BRAIN - HOW DO YOU GET A FAST AND EFFICIENT BRAIN

Neurodevelopment largely occurs during infancy

and affects cogni�ve and behavioural pa�erns in
later years of life. Myelina�on is an important
neurodevelopmental process. Nutrients like
phospholipids contribute largely to
neurodevelopment.

Prefontral cortex
Neurogenesis
Neuronal migration
Astrogenesis
Oligodendrogenesis
Synaptogenesis
Myelination
Synaptic pruning
Adapted from Silbereis JC, et al., Neuron 2016;89:248–68
Fig 1: Timeline of key neurodevelopmental processes

EARLY STAGES OF BRAIN DEVELOPMENT STAGES OF COGNITION DEVELOPMENT

Age (Years)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Vision Development
Speech Development
Emo�onal Development
Math/Logic
Social A�achment & Skills
Motor Development
Peer Social Skills
Language

KEY INFLUENCING FACTORS FOR NEURODEVELOPMENT

Socio- Psycho-
cultural social risk
factors factors Sensori-
motor
CNS
develop-
ment and
func�on
Social- Cogni�ve
Biological emo�onal
Poverty risk language
factors

1 Gene 2 Environmental 3 Molecular cues guide 4 Nutri�on &

expression factors development & are Food
(nature) (nurture) dependent upon the
experiences of the
developing child

IMPORTANT NUTRIENTS FOR NEURODEVELOPMENT

DHA, Iron Certain B vitamins Choline, Lutein Phospholipids (PLs)

MYELINATION

Myelin sheaths are lipid-rich

membrane stacks
Overall ra�o of proteins to lipids Myelin Sheath
of around 1 to 186
Most part of the lipids are polar
lipids, including phospholipids and
sphingomyelin

Clinical studies show link between myelina�on and cogni�on, including

Cogni�ve Language and EFs (working Processing Sensory

ability reading memory) speed reac�vity

Sphingomyelin (SM), Phospha�dylcholine (PC) Phospha�dylethanolamine (PE) Phospha�dylserine (PS),

accounts for ~36% of dry weight
Sphingomyelin (SM) is par�cularly rich in the myelin sheath of the central nervous
SM is important for myelin integrity and func�on & supports axonal matura�on

PHOSPHOLIPIDS

Phospholipids are the most abundant lipids in In human milk, fat accounts for ~50% of the
the brain total energy contribu�on, of which 0.2–2.0%
Major components in the brain and influence: are phospholipids.
Structural membranes integrity The 5 major phospholipids are components of
Metabolic pathways related to energe�c cell membranes in neural �ssue and include:
homeostasis of the cells Phospha�dylcholine (PC)
Intracellular signaling processes / connec�ons Phospha�dylethanolamine (PE)
Found in high levels in the dendrites, myelin Phospha�dylserine (PS)
sheath, and synapses neural structures Phospha�dylinositol (PI)
Sphingomyelin (SM)

SM is par�cularly rich in
the myelin sheath of the
central nervous.
SM is important for myelin integrity and
func�on & supports axonal matura�on.

Key Takeaways
Essen�al micronutrients and macronutrients are necessary for op�mal neurodevelopmental processes.
Deficiency of these essen�al nutrients affects cogni�ve development and learning in later stages of life.
Adequate nutri�on is necessary to ensure brain development.

References
1. Silbereis JC, et al., Neuron 2016;89:248–68
2. Thompson RA and Nelson CA. Am Psychol. 2001;56(1):5–15; 2. Martorell R, et al. J Nutr. 2010;140:348–354.
3. Walker S.P. et al, The Lancet, 2007
4. Kullenberg D, Taylor LA, Schneider M, Massing U. Health effects of dietary phospholipids. Lipids Health Dis. 2012;11:3-16
5. Schmitt et al. Biochemica et Biophysica Acta, 2015
6. O’Brian et al. Journal of Lipid Reasearch, 1965
7. Morell, 2012
8. Spiegel I and Peles E, 2002
9. Don et al. 2014
10. Ledesma, 1999
11. Janssen et al. 1981