Nutritional interventions and cognitive-related outcomes in patients with late-life cognitive disorders: A systematic review

There have been a large number of observational studies on the impact of nutrition on neuroprotection, however, there was a lack of evidence from randomized clinical trials (RCTs). In the present systematic review, from the 32 included RCTs published in the last four years (2014-2017) in patients aged 60 years and older with different late-life cognitive disorders, nutritional intervention through medical food/nutraceutical supplementation and multidomain approach improved magnetic resonance imaging findings and other cognitive-related biomarkers, but without clear effect on cognition in mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Antioxidant-rich foods (nuts, grapes, cherries) and fatty acid supplementation, mainly n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), improved specific cognitive domains and cognitive-related outcomes in MCI, mild-to-moderate dementia, and AD. Antioxidant vitamin and trace element supplementations improved only cognitive-related outcomes and biomarkers, high-dose B vitamin supplementation in AD and MCI patients improved cognitive outcomes in the subjects with a high baseline plasma n-3 PUFA, while folic acid supplementation had positive impact on specific cognitive domains in those with high homocysteine.