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Overview:

Concerns related to cognition and brain health are ever-growing for our population, and rightfully so. It was estimated in 2019 that 50 million people lived with dementia worldwide, with numbers expected to almost double every 20 years, to 82 million in 2030 and 152 million in 2050.

This module will detail the different types of dementia and focus on the causes and factors of age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s. It will also explore nutritional factors associated with cognitive decline, including foods considered excitatory, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and glycemic control. The impact of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction will also be examined.

Along with genetic predisposition, the APO E gene will be discussed with its connection to Alzheimer’s. A review of nutritional biochemistry, and nutritional lab assessment will reinforce the necessity of several nutrients including B vitamins, CoQ10, lipoic acid, and more in support of cognition.

Prevention is the key to maintaining optimal cognition and brain health. This section of our module also covers nutritional and herbal interventions that support cognitive function. These interventions affect multiple brain processes by regulating neurotransmitter pathways, synaptic transmission, membrane fluidity, and signal-transduction pathways. Some of these include omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, folate, and more. Supplement examples are given.

Learning Objectives:

After completion of the Cognition and Brain Health module, participants will be able to:

• Assess a patient for nutritional deficiencies related to cognitive function and brain health.
• Review basic pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease through a Functional Medicine lens with attention to the intersection of environment, diet, nutrition and lifestyle in driving the neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration process.
• Discover how the application of Functional Medicine therapies in Alzheimer’s disease has succeeded where single-target drug therapies have failed and how Registered Dietitians with FM training have the knowledge and power to implement these interventions.
• Explain the impacts of genomics as well as mitochondrial dysfunction on cognition.
• Describe responsible and effective food and therapeutic supplement recommendations for a patient with cognitive decline.

Practice Exercises:

• List 7-10 nutritional/biochemical factors related to cognitive decline and 3-5 lifestyle factors.
• Using a patient, family member, or friend, review their food records, noting foods high in glutamate and providing similar substitutes low in glutamate.
• With a particular patient in mind, research a brain health supplement using a supplement company website and list the pros and cons of the supplement for this patient.
• Detail the mechanism of how type 2 diabetes affects cognition and brain health.

Course Modules