How diet can support brain health: protecting cognitive function through tailored nutrition

Nutrition for brain health

Cognitive decline and neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease, represent significant global health challenges. As populations age worldwide, the prevalence of neurodegenerative conditions is rising, profoundly affecting individuals, families, and healthcare systems. Preserving brain health and cognitive function is essential for maintaining independence and quality of life as we age.

At Danone Research & Innovation , we recognize the critical role nutrition plays in supporting cognitive health, particularly in the context of disease-related malnutrition.

How our brain works

Before going any further, it is important to know a few basic things about the brain.

The brain is made up of billions of cells called neurons, which communicate with each other through synapses. Neurons have a specific structure: a cell body, dendrites that receive signals and an axon that transmits them. Synapses are connection points where neurons exchange information using neurotransmitters.

Memory works thanks to the connections between neurons (the synapses we were just talking about), which strengthen or weaken depending on how often the information is used. As we age, the number of neurons and synapses decreases, which partly explains why our memory starts to function less well.

The role of diet in supporting brain function

Nutrition has a profound influence on brain structure, synaptic activity and overall cognitive function. Essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, choline and antioxidants play a central role¹ in maintaining and even improving brain function and neuronal integrity. For example:

Omega-3 fatty acids and especially DHA (a type of healthy fats abundant in fatty fish like salmon) are an integral part of brain cells membranes and synaptic plasticity, directly influencing learning and memory processes.
Vitamins B6, B12 and folates help regulate levels of the amino acid homocysteine, which, when elevated, is associated with cognitive impairment and an increased risk of dementia.
Choline, a nutrient essential for the synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, promotes cognitive performance, memory formation and mood regulation.
Antioxidants such as vitamins C and E help combat oxidative stress, an important factor in cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases.

In theory, all these nutrients can be found in sufficient quantities in healthy diets like the mediterranean diet. However, the nutritional quality of today's food and not always optimal eating habits, coupled with the difficulties some populations have eating enough (older people, persons with illnesses, etc.), mean that it is not uncommon for those who need it most to be deficient in these essential nutrients.

Because at Danone we understand these causes and their consequences, we develop targeted nutritional formulations that provide these critical nutrients effectively, supporting overall brain health and slowing cognitive decline.

Neurodegenerative disorders and the particular case of Alzheimer's disease

Worldwide, nearly 50 million people are living with Alzheimer' s or a related dementia, with the majority of expected new cases concentrated in low- and middle-income countries (68% of projected increases)2.

Alzheimer's disease is a multifaceted condition that begins to progress several years before noticeable symptoms appear. The first signs often manifest as memory lapses and difficulty performing complex tasks. These early signs can be subtle, leading many people to mistakenly attribute them to the natural aging process.

From a nutritional point of view, malnutrition and d isease-related malnutrition exacerbate cognitive decline and can significantly accelerate the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

In the elderly, this malnutrition often results from a decreased appetite, poor absorption of nutrients or difficulty swallowing, and leads to deficiencies in the key nutrients mentioned above that are necessary for the proper functioning of the brain. These nutritional deficiencies negatively affect synaptic integrity, neuronal connectivity and neurotransmitter balance, amplifying cognitive deficits and accelerating memory deterioration3.

New data indicate a strong link between nutritional status and the severity of cognitive decline. Malnourished patients are more likely to experience rapid cognitive decline, higher hospitalization rates and a lower quality of life.

At Danone R&I, we aim to break this vicious circle through early identification and targeted nutritional interventions to ensure that patients maintain their cognitive resilience despite health problems.

⁵⁰Million
people worldwide are living with
Alzheimer's or a related dementia,

⁶⁸%

of the projected increase
in the global prevalence and burden of dementia by 2050

Specific nutritional needs in Alzheimer's disease

Due to their particular state of health, patients with Alzheimer's disease have unique and often greater nutritional needs.

It is now known that people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease often have lower levels of certain essential nutrients, both in the bloodstream and in the brain, compared to healthy people of the same age. These nutrients are^4-9:

DHA.
Choline.
Vitamin B12.
Folate.
Vitamin C.
Vitamin E.

But it is not enough to just provide these nutrients separately. In fact, recent studies on the treatment of Alzheimer's disease do not show clear benefits of supplementing individual nutrients such as those mentioned above^10-12. Conversely, these same studies suggest that to be effective and help maintain or even improve patients' cognitive performance, a nutritional intervention must contain several components that will act in synergy¹³.

At Danone, we meet these specific needs with clinically proven formulas that provide essential compounds for brain health. These products are carefully designed to improve nutrient absorption, facilitate consumption (because patients experiencing cognitive decline often face challenges related to taste and appetite) and support overall nutritional status, thus helping to maintain autonomy and quality of life.

Supporting brain health with science-based collaborations

We are not only interested in Alzheimer's disease and are also working on overall brain health with dietary solutions and digital applications designed to support the proper functioning of the brain of older people throughout their aging process.

For example, our digital health teams developed an app to help aging people assess the health of their brain and detect the early signs of neurodegenerative diseases.

At the same time, our multidisciplinary teams collaborate with universities, research institutes and clinical experts to better understand the role of nutrition in brain health. And through ongoing clinical trials, we evaluate the effectiveness of our nutritional interventions in slowing cognitive decline, improving memory and overall quality of life.

In the end, our ongoing efforts in research, innovation and collaboration demonstrate our commitment to improving the quality of life for people facing cognitive challenges, advancing the science of nutrition in neurology, and ensuring a better, healthier future for aging populations around the world.

Siegel, G., Agranoff, B., Albers, R., Fisher, R. and Uhler, M. (1999) Basic Neurochemistry: Molecular, Cellular and Medical Aspects. 6th Edition, Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia.
https://www.alzheimers.net/alzheimers-statistics
Kosicek M and Hecimovic S. del. Int J Mol Sci . Published on 2013;14:1310–22
Lopes da Silva et al. Alzheimers Dement. Published on 2013
Lin, et al. J Clin Psychiatr. Published on 2012
Loef, et al. J Alzheimer Dis. Published on 2011
Olde Rikkert, et al. ADPD. Published on 2013
Trushina, et al. PlosOne. Published on 2012
Van Wijk, et al Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring. Published on 2017
Farina N, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Published on 2017;4:CD002854
Li MM, et al. Curr Alzheimer Res. Published on 2014;11:844–52
Canhada S, Nutr Neurosci. Published on 2017;1–10
Von Arnim CA, et al. Nutrition. Published on 2010;26:694–700