EFFETTO dei NUTRIENTI sulle FUNZIONI CEREBRALI

Raffaella MolteniDipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e BiomolecolariUniversità degli Studi di Milano

Como, 23 Aprile 2015

Be healthy for longer

Be free from Health Problems

Give Children a GoodStart

Food: consumer life goals

MAINTAINING EMOTIONAL WELLBEING

IMPROVING BRAIN FUNCTIONS

Mens sana in corpore sano

Brain boosters: Foods for brain health• Avocados • Bananas • Brewer's yeast • Broccoli • Brown rice • Brussel sprouts

• Cantaloupe • Flaxseed oil • Greens• Legumes• Oatmeal• Oranges • Peas • Potatoes • Romaine lettuce • Soybeans• Spinach• Walnuts • Wheat germ

Brain “drainers”

Alcohol Artificial food colorings Artificial sweeteners Colas Corn syrup Frostings High-sugar "drinks" Hydrogenated fats Junk sugars White bread

IS IT TRUE ?

YES

TOPICS

• Does diet affect brain function?

• Which are the molecular mechanism underlying?

Does diet affect brain function?

Energy as carbohydrate, %Energy as fat, %Energy as protein, %

Fiber, g/100 g Sucrose, g/100 g Cholesterol, %Saturated fat, %Monosaturated fat, %Polynsaturated fat, %Physiological energy, kJ/g

58.8112.1428.05

40.1239.0920.72

5.33.680.021.51.580.7113.97

1.645.100.01757.918.223.0419.63

LF diet HFS diet

Diet composition

Impact of diet on spatial learning

HF diet affects spatial learning performance

Molteni R. et al., 2002

Exercise normalizesthe behavioral effect of the HF diet

Diet period1 mese 2 mesi

12.5

17.5

5

7.5

10

15

2.51 2 3 1 2 3

Late

ncy

(se

c)

LFCC

LFCC/Ex

HFS

HFS/Ex

Molteni R. et al., 2004

Which are the molecular mechanisms underlying?

Diet

BDNF

mRN

Alev

els

(% o

f LF

diet

)pr

otei

nlev

els

(% o

f LF

diet

)

Hippocampus

Molteni R. et al., 2002

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor

Marker ofNeuroplasticity

Trophic factor

BDNF

NeuroplasticityNeuronal plasticity represents an index of brain function and of its ability to

cope under challenging conditions.

The term neuronal plasticity encapsulates changes in signaling cascades,

gene regulation, dendritic remodeling and, in some areas, generation of

new neurons.

BDNF

Dendritic spine formation

Neurogenesis

‘Positive’ environmental conditions can modulate BDNF expression in the rat brain

Exercise

Sedentary

• BDNF expression is increased by:

– Learning

– Environmental enrichment

– Maternal care

– Physical exercise

Protective effects on brain function

0

50

100

150

200

BD

NF

(%

of

Con

trol

s) **

*

#

CTRL ExHF dietE+H

Exercise normalizesthe molecular effect of the HF diet

Molteni R. et al., 2004

a HFS diet may increase susceptibilityof the brain to insults?

Wu A. et al., 2003

Effects of diet and FPI on spatial learning and memory retention

Which are the mechanisms involved?

Measurment of oxidized protein levels

Effects on “neuroplastic”molecules

Is a specific nutrient involved?

Measurment of oxidized protein levels

Food is likea pharmaceutical compound

that affects the brain

Diet has the potential to alter our brain healthand mental function

Changes in diet are a viable strategy for enhancing cognitive abilities, protecting the brain from damage

and counteracting the effects of aging

Fuel the brain

Lab. di Psicofarmacologia e Psichiatria Molecolare,Dip. di Scienze. Farmacologiche e Molecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano

Giorgio RacagniMarco Andrea Riva

Fabio FumagalliFrancesca CalabreseLucia CaffinoAnnamaria CattaneoAlessia LuoniGiuseppe GiannottiAndrea C. RossettiVeronica BegniChiara MalpighiMaria Serena Paladini

Thanks…

“Neurolife” Lab. UCLA

Fernando Gomez-Pinilla