to eachperson. Microbes help ferment indigestible foods, make vitamins like vitamin K, and increase nutrient absorption. Microbes maintain the health of the intestinal lining preventing permeability of compounds that can cause an inflammatory response. 25. GI Health and the Brain Gut flora is dependent on diet. PDQ can reducethe multiplication of certain microbes while proliferating others causing an upset to the gut flora and overall gut function. Gut flora is involved in brain neuron and GI tract neuron synthesis and growth. Microbes help regulate the stress response and pain reception. Healthy gut flora is linked to brain development in infants. 26. Diet and Health The best diet for overall brain and gut health arethe same. Diets that are low in refined processed foods, saturate fatty acids, trans fatty acids, sugars and are high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids(Omega 3s), and nutrient dense is the diet to keep the brain and gut healthy. The Mediterranean diet pattern is recommended, however further research is being conducted on the relationship between brain health and diet. 27. Brian Health and Older Persons Based on the information provided in thispresentation, how could it be applied to older persons to not just treat disease but prevent it? Specific to Alzheimers disease and cognitive function, what specific suggestions would you recommend for the older persons? Is there a place for supplementation based on the information provided or not? Why or why not. Adding this information to the information learned in the class, how can diet and exercise be used to help older person have active high quality lives? What plan would you suggest? Be specific.