Universität zu Köln

Weigert, Hannah Fabia (2022). Nutritional Status, Cognitive Performance, and Vascular Function with Advancing Age: Complexity in Medicine. PhD thesis, Universität zu Köln.

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Abstract

Demographic changes and the growing age gap underline the importance of preventive lifestyle strategies, which have shown promise in slowing down or preventing age-related cognitive decline. However, evidence on the reciprocal longitudinal relationships between nutrition biomarkers and cognitive and physical performance are lacking. Studying nutritional, cognitive and physical profiles over time may help to overcome this knowledge gap. The relationship of plasma levels of the robust nutritional- and antioxidant defense-related biomarkers carotenoids and tocopherols with both indicators of cognitive and physical performance in persons with MCI participating in a structured exercise program was investigated by analyzing data from 40 MCI participants of the JPND Neuroexercise study. Participants underwent a blood withdrawal for the analysis of plasma concentrations of six carotenoids, two tocopherols and retinol prior to and after one year of structured exercise. All participants underwent a broad spectrum of cognitive and physical performance tests. Significant associations between lipophilic micronutrients and cognitive/physical measures were observed, that were previously found to play a role in cognitive and physical frailty. In particular, lutein, zeaxanthin and lycopene were confirmed as robust, reliable, stable indicators of nutritional defense. Interestingly, in relationship to cognitive and motoric functions, the micronutrients measured in most of the study participants were shown to associate with cognitive measures prior to the physical training program and with indicators of motoric function after a physical exercise program. The observed interaction between physical, nutritional, and cognitive measures warrants future investigation into the effects of multidimensional lifestyle interventions to prevent cognitive and physical impairment.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD thesis)
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Weigert, Hannah Fabia hannah.weigert@gmail.com UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-785295
DOI:	10.3233/ADR-220039
Date:	22 November 2022
Place of Publication:	J Alzheimers Dis Rep
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > Innere Medizin > Klinik II für Innere Medizin - Nephrologie, Rheumatologie, Diabetologie und Allgemeine Innere Medizin
Subjects:	Medical sciences Medicine
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language Carotenoids English cognitive performance English micronutrients English mild cognitive impairment English neuropsychological tests English nutrition English physical activity English
Date of oral exam:	7 April 2025
Referee:	Name Academic Title Polidori Nelles, Maria Cristina Universitätsprofessorin Dr. med. Dr. Röhrig-Herzog, Gabriele Privatdozentin Dr. med.
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/78529