A current examine printed in Neuroscience Research sheds gentle on the potential cognitive advantages of Camembert cheese. The analysis reveals that fatty acid amides—compounds generated in the course of the cheese’s fermentation course of—enhanced reminiscence and studying in mice fed a high-fat food regimen. These findings recommend that Camembert cheese might supply distinctive dietary benefits for cognitive well being.
Camembert stands out amongst cheeses as a result of its fermentation with white mildew (Penicillium camemberti), which supplies it a definite biochemical profile. This fermentation course of produces fatty acid amides like myristamide, that are hardly ever present in non-fermented or in a different way fermented cheeses. These compounds are more and more acknowledged for his or her potential to affect mind well being by boosting neurotrophic components, proteins that help mind cell progress, restore, and reminiscence formation.
Previous research had already hinted at Camembert cheese’s advantages in people, exhibiting that its consumption elevated neurotrophic issue ranges in older adults. These proteins are important for sustaining cognitive perform, significantly because the mind ages. While these findings had been promising, the exact mechanisms and particular compounds driving the consequences weren’t absolutely understood. The new examine aimed to shut that information hole by specializing in fatty acid amides and their means to boost studying and reminiscence.
To discover the cognitive advantages of Camembert cheese and its fatty acid amides, the researchers carried out experiments on male mice. These mice had been divided into teams and fed both a high-fat food regimen alone or supplemented with Camembert cheese or particular fatty acid amides extracted from the cheese. The examine’s high-fat food regimen was designed to impair cognitive perform, mimicking circumstances linked to dietary dangers for neurodegeneration in people.
The researchers administered each day oral doses of Camembert cheese, myristamide (a fatty acid amide), or different associated compounds to the mice over seven days. The cheese was homogenized to make sure consistency, and the fatty acid amides had been rigorously measured and administered in particular doses. To assess cognitive efficiency, the mice underwent two behavioral exams: the Object Recognition Test (ORT) and the Object Location Test (OLT). These exams are extensively used to judge reminiscence and studying in animals.
In the ORT, the mice had been positioned in an open area containing two objects. During the take a look at section, one of many acquainted objects was changed with a novel one. Researchers measured the time the mice spent exploring the brand new object, with larger exploration indicating higher recognition reminiscence. Similarly, within the OLT, the place of 1 object was modified, and the time spent investigating the novel location was recorded to evaluate spatial reminiscence.
The outcomes confirmed that each Camembert cheese and myristamide improved cognitive perform within the mice. In the ORT, mice supplemented with Camembert cheese spent extra time exploring the novel object, indicating enhanced recognition reminiscence. This impact was dose-dependent, with greater doses yielding higher outcomes. Similarly, mice handled with myristamide carried out higher on each the ORT and OLT, suggesting that this compound improved each recognition and spatial reminiscence.
Importantly, the examine discovered that myristamide’s results had been distinctive to its amidated kind. Myristic acid, a precursor to myristamide, didn’t enhance cognitive perform, highlighting the significance of the amidation course of that happens throughout cheese fermentation. This means that the fermentation course of itself might improve the cheese’s physiological exercise.
In addition to behavioral exams, the researchers examined modifications in mind chemistry. They analyzed the expression of neurotrophic components—proteins that help mind cell progress and restore—within the hippocampus, a area vital for reminiscence and studying. These molecular analyses aimed to uncover the organic mechanisms underlying any noticed cognitive enhancements.
On a molecular degree, myristamide elevated the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic issue (BDNF) within the hippocampus. BDNF is crucial for neuroprotection, synaptic progress, and reminiscence formation. These findings point out that myristamide’s cognitive advantages could also be mediated by its means to advertise neurogenesis and improve synaptic plasticity. Interestingly, the consequences of Camembert cheese on cognitive perform had been per these of myristamide, suggesting that this compound could also be a key energetic ingredient within the cheese.
While the findings are promising, the examine has a number of limitations. First, it was carried out on mice, so its relevance to people stays unsure. Although earlier research have linked Camembert cheese to cognitive advantages in older adults, additional analysis is required to verify whether or not the identical fatty acid amides yield related results in people. Second, the examine solely examined short-term cognitive modifications, leaving questions concerning the long-term impression of those compounds unanswered.
“Recently, there was an elevated curiosity within the relationship between meals consumption and cognitive perform,” the researchers concluded. “The current examine confirmed that the improved cognitive perform may be attributed not solely to the elements of pure meals but additionally to these of fermented meals. In explicit, we discovered that the fermentation of milk by white mildew produces molecules with enhanced physiological exercise. Further investigations, together with longer-term research and broader information analyses, can be wanted.”
The examine, “Fatty acid amides present in Camembert cheese improved cognitive decline after oral administration in mice,” was authored by Kohei Kawano, Maiko Shobako, Taichi Furukawa, Tatsuhiro Toyooka, and Kousaku Ohinata.
