Recent Blog Articles. When it comes to funcction diet, how much attention do you pay to eat to keep your brain healthy? Neuroinflammation 13 ,

Inflammation reduction for improved cognitive function -

People typically get them into their diet by sprinkling them on cereal or adding them to smoothies. Avocados provide an excellent source of monounsaturated fats, the good fats associated with better heart health.

Healthy fats are liquid at room temperature, while unhealthy fats remain solid think butter or lard. Avocados also contain vitamin E, which can protect brain cells. Yes, chocolate can help with better brain function! Cacao is natural, raw chocolate without all the added sugar and fats.

The taste is different than you might expect from chocolate more bitter but you can always try the second-best thing, dark chocolate, which also contains cacao and its anti-inflammation properties. Leafy greens such as kale have high levels of vitamin K, which fights inflammation, as does broccoli.

In addition, broccoli is one of the foods with the largest amounts of choline, an essential nutrient that impacts the nervous system, muscle movement and liver and brain function. That morning cup of coffee is actually good for you.

Studies have associated drinking caffeine with a lower chance of cognitive function loss and brain conditions such as dementia. Many spices are known for anti-inflammatory properties and boosting brain health. Other inflammation-fighting spices include ginkgo biloba, ginseng and cinnamon.

Fighting inflammation makes good sense for overall health. The latest research shows it might prove key to maintaining brain health. But inflammation has a downside. If it becomes chronic—due to aging, poor diet, lack of exercise, obesity, diabetes, or atherosclerosis—it may contribute to thinking and memory problems, Alzheimer's disease and dementia , stroke , and other neurologic conditions, says Keenan Walker, PhD, director of the Multimodal Imaging of Neurodegenerative Disease MIND unit at the National Institute on Aging, where he studies inflammation, immunity, and Alzheimer's disease.

In the past few years, research has clarified the influence of inflammation on various neurologic conditions. According to a Boston University study published in JAMA Network Open in , people with a common genetic risk for age-related Alzheimer's were nearly twice as likely to develop the disease over 17 years if they also had chronic low-level systemic inflammation.

A study published in Neurology in February that looked at brain health and inflammation in 12, adults found that those with the highest blood levels of four inflammatory compounds at midlife had the biggest drops on thinking and memory tests 20 years later.

In another study, published in the September issue of Nature , researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center found a link between inflammatory compounds called cytokines and Alzheimer's disease: The cytokines prompted brain cells to produce a protein called IFITM3, which contributed to increased production of the hallmark brain plaques of Alzheimer's.

There's also evidence that inflammation plays a role in depression, Parkinson's disease , multiple sclerosis MS , fibromyalgia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ALS , and other brain disorders, according to a March review in the journal Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience.

Inflammation may destroy thread-like axons that carry signals between brain cells or may interfere with brain cells' ability to use glucose blood sugar for fuel, Dr. Walker says.

In Parkinson's disease, inflammation that has its source in gut bacteria may lead to brain cell death, says Silke A. Cresswell, MD, associate professor of neurology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. In MS, inflammation spurs the immune system to attack the myelin coating on nerve cells, says David A.

Hafler, MD, FAAN, chair of the department of neurology at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, CT. Tokyo University scientists found that oxytocin, a brain chemical, enhances memory in mice. By activating oxytocin-producing neurons, mice improved at recognizing objects over time.

This discovery could help address memory disorders and provides insights into cognitive function. PsyPost is a psychology and neuroscience news website dedicated to reporting the latest research on human behavior, cognition, and society.

READ MORE Remember Me. The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries. My Account. Mental Health Social Psychology Cognitive Science Psychopharmacology. Heightened cognitive ability may be causally associated with lower inflammation by Eric W.

May 24, - Updated on May 26, in Cognitive Science , Mental Health. Home Exclusive Cognitive Science. Enhance your understanding of the human mind and mental health trends. Click here to follow PsyPost on LinkedIn. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter. Share Tweet Send Scan Share Share Pin 9 Send.

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Explore prestigious scientific journals and award and funding opportunities to feduction your research. Access practice-improvement tools, Immune-boosting probiotics guidelines, Immune-boosting probiotics, Ufnction Registry, cunction practice management resources. Grow your career and enhance your membership experience. Find resources for wellness, equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and social justice. Learn to effectively advocate on behalf of neurologists and their patients, and access AAN position and policy statements. Not a member? Continue as a nonmember. Consuming Ihflammation foods and drinks Effective weight control avoiding others may fujction you reduce and Immune-boosting probiotics inflammation. Anti-inflammatory foods flr include fruits, vegetables, and fatty fish. However, chronic Immune-boosting probiotics is harmful because it gradually damages healthy cells, tissues, and organs. This increases your risk of developing illnesses, such as :. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to reduce inflammation and improve your overall health. An anti-inflammatory diet is typically based on whole, nutrient-dense foods that contain antioxidants. Some anti-inflammatory foods to include in your diet include:.