Alignment of Consumers’ Expected Brain Benefits from Food and Supplements with Measurable Cognitive Performance Tests

Author:

Young Hayley A.1ORCID,Cousins Alecia L.1ORCID,Byrd-Bredbenner Carol2ORCID,Benton David1,Gershon Richard C.3,Ghirardelli Alyssa4ORCID,Latulippe Marie E.5ORCID,Scholey Andrew67ORCID,Wagstaff Laura8ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Wales SA2 8PP, UK

2. Department of Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08854, USA

3. Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60208, USA

4. NORC, University of Chicago, Sacramento, CA 95811, USA

5. Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences, Washington, DC 20005, USA

6. Nutrition Dietetics and Food, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Notting Hill, VIC 3168, Australia

7. Centre for Mental Health and Brain Sciences, Swinburne University, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia

8. NORC, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60603, USA

Abstract

Consumers often cite cognitive improvements as reasons for making dietary changes or using dietary supplements, a motivation that if leveraged could greatly enhance public health. However, rarely is it considered whether standardized cognitive tests that are used in nutrition research are aligned to outcomes of interest to the consumer. This knowledge gap presents a challenge to the scientific substantiation of nutrition-based cognitive health benefits. Here we combined focus group transcript review using reflexive thematic analysis and a multidisciplinary expert panel exercise to evaluate the applicability of cognitive performance tools/tasks for substantiating the specific cognitive benefits articulated by consumers with the objectives to (1) understand how consumers comprehend the potential benefits of nutrition for brain health, and (2) determine the alignment between consumers desired brain benefits and validated tests and tools. We derived a ‘Consumer Taxonomy of Cognitive and Affective Health in Nutrition Research’ which describes the cognitive and affective structure from the consumers perspective. Experts agreed that validated tests exist for some consumer benefits including focused attention, sustained attention, episodic memory, energy levels, and anxiety. Prospective memory, flow, and presence represented novel benefits that require the development and validation of new tests and tools. Closing the gap between science and consumers and fostering co-creative approaches to nutrition research are critical to the development of products and dietary recommendations that support realizable cognitive benefits that benefit public health.

Funder

NORC

Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences

Publisher

MDPI AG

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