Research Project: Impact of Diet on the Aging Brain and Sensory Systems to Improve Healthspan

Location: Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

Long-term supplementation with fruits and vegetables prevents cognitive impairment induced by a Western-style high-fat diet in male mice - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Guo, W., Shukitt Hale, B., Wu, D., Li, L., Meydani, S. 2026. Long-term supplementation with fruits and vegetables prevents cognitive impairment induced by a Western-style high-fat diet in male mice. Journal of Nutrition. 156(9). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101768.

Investigating the interrelationship of vitamin K and vitamin D status on bone density and structure: Results from the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Chou, S.H., Booth, S.L., Cook, N.R., Kim, F., Kotler, G., Fu, X., Buring, J.E., Manson, J.E., LeBoff, M.S. 2026. Investigating the interrelationship of vitamin K and vitamin D status on bone density and structure: Results from the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL). Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 10(8). https://doi.org/10.1093/jbmrpl/ziag110.

King oyster mushroom, Pleurotus eryngii, inhibits microglia activation via the interplay of NLRP3 to alleviate neuroinflammation - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hininger-Favier, I., Fisher, D.R., Boumendjel, A., Shukitt Hale, B. 2026. King oyster mushroom, Pleurotus eryngii, inhibits microglia activation via the interplay of NLRP3 to alleviate neuroinflammation. Nutrients. 18(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18101495.

Associations among dietary intakes, blood biomarkers, and postmortem brain tissue vitamin D and K concentrations in older adults - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Shea, K., Rutt, J., Dawson-Hughes, B., Agarwal, P., Fu, X., Booth, S.L. 2026. Associations among dietary intakes, blood biomarkers, and postmortem brain tissue vitamin D and K concentrations in older adults. Journal of Nutrition. 156(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101428.

Associations between diet quality and global cognitive ability across the life course: Longitudinal analysis of the 1946 British Birth Cohort - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cara, K.C., Scott, T., Chung, M., Jacques, P.F. 2025. Associations between diet quality and global cognitive ability across the life course: Longitudinal analysis of the 1946 British Birth Cohort. Current Developments in Nutrition. 10(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2025.107619.

A randomised controlled study to investigate the cognitive, mood, metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects of acute oyster mushroom intervention in healthy older adults - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cha, S., Bell, L., Fisher, D.R., Shukitt Hale, B., Zhang, Z., Rodriguez-Mateos, A., Williams, C.M. 2026. A randomised controlled study to investigate the cognitive, mood, metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects of acute oyster mushroom intervention in healthy older adults. Food & Function. 17(2):784-795. https://doi.org/10.1039/d5fo03075g.

Dietary fruits and vegetables mitigate cognitive impairment in mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity: A pilot study - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Guo, W., Shukitt Hale, B., Wu, D., Li, L., Meydani, S. 2025. Dietary fruits and vegetables mitigate cognitive impairment in mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity: A pilot study. Nutritional Neuroscience. 29(4):466-475. https://doi.org/10.1080/1028415X.2025.2572546.

Red raspberry improves postprandial metabolic indices and cognitive function in older adults who are overweight or have obesity - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Xiao D., Shukitt-Hale B., Rutledge G. A., Fisher D. R., Edirisinghe I., Burton-Freeman B. 2026. Red raspberry improves postprandial metabolic indices and cognitive function in older adults who are overweight or have obesity. British Journal of Nutrition. 135(8):852-864. doi:10.1017/S0007114525105497.

Ultra-processed food (upf) and frailty: Findings from a pro-spective cohort study and the case for reform in upf research - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Konieczynski, E.M., Sahni, S., Jacques, P.F., Naumova, E.N. 2025. Ultra-processed food (upf) and frailty: Findings from a pro-spective cohort study and the case for reform in upf research. Nutrients. Volume 17, Issue 16. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17162631.

A randomised controlled study to investigate the cognitive, mood, metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects of chronic oyster mushroom intervention in healthy older adults - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cha, S., Bell, L., Eastwood, J., Fisher, D.R., Shukitt Hale, B., Zhang, Z., Rodriguez-Mateos, A., Williams, C.M. 2026. A randomised controlled study to investigate the cognitive, mood, metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects of chronic oyster mushroom intervention in healthy older adults. Food & Function. 17(12):5621–5633. https://doi.org/10.1039/d5fo04951b.

Mushrooms and Human Health: Recent Research and Future Opportunities- Insights from a Recent Mini-summit on Mushrooms - (Other)
Marschall, S., Campbell, W.W., Phillips, K., Williams, C.M., Shukitt Hale, B. 2025. Mushrooms and Human Health: Recent Research and Future Opportunities- Insights from a Recent Mini-summit on Mushrooms. Nutrition Today. Volume 60, Issue 3, p. 104-109.

Intermittent vs. continuous wild blueberry feeding alters inflammation and behavior in aged rats - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Shukitt Hale, B., Fisher, D.R., Cahoon, D.S., Miller, M.G., Carey, A.N., Zheng, T. 2025. Intermittent vs. continuous wild blueberry feeding alters inflammation and behavior in aged rats. Journal of Medicinal Food. https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2025.0001.

Dietary patterns and brain aging: Enthusiasm before evidence? - (Review Article)
Booth, S.L., English, L., Reigh, N., Jacques, P.F., Forester, B., Shea, K. 2025. Dietary patterns and brain aging: Enthusiasm before evidence? Annual Review of Nutrition. 45:251-268. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-nutr-013125-030429.

Low vitamin K intake impairs cognition, neurogenesis and elevates neuroinflammation in C57BL/6 mice - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Zheng, T., Marschall, S., Weinberg, J., Fu, X., Tarr, A., Shukitt Hale, B., Booth, S. 2025. Low vitamin K intake impairs cognition, neurogenesis and elevates neuroinflammation in C57BL/6 mice. Journal of Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.01.023.

Dietary blueberry before and/or after exposure to high energy and charge particle radiation attenuates neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, glial cell activation, and memory deficits in rats - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cahoon, D., Fisher, D.R., Zheng, T., Lamon-Fava, S., Wu, D., Rabin, B.M., Shukitt Hale, B. 2025. Dietary blueberry before and/or after exposure to high energy and charge particle radiation attenuates neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, glial cell activation, and memory deficits in rats. Journal of Nutrition. 155(3):690-702. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.01.011.

Extracts from green leafy vegetables and berries, and their major polyphenolics, reduce inflammatory stress signals in rat microglial cells in vitro - (Abstract Only)
Fisher, D.R., Zheng, T., Shukitt Hale, B. 2024. Extracts from green leafy vegetables and berries, and their major polyphenolics, reduce inflammatory stress signals in rat microglial cells in vitro. International Conference on Polyphenolics and Health (ICPH), Oct 16-19, 2024, Boston, MA. Abstract #Po2.02.