Role of Walnuts in Maintaining Brain Health with Age

Abstract

Because of the combination of population growth and population aging, increases in the incidence of chronic neurodegenerative disorders have become a societal concern, both in terms of decreased quality of life and increased financial burden. Clinical manifestation of many of these disorders takes years, with the initiation of mild cognitive symptoms leading to behavioral problems, dementia and loss of motor functions, the need for assisted living, and eventual death. Lifestyle factors greatly affect the progression of cognitive decline, with high-risk behaviors including unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, smoking, and exposure to environmental toxins leading to enhanced oxidative stress and inflammation. Although there exists an urgent need to develop effective treatments for age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disease, prevention strategies have been underdeveloped. Primary prevention in many of these neurodegenerative diseases could be achieved earlier in life by consuming a healthy diet, rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals, which offers one of the most effective and least expensive ways to address the crisis. English walnuts (Juglans regia L.) are rich in numerous phytochemicals, including high amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and offer potential benefits to brain health. Polyphenolic compounds found in walnuts not only reduce the oxidant and inflammatory load on brain cells but also improve interneuronal signaling, increase neurogenesis, and enhance sequestration of insoluble toxic protein aggregates. Evidence for the beneficial effects of consuming a walnut-rich diet is reviewed in this article.

Effects of Walnut Polyphenol on Learning and Memory Functions in Hypercholesterolemia Mice

“…In recent years, some researchers have found that Walnuts contain a number of potentially neuroprotective substances such as flavonoids and numerous polyphenolics which have both antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties and and it is shown that consumption of these compounds has a protective role against cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity without altering its anti-tumor activity [52,53]. An earlier study reported that Polyphenolic compounds found in walnuts not only reduce the oxidant and inflammatory load on brain cells but also improve interneuronal signaling, increase neurogenesis, and enhance sequestration of insoluble toxic protein aggregates [54]. In addition, Mohammad Shabani et al have found that walnut consumption might have a protective effect against neurotoxic injury in rat brain and it can maintain purkinje cells in normal morphology and attenuate neural changes in hippocampus [55,56].…”

“…Moreover, it has been reported that rutin and caffeine as antioxidant substances have beneficial effects on memory function [23,24]. Walnut is rich in polyphenols and contains numerous ellagitannins [25,26], walnut polyphenol not only has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity but improves interneuronal signaling and increases neurogenesis [27,28]. In order to continue the previous research [17,29], this research work was designed to determine whether treatment with walnut polyphenol could restore the memory impairment in hypercholesterolemia mice.…”

Health benefits of walnut polyphenols: An exploration beyond their lipid profile

“…As previously mentioned in this review, polyphenolic compounds found in walnuts have both anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Therefore, these compounds might reduce the oxidant and inflammatory load on brain cells, but in addition, they improve interneuronal signaling, increase neurogenesis, and enhance sequestration of insoluble toxic protein aggregates (Poulose et al, 2014). (Lin and Salem, 2007;Muthaiyah et al, 2011).…”

The effect of pistachios on human health: A review study

“…Today, a combination of population growth, population aging, increase in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), chronic diseases and disabling conditions, reduced quality of life (QOL), mortality, and increased financial burden has become a social concern (1). Primary prevention of these phenomena with a healthy diet containing nuts, such as walnuts (1), almonds (2), and pistachios (3), is possible.…”

“…Primary prevention of these phenomena with a healthy diet containing nuts, such as walnuts (1), almonds (2), and pistachios (3), is possible. Research has shown that almonds have high unsaturated fats and affect the blood lipids (decrease triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL), and guarantees the health of women and men (4).…”