Exploring the role and effects of diet and food components on brain health
Objectives
This Task Force brings the focus on the role of nutrition and diet for optimising brain development and maintaining brain health across lifespan.
To do so, the Task Force drives scientific knowledge on the effects of food components on brain developments and maintenance of brain functions. It also reviews the latest scientific evidence to make it available to a wider scientific community; and increases awareness of the importance of nutrition for the maintenance of brain health across the lifespan.
Impact
Since its conception in 2004, the Task Force published 14 papers, cited more than 750 times.
The series of events on ‘Nutrition for the Ageing Brain’ attracts key stakeholders and KOLs in the field since 2014.
The outputs of the task force are widely disseminated in major international conferences including 4 events in 2017 (e.g. ICN 2017), Food Matters Live 2018, at the 13th European Congress of Nutrition (FENS2019) and during the Beneficial Microbes conference in 2021.
For more detailed information, please contact Matthieu Flourakis at mflourakis@ilsieurope.be or Adam Coventry at acoventry@ilsieurope.be
Task Force Members
Chair – to be confirmed | |||
Dr David Vauzour – Co-Chair | University of East Anglia | Neuroscience Platform Team | UK |
Vice-Chair – to be confirmed | |||
Dr Giorgio La Fata | DSM | R&D Scientist | CH |
Dr Neeraj Pandey | Reckitt Benckiser/Mead Johnson Nutrition | Head of Cognition Platform (Director) | UK |
Dr Rachael Patusco | GlaxoSmithKline | Medical Principal Scientist – Wellness | US |
Dr Sandrine Thuret* | King's College London | Head of Laboratory/Reader | UK |
Dr Ardy van Helvoort | Danone Nutricia Research | Director R&I | NL |
Dr Matthieu Flourakis | ILSI Europe | Scientific Unit Coordinator | BE |
* Scientific Advisor
Expert Groups
4th Workshop Symposium ‘Nutrition for the Ageing Brain’, 25-26 August 2022, Lisbon, Portugal
Background & Objectives
Until now, it has not been clearly stated that specific nutrients help maintain brain function during ageing.
The Task Force embarked on this project in 2014 to review the evidence supporting how nutrients, food and diet influence brain health. Since then, the group has organised a series of events on this topic, planned every second year, which attracts multi-stakeholder experts from different countries.
The 4th edition of the symposium will be held in Lisbon (Portugal) on 25-26 June 2022 and will focus on the following themes:
- Latest evidence in molecular mechanisms and epidemiological aspects;
- The Gut-Brain Axis: Evidence of targeting the gut for maintaining brain health;
- Sustainable Food Systems.
Output
The proceedings of these events are published in Peer-reviewed journals. The proceedings of the three first events (2014, 2016 and 2018) were published in Ageing Research Reviews.
Review of the Planetary Health Diet and its Impact on Brain Health Throughout Life – New
Background & Objectives
Recently a Commission for the medical journal Lancet published recommendations for a diet sustaining health and protecting the planet (Willett W. et al 2019). The aim of this diet is to be able to feed the estimated 10 billion people in 2050 with minimal environmental impact. However, little is known about the effects of such a diet on brain functions, especially on the brain development at early stages of life and in the context of the still increasing rate of cognitive decline in the ageing population (i.e. vulnerable populations).
The objectives of this activity are to:
- Evaluate the planetary health diet’s impact on brain health and functions throughout life, specifically among more vulnerable populations;
- Highlight the implications of the planetary health diet for proper lifelong brain health.
Output
This activity will deliver a perspective paper based on scientific evidence showing the effects of sustainable diets components (taking the EAT-Lancet planetary health diet elements as basis) on brain development and health throughout life.
Expert Group Members
To be announced soon.
Joint Nutrition Cluster Activity on ‘Mechanistic Insights into the Gut-Brain Axis’ – In collaboration with Early Nutrition and Long-Term Health; Health Benefits Assessment of Foods; Nutrition, Immunity & Inflammation; Prebiotics and Probiotics Task Forces
Background & Objectives
Currently, half of the literature available on the gut-brain axis is state-of-the-art reviews or correlative studies and comprehensive mechanistic insights, underlining that bidirectional communication between the gut and the brain are lacking.
In this context, several Nutrition Task Forces decided to join forces to understand where we stand today regarding the mechanisms. Together the task forces will:
- focus on translational aspects from pre-clinical to clinical studies;
- focus on lifespan-related changes (but not disease-related) in gut structure and function which play a role in long-term immune and brain health;
- discuss the nutritional and lifestyle interventions with positive impact on the lifespan gut structure/function and thus on immune and brain health.
Output
A workshop held in December 2019 brought together key experts from different fields of expertise to debate and discuss on the current knowledge and data gaps.
A perspective paper on this gap analysis has been finalised and is currently submitted. This publication will be followed by a series of web-seminars to discuss the identified gaps in more details.
A Systematic Review of Plant-Based Ingredients and their Effects on Cognitive Performance
Background & Objectives
There is increasing interest in plant-based ingredients that may improve cognitive performance and prevent or reverse cognitive function decline during adulthood.
This activity aims to:
- summarise and evaluate the current literature relating to plant-based ingredients, their constituents and cognitive performance;
- produce a collective review of these ingredients in a systematic way;
- critically evaluate the findings in an attempt to provide guidance on the most effective ingredients and combinations thereof.
Output
This activity is expected to deliver a systematic review on different categories of plant-based ingredients: amino acids, carotenoids, micronutrients, nitrates, omega 3’s, phospholipids, polyphenols, prebiotics.
Implications of Food Component Interactions for Research Design: Guiding Principles for Studying Effects of Multi-Component Combinations on Brain Functions – Completed
Background & Objectives
The effects of food on brain functions are mostly seen from nutrient combinations rather than from isolated nutrients. However, the trend is changing, and scientific interests are increasingly focusing on understanding the role of individual nutrients on brain functions. But clear guidance and evidence for a multi-component combination approach is lacking.
Thus, this activity:
- increases awareness and understanding of the interactions of nutrients on brain functions;
- provides clear substantiation and evidence when designing future studies aiming at investigating the impact of multi-component combinations on brain functions.
Output
The Expert Group will deliver a peer-reviewed publication that provides robust guiding principles for the study of multi-component interventions for brain health.
Expert Group Members
4th Workshop Symposium ‘Nutrition for the Ageing Brain’, 25-26 August 2022, Lisbon, Portugal – Organising Committee
Dr David Vauzour – Chair | University of East Anglia | Senior Research Fellow | UK |
Prof. Vittorio Calabrese | University of Catania | Professor | IT |
Prof. Louise Dye | University of Leeds | Professor | UK |
TBD | Reckitt Benckiser/Mead Johnson Nutrition | NL | |
Dr Giorgio La Fata | DSM | R&D Scientist | CH |
Prof. Jeremy Spencer | University of Reading | Professor | UK |
Dr Sandrine Thuret | King’s College London | Head of Laboratory/Reader | UK |
Prof. Wim Vanden Berghe | University of Antwerp | Professor | BE |
Dr Ardy van Helvoort | Danone Nutricia Research | Director R&I | NL |
Dr Matthieu Flourakis | ILSI Europe | Scientific Unit Coordinator | BE |
Review of the Planetary Health Diet and its Impact on Brain Health Throughout Life – New
Dr Sandrine Thuret - Chair | King’s College London | Head of Laboratory/Reader | UK |
Dr Martin Verkuyl - Vice-Chair | Scenic Biotech | Program Director | NL |
Prof. Andy Challinor | University of Leeds | Professor | UK |
Ms Boushra Dalile | KU Leuven | Researcher | BE |
Dr Marcelo Galdos | University of Leeds | University Academic Fellow | UK |
Dr Eileen Gibney | University College Dublin | Associate Professor | IE |
Ms Curie Kim | King’s College London | Researcher | UK |
Dr Giorgio La Fata | DSM | Senior Scientist Nutrition | CH |
Dr Sophie Layé | INRA Bordeaux | Research Director | FR |
Prof. John Mathers | Newcastle University | Professor, Director of the Human Nutrition Research Centre | UK |
Dr David Vauzour | University of East Anglia | Senior Research Fellow | UK |
Dr Matthieu Flourakis | ILSI Europe | Scientific Unit Coordinator | BE |
Joint Nutrition Cluster Activity on ‘Mechanistic Insights into the Gut-Brain Axis’ – In collaboration with Early-Life and Long-Term Health; Health Benefits Assessment of Foods; Nutrition, Immunity & Inflammation; Prebiotics and ProbioticsTask Forces
Dr Anirikh Chakrabarti | Cargill | Senior Scientist | BE |
Dr Lesley Hoyles | Nottingham Trent University | Associate Professor | UK |
Dr Patricia Iozzo | Italian National Research Council | Group Leader | IT |
Prof. Aletta Kraneveld | Utrecht University | Vice Dean Research | NL |
Dr Giorgio La Fata | DSM | R&D Scientist | CH |
Dr Elaine Patterson | Novozymes OneHealth | Health Science and Technology Lead, Brain Health Venture | IE |
Dr Bruno Pot | Yakult Europe | Science Director | NL |
Prof. Colette Shortt | Food Observatory | Regulatory Consultant | UK |
Dr David Vauzour | University of East Anglia | Senior Research Fellow | UK |
Dr Matthieu Flourakis | ILSI Europe | Scientific Unit Coordinator | BE |
Ms Naomi Venlet | ILSI Europe | Scientific Project Manager | BE |
A Systematic Review of Plant-Based Ingredients and their Effects on Cognitive Performance
Prof. Louise Dye – Chair | University of Leeds | Professor | UK |
Ms Helen Brooker | University of Exeter | PhD Student | UK |
Ms Claire Champ | University of Leeds | PhD Student | UK |
Dr Crystal Haskell-Ramsay | University of Northumbria | Associate Professor | UK |
Dr Hasan Mohajeri | Consultant | Consultant | CH |
Prof. Wim Riedel | University of Maastricht | Professor | NL |
Prof. Andrew Scholey | University of Swinburne | Professor | AU |
Dr Matthieu Flourakis | ILSI Europe | Scientific Unit Coordinator | BE |
Implications of Food Component Interactions for Research Design: Guiding Principles for Studying Effects of Multi-Component Combinations on Brain Functions – Completed
Dr David Vauzour – Chair | University of East Anglia | Senior Research Fellow | UK |
Prof. David Benton | University of Swansea | Professor | UK |
Dr Lorraine Brennan | University College Dublin | Professor | IE |
Dr Amanda Kiliaan | Donders Institute (Radboud University) | Associate Professor | NL |
Dr Nikolaos Scarmeas | University of Athens | Associate Professor | GR |
Dr John Sijben | Danone | R&D Director | NL |
Dr Hayley Young | University of Swansea | Researcher | UK |
Dr Lucie Geurts | ILSI Europe | Scientific Unit Coordinator | BE |
Posters
Tests of cognitive function: criteria for validation and considerations for investigating the effects of foods and nutrients in ageing
Assessing the Impact of Nutrition on Children’s Cognition
The measurement of Diet-induced Changes in Cognition: Methodological Aspects
Recommendations for long-term nutritional intervention studies on cognitive function
Publications
All Publications
Nutrition and the Ageing Brain: Moving Towards Clinical Applications
2020
Ageing Research Reviews, 62 (2020). Commissioned by the Nutrition and Mental Performance Task Force.
Poor cognitive ageing: Vulnerabilities, mechanisms and the impact of nutritional interventions
2018
Ageing Research Reviews 2018; 42:40-55. Commissioned by the Nutrition and Mental Performance Task Force.
Nutrition for the Ageing Brain: Towards Evidence for an Optimal Diet
2017
Ageing Research Reviews 2017; 35:222-240. Commissioned by the Nutrition and Mental Performance Task Force.
Examining Techniques for Measuring the Effects of Nutrients on Mental Performance and Mood State
2016
European Journal of Nutrition 2016; 55(6):1991-2000. Commissioned by the Nutrition and Mental Performance Task Force.
Cognitive Function: Criteria for Validation and Selection of Cognitive Tests for Investigating the Effects of Foods and Nutrients
2014
Nutrition Reviews 2014; 72:162-179. Commissioned by the Nutrition and Mental Performance Task Force.
Multimedia
- Nutrition and Brain Health Task Force – One-pager
- The Nutrition and Brain Health Task Force in a nutshell, an introductory video*
* The video was developed on the occasion of the Annual Symposium