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Cognition: the new frontier for nuts and berries.

The American journal of clinical nutrition
July 1, 2014
Peter Pribis et al. (2 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine the effects of nut and berry consumption on brain health, cognition, and potential benefits in preventing neurodegenerative diseases.

Results Summary

The study found that nut and berry consumption is associated with reduced oxidative damage, inflammation, and improved cognitive performance, potentially delaying neurodegeneration. Regular intake may serve as an adjunctive therapeutic strategy for age-related brain dysfunction.

Population

Humans and animals (general population, with focus on aging and neurodegenerative disease prevention).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Moderate-duration (exact length not specified)

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (22)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
inclusion of nuts in the diet
decrease
coronary artery disease
-
-
associated with a decreased risk
#1
inclusion of nuts in the diet
decrease
hypertension
-
-
associated with a decreased risk
#2
inclusion of nuts in the diet
decrease
gallstones
-
-
associated with a decreased risk
#3
inclusion of nuts in the diet
decrease
diabetes
-
-
associated with a decreased risk
#4
inclusion of nuts in the diet
decrease
cancer
-
-
associated with a decreased risk
#5
inclusion of nuts in the diet
decrease
metabolic syndrome
-
-
associated with a decreased risk
#6
inclusion of nuts in the diet
decrease
visceral obesity
-
-
associated with a decreased risk
#7
frequent consumption of berries
increase
cardiovascular outcomes
-
-
seems to be associated with improved
#8
frequent consumption of berries
increase
cancer outcomes
-
-
seems to be associated with improved
#9
frequent consumption of berries
increase
immune function
-
-
seems to be associated with improved
#10
frequent consumption of berries
decrease
recurrence of urinary tract infections
-
-
seems to be associated with decreased
#11
consumption of nuts and berries
decrease
oxidative damage
-
-
associated with reduction in
#12
consumption of nuts and berries
decrease
inflammation
-
-
associated with reduction in
#13
consumption of nuts and berries
decrease
vascular reactivity
-
-
associated with reduction in
#14
consumption of nuts and berries
decrease
platelet aggregation
-
-
associated with reduction in
#15
consumption of nuts and berries
increase
immune functions
-
-
associated with improvement in
#16
nut and berry consumption
increase
the brain
-
-
can have a beneficial effect on
#17
nut and berry consumption
increase
cognition
-
-
can have a beneficial effect on
#18
regular nut consumption, berry consumption, or both
neutral
neurodegenerative diseases
-
-
could possibly be used as an adjunctive therapeutic strategy in the treatment and prevention
#19
regular nut consumption, berry consumption, or both
neutral
age-related brain dysfunction
-
-
could possibly be used as an adjunctive therapeutic strategy in the treatment and prevention
#20
moderate-duration dietary supplementation with nuts, berry fruit, or both
neutral
cognitive performance
humans
-
is capable of altering
#21
moderate-duration dietary supplementation with nuts, berry fruit, or both
decrease
neurodegeneration in aging
-
-
perhaps forestalling or reversing the effects
#22
Abstract

The inclusion of nuts in the diet is associated with a decreased risk of coronary artery disease, hypertension, gallstones, diabetes, cancer, metabolic syndrome, and visceral obesity. Frequent consumption of berries seems to be associated with improved cardiovascular and cancer outcomes, improved immune function, and decreased recurrence of urinary tract infections; the consumption of nuts and berries is associated with reduction in oxidative damage, inflammation, vascular reactivity, and platelet aggregation, and improvement in immune functions. However, only recently have the effects of nut and berry consumption on the brain, different neural systems, and cognition been studied. There is growing evidence that the synergy and interaction of all of the nutrients and other bioactive components in nuts and berries can have a beneficial effect on the brain and cognition. Regular nut consumption, berry consumption, or both could possibly be used as an adjunctive therapeutic strategy in the treatment and prevention of several neurodegenerative diseases and age-related brain dysfunction. A number of animal and a growing number of human studies show that moderate-duration dietary supplementation with nuts, berry fruit, or both is capable of altering cognitive performance in humans, perhaps forestalling or reversing the effects of neurodegeneration in aging.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AnimalsBrainCognitionCognition DisordersDietFruitHumansNeurodegenerative DiseasesNutsPlant Preparations
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety90
Efficacy85/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations47
Citations/Year4.3
Relative Citation Ratio2.04
NIH Percentile75.2%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score0.87
Normalized Score0.86
Related Supplements
Cognition: the new frontier for nuts and berries. | Panacea Index