The dynamic influence of nutrition on prolonged cognitive healthspan across the life course: A perspective review

Abstract

Cognitive function undergoes a dynamic trajectory across the lifespan, influenced by multifaceted mechanisms encompassing genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors. This review explores the impact of nutrition, specifically energy and bioactive components, on cognitive health across different life stages. Nutrition plays a pivotal role, influencing cognitive development, brain function, and age-related changes. Understanding these connections offers insights into strategies for extending cognitive healthspan. The review synthesizes evidence highlighting the nuanced effects of nutrition on cognition throughout life. Notably, age-specific energy balance emerges as a crucial factor in maintaining cognitive healthspan. Different life stages exhibit distinct nutritional demands affecting cognitive function. Maternal nutrition impacts prenatal and childhood cognitive development, while heightened glucose demands in adolescence influence long-term cognitive health. Midlife witnesses hormonal changes and decreased brain plasticity, while old age demands strategies addressing chronic lifestyle factors and energy restriction. We conclude that it is crucial to recognize the diverse requirements and biological changes across the lifespan and that deeper mechanistic investigations are vital to tailor nutritional recommendations for optimal cognitive health in all populations across the lifespan.

Keywords: Ageing; Antioxidants; Cognition; Diet; Early life stress; Edentulism; Energy intake; Gestational obesity; Memory; Neurodegeneration; Neurodevelopment; Nutrition; Obesity; Omega-3; Oral health.

Fig. 1

The dynamic trajectory of cognitive function and nutritional demands throughout life. Cognitive function improves rapidly during childhood neurodevelopment, followed by stabilisation and maintenance during adulthood to a steady decline during ageing. This pattern aligns with the fluctuating energy and nutritional demands of the brain at each life stage, presenting opportunities for targeted nutritional interventions. These interventions have the potential to enhance and prolong cognitive healthspan. HPA: Hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Figure created with BioRender.com.