The term ‘cognitive health’ is often associated with conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, ADHD, depression, etc. While an overwhelming body of research and evidence support that cognitive disorders are likely to be influenced by genetic predispositions and environmental factors, there has also been a great deal of research conducted in effort to explore the relationship between nutritional status and cognitive health. It has been found that many aspects of cognitive health are not only impacted, but also dependent upon certain nutrients which must be obtained through the diet. Through each stage of the lifecycle, nutritional status plays a key role in brain development, cognitive function and health, mood, and even the prevention of certain neurological and cognitive conditions. The influence that nutritional status has on cognitive health begins with conception.
Beginning in the womb, nutrients obtained through the diet, in this case of the mother, begin playing a key role in the development of the brain and nervous system. A woman’s poor nutritional status before the time of conception can have detrimental effects on physical and cognitive development (Whitney & Rolfes, 2013, p. 486). It is clear that from the beginning of the lifespan nutrition plays a vital role and cognitive health and development. While nutrition is known to play a role in cognitive health, the question of just which nutrients and in what quantities will require many more years of research as new information is being discovered. There is a growing concern over the quality of ‘natural’ sources, such as breast milk and whole foods, as opposed to synthetic sources, such as infant formula and vitamin supplements. There has been much debate as to whether or ...
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... in effort to support optimal cognitive health and prevent the early onset of cognitive decline in the aging process.
References
Bryan, J., Osendarp, S., Hughes, D., Calvaresi, E., Baghurst, K., & Van Klinken, J. (2004). Nutrients for Cognitive Development in School-aged Children. Nutrition Reviews, 62(8), 295-306. doi:10.1301/nr.2004.aug.295-306
Dunne, A. (2012). Food and mood: evidence for diet-related changes in mental health. British Journal of Community Nursing, S20-S24.
Kamphuis, P. H., & Scheltens, P. (2010). Can nutrients prevent or delay onset of alzheimer's disease?. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 20(3), 765-775. doi:10.3233/JAD-2010-091558
Turner, J. (2011). Your brain on food: A nutrient-rich diet can protect cognitive health. Generations, 35(2), 99-106.
Whitney, E. & Rolfes, S. E. (2013). Understanding Nutrition (13th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth
Eating nutrients and healthy foods determines health and are essentials for living a better life. Based off of past knowledge
Nutrition is essential for children to develop normally. Nutrients help the brain develop, provide weight for the children, and grow healthy bones. If the child does not get the nutrients needed, it can be detrimental to the child’s growth and could cause health problems later in life. Children can also have trouble learning in school if they are not receiving the healthy amount of nutrients. The article I chose looks at malnutrition and poverty and how that affects intellectual development.
Active kids who need more calories than the federal limits are also at risk, and may end up feeling weak, fatigued or nauseous during sports and exercise. According to a 2012 article written by registered dietitian Timi Gustafson, not getting enough essential nutrients at meals may lower kids’ IQ scores, memory capacities, fine motor skills, social skills and languages skills into early adulthood and beyond. A child’s poor dietary habits can even influence his sleep patterns, which may have an effect on cognitive behaviors and academic abilities. The results of a research review published in 2004 in the "British Journal of Nutrition," children who are micronutrient-deficient may exhibit more aggressiveness, less mental endurance and lower intelligence test scores. our school lunches are affecting our learning abilities and this is a problem that needs to be resolved
Whitney, E., DeBruyne, L. K., Pinna, K., & Rolfes, S. R. (2007). Nutrition through the Life Span: Childhood and Adolescence. Nutrition for Health and Health Care (3rd ed. , pp. 1). 301-329.
...sion of the disease. In addition, the risk factors and preventive measures are quite clear. These can help those who are unaware of what Alzheimer’s disease is or how it progresses. Future studies may prove to be beneficial in preventing the occurrence of Alzheimer’s, or at least the severity of its’ progression. Informing people of this disease, the risk factors, and preventive measures at a younger age, can only prove beneficial in the decrease or possible elimination of this physically and mentally altering disease. Living a healthy life now can only increase your chances of having a healthier life in old age.
5. Williamson, C. Dietary Factors and Depression in Older People. British Journal of Community Nursing, 14:422-426, 2009.
Sorte, J., Daeschel, I., Amador, C. (2011). Nutrition, Health, and Safety for Young Children. (Ashford University ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most prevalent diseases in America and in the world at this point in time and the number of cases is only increasing. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s might include a decline in mental capacity, confusion, and forgetting how to do simple tasks. The disease in not limited to the older generation but is far more prevalent. There is no existing cure for Alzheimer’s and only a few medications that can mildly treat the disease but they vary from patient to patient and are not very affective. Many people are now trying to focus on preventing the disease in its early stages. Some ways in which people do this is by pairing a healthy diet with both cognitive and physical exercises.
Alzheimer’s is a complex disorder, and it cannot be prevented yet. Researchers have discovered that there might be a possibility that it can be prevented or the symptoms can be delayed through a combination of healthful habits. Research being carried out by scientists, show hope that one day the development of Alzheimer’s disease can slowed down or cured. But essential steps can be taken to delay the arrival of Alzheimer’s. These include lifestyle interventions.
Education plays a dominant role in the lives of students throughout the United States. Since most students spend roughly eight to twelve hours in school, it is important to make sure that they are provided with a healthy and nutritious breakfast, lunch and snack. Unfortunately, in today’s society, school administrators focus heavily on standardized test scores and school rankings, thus adding more pressure on students and teachers. This being said, schools have begun to focus on providing healthy foods because they help increase a person’s cognitive and critical thinking ability. It is seen that nutrition plays a great role in students’ performance on exams and physical activity due to the correlation between school provided meals and low student performance on tests.
Alzheimer’s disease is rising at a very high rate. “The number of new cases per year is estimated at 360,000 equating to 980 new cases per day or 40 new cases every hour” (Cummings and Cole 1) This evidence shows that an increasing number of people will discover the effects of a cognitive impairment that will most likely be due to Alzheimer’s disease. As people age, their risk of being diagnosed with this disease increases ...
"Alzheimer’s & Dementia Prevention." : How to Reduce Your Risk and Protect Your Brain. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 May 2014.
Is there any food on earth that can provide the PERFECT nutrition to a human? Yes, and it is breast milk. Breast milk is the perfect nutrition. This superior food contains hormones, live antibacterial and antiviral cells and essential fatty acids (What Makes Human Milk Special?, Mar-Apr 2006). All of which are helpful in protecting against any harm. Sicknesses in infants are lowered by the help that breast milk gives. Breastfed children are sick less often than children who aren’t breastfed (What Makes Human Milk Special?, Mar-Apr 2006). Breast milk contains all the nutrients that an infant needs as it continues to grow. When the child is brought into the world it has no way to fight off any d...
Processing a powerful brain, it requires fats like Omega 3 fatty acids to maintain and repair neurotransmitters. The brain is nearly 80 percent saturated and unsaturated fat (Simontacchi). Therefore, the brain requires fat to replenish it's self just like our body being 99% body and requiring water. A study has found that a weekly intake of fish decreases their odds of dementia by half (Simontacchi). People over 75 have been also been found to reduce dementia by consuming oily-fish over time (Bliss).
Scientists have recently discovered that there are many effects that food has on the brain.