Myelination envelops brain and spinal cord nerve axons with a protective, fatty covering. This sheath improves the rate of information transmission, enabling faster and more effective information processing and task switching.
This is particularly vital during the early stages of development, as this is when the most accelerated knowledge acquisition occurs.
The central nervous system (CNS) possesses minimal myelin during birth. Following birth, the population of oligodendrocytes swiftly increases, playing a crucial role in myelinating neurons. Myelination exhibits a specific spatial and temporal pattern linked to the maturation of various cognitive abilities, such as working memory.
Neurons can communicate with each other at different frequencies depending on the specific circuit they belong to. This can have a noteworthy effect on the swiftness and effectiveness of children’s learning, particularly regarding their executive functions (EFs), which include attention, inhibition, planning, working memory, and processing speed.
Executive functions (EFs) involve activating different brain regions and heavily rely on connectivity, making myelination an essential process for promoting their development.
Studies have shown that our food affects the process of myelination and influences our future cognitive outcomes.
Studies have shown that our food affects the process of myelination and influences our future cognitive outcomes.
We recently completed a clinical trial in which we evaluated the impact of nutritional supplementation on 81 healthy infants born at full term. Six During a 12-month timeframe, we administered docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), arachidonic acid (ARA), iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, and sphingomyelin. This blend was obtained from a whey protein concentrate fortified with alpha-lactalbumin and phospholipids. For comparison, we also provided a placebo. Afterward, we evaluated their MRI and cognitive outcomes over time.
The results suggested that the combination of nutrients was associated with improved myelination in infants aged three and six months. This effect was mainly observed in the parietal and temporal lobes, which are involved in sensory, motor, and language functions, and in the cerebellum and occipital lobe, responsible for motor control and visual processing.
The results suggest that the quality of nutrition during early development impacts the myelination process, impacting cognitive and learning abilities during later childhood.
