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The effects of twenty-one nutrients and phytonutrients on cognitive function: A narrative review
This 2021 firstly points out the lack of pharmaceutical treatments that are effective at curing dementia. The available drugs only delay the worsening cognition among patients with impairments. This review therefore summarized the effects of nutrients and phytonutrients (substances derived from plants believed to provide health benefits) on cognitive function. Among the ninety-six articles included in this narrative review, there were a total of 21 categories of nutrients and phytonutrients studied. These included α-lipoic acid, Bacopa monnieri, B vitamins, cholinergic precursors, vitamin D, vitamin E, Ginkgo biloba, ginseng, lion’s mane mushroom, N-acetyl cysteine, omega-3 fatty acids, aloe polysaccharides, Rhodiola rosea, rosemary, saffron, tart cherries, turmeric, wild yam, Withania somnifera, xanthines, and zinc. These nutrients and phytonutrients appeared to show considerable influence over cognitive aspects such as memory, recollection, attention, intelligence, vocabulary, recognition, response inhibition, arousal, performance enhancement, planning, creative thinking, reaction time, vigilance, task switching, orientation to time, place, and person, reading, writing, comprehension, accuracy, learning, information processing speed, executive function, mental flexibility, daily functioning, decrease in mental fatigue, and freedom from distractibility. In addition, some of these nutrients/phytonutrients improved mood and contentedness, and reduced anxiety and necessity for caregiving. The listed effects were not completely consistent or common across all patient populations or health statuses. Moreover, there were minimal to no adverse effects reported. This review highlights that there are many promising nutrients and phytonutrients for treating some aspects of cognitive impairment, especially for people afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease. These nutrients and phytonutrients should be considered by healthy adults and patients with health challenges such as Alzheimer’s, mild cognitive impairment, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease (who want to improve their cognitive function). [NPID: cognition, cognitive, brain, review, nutrients, phytonutrients, nutrition, vitamins, Alzheimer’s, dementia, fatty acids, aloe, rosemary, saffron, turmeric, yam, xanthines, zinc, Withania somnifera, Rhodiola rosea, Ginkgo biloba, ginseng, lion’s mane mushroom, N-acetyl cysteine]
Year: 2021
