Cognitive reserve is a key concept in aging research, referring to the brain’s resilience against neuropathological damage. However, mechanisms behind this resilience are not well understood. Accumulating iron in the brain represents a risk factor for neurodegenerative disease due to oxidative stress. Brain iron deposits increase across the lifespan and higher levels of brain iron have been linked to the level of iron in the diet, though support for this second finding has been mixed. Higher levels of intake of the essential nutrient choline have been linked to better cognitive performance in aging, and preclinical models have demonstrated substantial potential for the neuroprotective effects of dietary choline, including in models of Alzheimer’s disease. We intend to use the UK Biobank data to address three questions in older (> 60 y) participants: (a) Do higher levels of iron in the diet negatively correlate with cognitive performance? (b) Do higher levels of choline in the diet positively correlate with cognitive performance? (c) Do higher levels of choline in the diet offset the negative effects of higher levels or iron in the diet? Together, these questions address how dietary factors may contribute to or protect against cognitive decline, and whether choline’s role in neurotransmission may offer a compensatory mechanism in aging brains exposed to iron-related oxidative stress.
This research is directly relevant to public health, as cognitive decline and dementia are increasing with the aging population. Identifying modifiable dietary factors could support low-cost, accessible strategies to promote cognitive health and delay neurodegenerative disease onset. Results will be shared through peer-reviewed publications, major conferences (FNCE, ANC), and public channels including institutional press releases.
