Spermidine Intake is Associated with Cortical Thickness and Hippocampal Volume in Older Adults

A 2020 cross-sectional study published in NeuroImage, looked at the association between dietary intakes of spermidine and brain structure in older adults, finding that those with the highest intakes of spermidine had significantly greater hippocampal volume, and both greater mean cortical thickness and cortical thickness in regions vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease. This study analysed the SmartAge cohort of 108 older adults with subjective cognitive decline (“SCD”) and 51 healthy controls. The age range of the subjects was between 60 and 90 years old. The researchers used an 89-item food frequency questionnaire to assess both dietary spermidine intake and adherence to a Mediterranean style diet. Brain structure was assessed by MRI. Of note, dietary spermidine intakes and structural brain measures did not differ significantly between study participants with SCD and healthy controls. As such, the researchers found no evidence for more pronounced brain atrophy in those subjects with SCD. 

Citation: Schwarz, C., Horn, N., Benson, G., Calzado, I. W., Wurdack, K., Pechlaner, R., ... & Flöel, A. (2020). Spermidine intake is associated with cortical thickness and hippocampal volume in older adults. NeuroImage, 221, 117132.

Citation: Schwarz, C., Horn, N., Benson, G., Calzado, I. W., Wurdack, K., Pechlaner, R., ... & Flöel, A. (2020). Spermidine intake is associated with cortical thickness and hippocampal volume in older adults. NeuroImage, 221, 117132.