Dietary Fatty Acids and the Brain: Mechanisms Behind Neurodegeneration and Neuroprotection

I believe in dairy fat, but since I'm not medically trained you can't listen to me.

Dairy fat from milk, butter, and cheese could actually PREVENT a heart attack

 September 2011 

• dairy fat (15 posts to April 2016 ) has this line in it.

  Dairy fat in products, such as cheese, butter, milk, ice cream and cream was not associated with a higher risk of stroke.

 

Dietary Fatty Acids and the Brain: Mechanisms Behind Neurodegeneration and Neuroprotection

Recommended Citation Kdeiss, Bianca, "Dietary Fatty Acids and the Brain: Mechanisms Behind Neurodegeneration and Neuroprotection" (2022). Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects. 1599. https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/1599

by Bianca Kdeiss Doctor of Psychology, Graduate Program in Psychology Loma Linda University, September 2022 Dr. Grace J. Lee, Chairperson 

The impact of dietary fat intake on cognitive function has generated growing interest as the incidence of neurodegenerative disorders continues to increase. No known cures for neurodegenerative disorders exist at this time and available pharmacological treatments are limited in their efficacy. As such, prevention and early detection have been emphasized, particularly in the context of modifiable lifestyle factors, such as diet. Despite a recognized association between dietary fat intake and cognition, limited research exists delineating the impact of different types of fat on cognitive function. In this review, research examining the association between cognition and specific dietary fatty acids— such as trans fatty acids (TFA), saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)—was investigated. Further, the mechanisms by which these fatty acids impact cognition were explored. Findings from the literature identified cardiovascular function, inflammation, oxidative stress, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and insulin resistance as the most explored biological mechanisms to date. As such, each biological mechanism is briefly defined and considered in the context of a neuropsychological profile, followed by a review of the influence of fatty acids on these mechanisms.