Title:Vitamins and Cognition: A Nutrigenomics Perspective
Volume: 17
Issue: 4
Author(s): Ayyappan Anitha*, Vijitha Viswambharan, Ismail Thanseem, Mary Iype, Rahna Parakkal, Sumitha P. Surendran and Mahesh V. Mundalil
Affiliation:
- Department of Neurogenetics, Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Shoranur, Palakkad 679 523, Kerala,India
Keywords:
Brain, cognition, nutrigenomics, nootropic, vitamins, genetic.
Abstract: The rise in the prevalence of neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental cognitive disorders
combined with a lack of efficient therapeutic strategies has necessitated the need to develop alternate
approaches. Dietary supplements are now being considered as a complementary and alternative
medicine for cognitive impairments. Considerable evidence suggests the role of vitamins in
modulating the genetic and epigenetic factors implicated in neuropsychiatric, neurodevelopmental
and neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, we provide an overview of the implications of nutrigenomics
with reference to vitamins that are suggested to boost cognitive functions (nootropic vitamins).
Several vitamins have been found to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
which make them potential candidates in preventing or delaying age-related neurodegeneration and
cognitive decline. Well-designed longitudinal studies are essential to examine the association between
vitamins and cognitive functions. Future studies linking nutrition with advances in neuroscience,
genomics and epigenomics would provide novel approaches to managing cognitive disorders.