Summary:
This study looks at the correlation between inflammation and
nutrition on cognitive function. Inflammation is a necessary process by which
the body responds to an injury or sickness. Inflammation at the proper levels
promotes tissue repair and regeneration while limiting an invasive pathogens
ability to grow. Pro-inflammation pathways are highly regulated by a series of
anti-inflammation processes which keep the body within the proper balance. Anti-inflammation
processes allow the pro-inflammation pathways to take action when we are hurt
or sick and then increase their presence to regulate the pro-inflammation
pathways back to normal levels once we’re healed. If the anti-inflammation processes
are not controlled however, they may lead to a state of chronic low-grade
inflammation which makes the host susceptible to a multitude of diseases and neurological
disorders. C-reactive proteins (CRPs) are a very sensitive marker found within
the blood that accurately indicate inflammation levels and as such as used to
monitor said levels by medical professionals. CRP is now the most widely used
predictor of cardiovascular disease.
The authors of this study hypothesize that a healthy diet
has a duel effect of both reducing inflammation to proper levels and ameliorating
neurodegenerative disorders. This paper reviews the current body of work
regarding inflammation as the key mechanism for cognitive function and the
impact a diet heavy in anti-inflammatory producing foods have on nutrition,
immunity, and neurology. The study proceeds to identify a body of medical
studies which correlate chronic low-grade inflammation to diseases such as Alzheimer’s,
diabetes, stroke, tramatic brain injury, and MS. The authors then identify diet
patterns which have been found to be effective at reducing inflammation levels.
Diets heavy in omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oils, grapes, apples, berries,
pomegranetes, green teas, and other food high in anti-oxidants have been found
to have anti-inflammatory qualities and related health benefits. A diet high in
these foods, along with high consumption of fruits and vegetables, serum carotenoids,
vitamins, fiber, and magnesium are found to have a significant impact in terms
of reducing inflammation and in particular CRP levels. The Mediterranean diet
was cited as a perfect example of a diet rich in anti-oxidant foods that have
been found to lower inflammation levels. The study then identifies obesity as
being a direct result of chronic low-grade inflammation along with the
contributing factors smoking provides. The authors go on to claim that children
and adolescents with poor nutrition are prone to alterations of mental and
behavioral functions that can to a certain extent be modified with the
introduction of a more well-rounded diet. The author concludes the study by
indicating that although a healthy diet correlates with lower CRP
concentrations, the question remains as to whether the lowering of CRPs reduces
the likelihood of stoke, cognitive decline, or depression. Future cross-disciplinary
research collaborations and controlled studies are suggested to further
research the mechanisms underlying these diseases believed to be impacted by
high inflammation levels to see if a change in diet can prevent, halt, or
reverse the impact of these diseases.
Critique:
I found this study to be a very different read than previous
articles in this course due to the medical nature of the topic. Many of the
medical terms used throughout this paper were beyond my comprehension. However,
the author did a nice job writing up most of the article in a manner in which
non-medically inclined readers can benefit. This article cited numerous studies
that concerned the effects diet have on cognitive function and overall health. But
this article in and of itself did not conduct any new studies to contribute to
the existing field. It seems that like many other scholarly articles I’ve read
in recent past, the authors identify sources which confirm their hypothesis and
then cover themselves by adding the caveot that more research is still needed
to more fully understand. In this instance, the author believes a diet heavy in
anti-inflammatory foods will result in a healthier life with reduced chances of
developing serious neurological disorders and diseases. She then cites over 100
articles which all claim to have conducted studies of scientific significance
which seek to find answers to these questions. Finally, the author admits that
while correlations do exist, they cannot be confirmed as causations until
further research is done. While the answer as to whether diet impacts one’s
ability to think critically was not directly answered in this study, it does
provide a very decent starting point in terms of identifying the impact diet
has on overall mental and physical health. And after all, one’s ability to
conduct analytical analysis is heavily dependent on one’s ability to physically
be able to withstand the demands of conducting intelligence work. A body
riddled with crippling disease and mental disorder serves no function within an
intelligence organization. So it seems intuitive that a diet heavy in fruits
and vegetables and low in saturated and trans fats, starches, and sugars would
go a long way in preserving overall health while also ensuring one’s ability to
continue working.
Citation:
Wärnberg, J., Gomez‐Martinez, S., Romeo, J., Díaz, L. E.,
& Marcos, A. (2009). Nutrition, inflammation, and cognitive function. Annals
of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1153(1), 164-175.
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