Accumulating evidence suggests that adhering to healthy dietary patterns and increasing the consumption of specific macro- and micro-nutrients can enable the efficiency of neural networks, improve cognitive performance, and reduce the risk and/or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease in later life. Importantly, what remains to be fully understood is the specific brain regions and neural networks that are potentially mediated by nutrition. Using state of the art methodologies and technologies from the fields of nutritional epidemiology and cognitive neuroscience, nutritional cognitive neuroscience aims to advance our understanding of the beneficial effects of nutrition on the ageing brain. In terms of societal importance, as average life expectancy improves and the percentage of elderly populations expands our aging population presents significant societal and economic challenges. Of particular concern is the growing prevalence of age-related diseases (e.g. diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia). Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, is one of the fastest grow age-related diseases worldwide and poses as one of the greatest health care challenges for society in terms of personal, societal and financial implications. Consequently, emphasis is being placed on preventative strategies such as nutrition to promote healthy ageing, with the aim of minimising the burden of disability and disease in later life and maximising the quality of life for individuals in their later years. The objective of the Cognition And Nutrition (CAN) project is to generate new knowledge within the field of nutritional cognitive neuroscience to better understand the ways in which aspects of brain structure and function can be supported by particular nutrients and dietary patterns. In addition, CAN will stimulate interdisciplinary collaboration and bi-directional transfer of knowledge between Irish and US research centres.
