PhD Defence Micah Shawn Adams

Keywords: Cognitive performance, brain vascular function, dietary proteins, protein hydrolysates 
 

"Cognitive performance, brain vascular function, and cardiometabolic health: Effects of dietary proteins and protein hydrolysates in adults"

By 2030, 12% of the world population will consist of individuals aged 65 and older, which will lead to an increase in age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cognitive decline. This refers to a reduced ability of the brain to process information, which can lead to dementia. CVD and dementia share several risk factors that can be modified by diet. This dissertation investigated the effects of dietary proteins and protein hydrolysates (proteins broken down into smaller fragments) on cognitive performance, brain vascular function, and cardiometabolic health. 

First, two systematic reviews were conducted. The first review showed that dietary proteins, particularly from nut-based interventions, improved memory. Additionally, a link was found between brain vascular function and cognitive performance. The second review focused on protein hydrolysates and found that specific hydrolysates improved self-control and visuospatial memory. Based on these findings, an intervention study was conducted to investigate the effects of a protein hydrolysate called Newtricious (NWT)-03. This hydrolysate significantly improved cognitive performance in women with memory complaints, while such effects were not observed in men. It also improved vascular function in both men and women, indicating a reduced risk of CVD. These findings underscore the importance of further research into protein-based strategies to mitigate age-related cognitive decline. 

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