Objectives
The mission of the task force (TF) is to advance the understanding of the effects of diet and food components on mental performance. The primary objective of the TF is to review current methodologies to assess mood and cognitive function, and to identify knowledge gaps in this area. The ultimate aim is to standardise such methodologies. The TF intends to come up with methodologies that can accommodate cultural differences across Europe and that can, thus, be used reliably. Such tools will enable the measurement of the effects of food components and diets on mood and cognitive functions. Whenever possible, the TF will address underlying physiological effects on brain metabolism and mental functions.
Activities
Mood and Cognitive Functions - Children
The TF has extended the methodology review on elderly to children. This includes aspects of diet that could affect hyperactivity and autism.
An Expert Group has prepared three review papers on the following topics:
- Measuring cognitive function in children – a paper for nutritionists;
- Micro-nutrient intake, cognition and behavioural problems in childhood;
- Macro-nutrient intake, cognition and behavioural problems in childhood.
The papers will be published in a supplement of the European Journal of Nutrition.
The task force has achieved a major step by completing two major and complementary projects with six publications on crucial groups of population: children and elderly. It is envisaged to widely share their findings by organising a session at an international conference in 2008.
Nutrition and Brain Function in the Future: Opportunities and Challenges
The task force has initiated a new activity in 2008, which will provide an overview of the future directions, trends, knowledge gaps and hurdles in the study of the effects of nutrition on cognition and mood. It will identify what needs to be known and developed in order to drive the field forward and to more effectively study nutrition and brain.
A brainstorming session has yielded a large number of ideas and topics which cluster into three major areas:
- Issues relating to the population (who?)
These relate to the wish to move towards a more personalised nutrition approach. Are there specific population characteristics that can determine or modulate effects? If so, which are those and how do we address them? These can be viewed at different levels, e.g. demographic characteristics, nutritional status, special conditions.
- Issues relating to the nutritional intervention (what?)
These cover the understanding of biological mechanisms, food compounds effects and their interactions.
- Issues relating to the measurement & methodology (how?)
The task force is interested in gaining insight into new methods of measurement (e.g., imaging), predictive (animal) models and translation, methodologies for assessing long-term effects, and sensitivity in critical periods of development and through the life span.
The plan is first to produce an overall paper that will set the scene. This will serve as a basis for a workshop with key experts for these various areas.
Task Force Collaborators
The scientists below participate in the task force and expert groups:
Experts from supporting member companies
Dr. Jean-Michel Antoine, Groupe Danone (FR)
Dr. Regina Goralczyk, DSM (CH)
Dr. Sabine Guggenberger, Kraft Foods (DE)
Dr. Michèle Kellerhals, Coca-Cola European Union Group (UK)
Ms. Camilla Melegari, Barilla G. & R. Fratelli (IT)
Dr. Franka Neumer, Südzucker/BENEO Group (DE)
Dr. Saskia Osendarp, Unilever (NL)
Dr. Jeroen Schmitt, Nestlé (CH)
Ms. Jutta Walter, Wild Flavors (DE)
Experts from public institutes
Prof. David Benton, University of Wales Swansea (UK)
Dr. Elizabeth Isaacs, University College London (UK)
Prof. Wolfgang Kallus, Karl-Franzens University of Graz (AT)
Mr. John Oates, Centre for Childhood, Development and Learning, The Open University (UK)
Publications:
J.A.J. Schmitt, D. Benton, K.W. Kallus. General Methodological Considerations for the Assessment of Nutritional Influences on Human Cognitive Functions. European Journal of Nutrition 2005;44(8):459-464.
K.W. Kallus, J.A.J. Schmitt, D. Benton. Attention, Psychomotor Functions and Age. European Journal of Nutrition 2005;44(8):465-484.
D. Benton, K.W. Kallus, J.A.J. Schmitt. How Should we Measure Nutrition-induced Improvements in Memory? European Journal of Nutrition 2005;44(8):485-498.
To download the poster of the task force, click here.
For more information contact info@ilsieurope.be.