Researchers are increasingly interested in exploring ways to support healthy brain aging and prevent cognitive decline. One area of interest is how diet may influence cognitive function.

A recent study published in Nature AgingTrusted Source looked at nutrient profiles of older adults and how this related to brain health.

Researchers utilized cognitive tests and brain imaging techniques and examined blood-based biomarkers to establish nutrient profiles. They identified a nutrient profile associated with slower brain aging. This nutrient profile had higher levels of specific fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins.

The nutrients examined reflect the Mediterranean diet’s components, highlighting another benefit of following this diet.

Study author Aron K. Barbey, PhD, director of the Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign told Medical News Today the research adds to a growing body of evidence supporting the brain health benefits of the Mediterranean diet:

This study was a cross-sectional study involving one hundred adults between the ages of 65 and 75. All participants were healthy and showed no evidence of cognitive impairment. Participants underwent several tests, including MRI scans, mental tests, and bloodwork.

During the study, researchers examined 139 variables of brain health, including markers of brain metabolism, function, and structure.

Researchers identified two brain health phenotypes: delayed brain aging and accelerated brain aging. Those in the delayed aging group had a younger brain age than those in the accelerated brain aging group.

Participants also underwent several tests to look at things like intelligence, executive function, and memory. The results pointed to better cognitive function for participants in the delayed brain aging group.

Next, researchers looked at nutrient profiles via blood samples for participants in the delayed brain aging group.

This group had higher levels of 13 nutrients than those in the accelerated phenotype.

These nutrients included several fatty acids, the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, vitamin E, and choline. Two of the noted fatty acids were omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

This nutrient profile seems to have a distinct impact on brain aging, independent of specific demographic measurements, body sizes and proportions, and physical fitness levels.

Researchers were also able to account for covariates like sex, income, body mass index (BMI), and education level. The results indicate a particular nutrient profile that may help slow brain aging.

The study authors suggest that the Mediterranean diet may be one of the most helpful ways to ensure consumption of these nutrients. The Mediterranean dietTrusted Source includes lots of fruits and vegetables and low to moderate amounts of components like fish, dairy, eggs, and poultry.

Despite the promising implications this study has a few limitations. First, it cannot establish causality. Second, it only included a small number of participants, all of whom were white, indicating that future research can consist of a more extensive, more diverse data set.

Further, the research only included adults between ages 65 and 75, so future studies could include data from older age groups as well. The results also don’t negate the importance of other nutrients to brain function.

Researchers further acknowledge that certain nutrients are not as well understood, so more research is needed to examine some of the underlying mechanisms involved.

Future research can also examine how certain nutrients affect the trajectory of brain aging.

The results of this study do point to the potential benefits of certain nutrients. Researchers noted several sources of these nutrients within the study.

For example, carotenoids are phytopigments that give certain foods vibrant colors. A few sources of carotenoids include:

• bell peppers
• tomatoes
• broccoli
• carrots

Common sources of vitamin E include green leafy vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Choline is common in eggs, poultry, fish, cruciferous vegetables and certain beans.

Wagner offered similar dietary guidance in her comments and made the following recommendations.