Abstract
Objectives
High levels of visual cognitive performance (VCP) are required for complex daily activities including driving and participating in sports. Many cognitive tests use simple measures of social cognition or memory that lack the dynamic complexity needed for daily living. Healthy fats including mono- and polyunsaturated fats have been shown to improve cognition and brain health due to the need for fatty acids for neurotransmitter production and myelin sheath insulation. The effects of specific fats on specific cognitive functions is still poorly understood. The Nutrition, Vision, and Cognition in Health Study (IONHealth) investigates nutritional and behavioral factors that influence cognition in 3-dimensional multiple objects tracking test (3DMOT). It was hypothesized that monounsaturated fats would affect cognitive performance.
Methods
104 men and women adults age 50–75 years recorded 15 food logs and completed 15 training sessions (Neurotracker) during 10 lab visits over 15 days. Food logs were used to represent typical eating patterns for each individual and means over 15 days were used for analyses.
Results
Monounsaturated fat intake was significantly associated to VCP, however, this affect was not distinct from overall fat intake where higher fat intake (114.7, 99.8, 71.8, 62.9 g/day mean) was significantly associated (P < 0.01) to higher VCP (1.10, 1.04, 0.89, 0.79 speed threshold mean, respectively).
Conclusions
Increased total fat intake may have a positive effect on brain function, even with higher saturated fat and lower unsaturated fat intake.
Funding Sources
Egg Nutrition Council.