Title |
Enhancing dentate gyrus function with dietary flavanols improves cognition in older adults
|
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Published in |
Nature Neuroscience, October 2014
|
DOI | 10.1038/nn.3850 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Adam M Brickman, Usman A Khan, Frank A Provenzano, Lok-Kin Yeung, Wendy Suzuki, Hagen Schroeter, Melanie Wall, Richard P Sloan, Scott A Small |
Abstract |
The dentate gyrus (DG) is a region in the hippocampal formation whose function declines in association with human aging and is therefore considered to be a possible source of age-related memory decline. Causal evidence is needed, however, to show that DG-associated memory decline in otherwise healthy elders can be improved by interventions that enhance DG function. We addressed this issue by first using a high-resolution variant of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to map the precise site of age-related DG dysfunction and to develop a cognitive task whose function localized to this anatomical site. Then, in a controlled randomized trial, we applied these tools to study healthy 50-69-year-old subjects who consumed either a high or low cocoa-containing diet for 3 months. A high-flavanol intervention was found to enhance DG function, as measured by fMRI and by cognitive testing. Our findings establish that DG dysfunction is a driver of age-related cognitive decline and suggest non-pharmacological means for its amelioration. |
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Demographic breakdown
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Scientists | 55 | 16% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 25 | 7% |
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Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
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United States | 4 | <1% |
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Spain | 3 | <1% |
Sweden | 2 | <1% |
Israel | 1 | <1% |
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Italy | 1 | <1% |
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Researcher | 92 | 16% |
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Student > Bachelor | 63 | 11% |
Professor | 28 | 5% |
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Other | 101 | 18% |
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