5th Symposium on Nutrition for the Ageing Brain

Discover the programme

The proceedings of the Symposium will be submitted for publication with the authorisation of the speakers. Discover the proceedings of the previous editions.

DAY 1 - Friday 6th June

8:30 - Welcome desk opens

9:30 - Welcome address

• Dr. Isabelle Guelinckx, ILSI Europe Executive & Scientific Director (BE)
• Prof. Giuseppe Di Giovanni, Università degli Studi "Magna Graecia" di Catanzaro Campus Universitario “S. Venuta” (IT)
• Prof. Christina Dalla, President of the Mediterranean Neuroscience Society Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens (GR)

9:40 - Session 1 - Nutrition, Diet and Immune Function
Chairs: Prof. Wim Vanden Berghe, University of Antwerp (BE), Dr. Leonie Lang, University of East Anglia (UK) 

• Systemic inflammation and the impact on brain function
  - Prof. Jessica Teeling, University of Southampton (UK)
• Metabolic and Inflammatory Risk Scores as Mediators of the effect of diet on dementia and brain health
  - Dr Petra Proitsi, Queen Mary University of London (UK)
• Berry-Enriched Diet: A Powerful Defense Against Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Decline
  - Dr Claudia Nunes Santos, NOVA Medical School (PT)

11:10 - Break - Networking and poster session

11:30 - Session 2 - Biomarkers of Cognitive Ageing and Nutrition: Current Advances and Future Directions
Chairs: Prof. Sandrine Thuret, Kings College London (UK), Prof. Yannick Vermeiren, Wageningen University (NL)

• From discovery to validation and application of food intake biomarkers
  - Dr. Claudine Manach, INRAE (FR) - CANCELLED
• Long-term intra-individual stability of 154 nutrient biomarkers in older adults at risk for dementia
  - Prof. Gene Bowman, Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital (US)
• Dementia biomarkers - insights from body fluids
  - Dr Anna Lidia Wojdała, Amsterdam UMC (NL)
• Exposure to Ultra-Processed Foods and Drinks, Mental and Brain Health: Tracing the Onset of Their Relationship
  - Prof. Oren Contreras Rodriguez, UAB Barcelona (ES)

13:00 - Break - Lunch

13:45 -  Sponsored lunch session by Kyowa

14:30 - Pitch session - Elevator pitches from selected posters

15:20 - Break - Networking and poster session

15:40 - Session 3 - Nutritional Interventions for Frailty, Sarcopenia, and Cognitive Function
Chairs: Dr. Tomasz Rudka, Nutricia (NL), Dr. Laure Verstraeten, NU (NL)

• Nutrition and Physical activity for Longevity
  - Prof Franscesco Landi, Catholic University of Rome, School of Medicine (IT) - CANCELLED
• The MIND Diet and Cognitive Aging: Investigating Tryptophan Metabolism in At-Risk Older Adults
  - Prof Yannick Vermeiren, Wageningen University (NL)
• Effects of omega-3 PUFAs on MRI measures of brain aging in older adults aged 75+ with dementia risk
  - Prof. Gene Bowman, Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital (US)
• Nutrition and exercise interventions for sarcopenia
  - Dr Laure Verstraeten, Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam (NL)
  

17:30 - Closing of Day 1

19:00 - Cocktail & dinner reception

DAY 2 - Saturday 7th June

8:30 - Welcome desk opens

9:00 - Session 4 - Nutrition, Dental Health, Oral Microbiome, and Cognition: Exploring the Connections​
Chairs: Prof. David Vauzour, University of East Anglia (UK), Dr. Piril Hepsomali, University of Southampton (UK)

• Diet, cognition, and the oral microbiome
  - Dr Justyna Godos, University of Catania (IT)
• Oral microbiome and cognitive health in older age
  - Dr Anni Vanhatalo, University of Exete (UK)
• Targeting Oral Frailty Indicators of Late-life Cognitive Disorders and Depression
  - Prof. Francesco Panza, Universita de Bari (IT)

10:30 - Break - Networking and poster session

11:00 - Session 5 - Nutrition in old age for mental health: focus on brain plasticity, cognition and mood disorders
Chairs: Prof. Susanne Dickson, European Brain Council (BE), Dr. Francesca Cirulli, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (IT)
Session supported by ECNP

• Dietary modulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis: Implications for cognitive ageing and mood
  - Prof. Sandrine Thuret, King's College London (UK)
• Early nutritional interventions to combat ELS-induced accelerated aging
  - Prof. Aniko Korosi, University of Amsterdam (NL)
• Nutritional interventions with nutraceuticals improve cognition and metabolic function during aging in preclinical models of unhealthy diets
  - Dr Chiara Musillo, Center for Behavioral sciences and mental health (IT)

12:30 - Break - Lunch 

13:30 - Session 6 - The Intersection of Sex, Nutrition, and Socioeconomic Inequalities: Implications for Health in Old Age
Chairs: Prof. Louise Dye, University of Sheffield (UK), Dr. Chiara Musillo, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (IT)

• The intersection of APOE genotype and menopause on cognition: Impact of mitigating interventions
  - Prof. Anne-Marie Minihane, University of East Anglia (UK)
• Protein-enriched Mediterranean diet for preventing undernutrition and cognitive decline in older community dwelling adults
  - Dr Claire McEvoy, Queen's Unniversity Belfast (UK)
• Psychosocial, Cultural, and Techno-ecologic Insults tο the Developing and Aging Human Brain
  - Prof. George Chrousos, Athens University Medical School (GR)

15:00 - Conference awards and closing

15:20 - Break

16:00 - Opening of MNS 2025

19:00 - Cocktail reception (jointly with MNS Conference participants)

Book your spot to join us

👉 Click here to register  [Registrations for this event are closed]

Deadlines

• Early bird registration: open;  Deadline:  March 31st 2025  EXTENDED until 30 April 2025
• Regular registration: 16 April 2025;  Deadline: May 30th 2025

Early Bird Fees

• Industry (non ILSI Europe member): 680 €
• Industry (ILSI Europe member): 500 €
• Non-industry: 380 €
• Students: 120 €

Regular Fees

• Industry (non ILSI Europe member): 800 €
• Industry (ILSI Europe member): 600 €
• Non-industry: 450 €
• Students: 160 €

Cancellation policy

• Cancellations received before 16 March 2025 will be fully refunded.
• Cancellations received between 17 March and 31 March 2025 will be partially refunded (minus €50 handling charge).
• Cancellations received after 31 March 2025 and no-shows will not be refunded.
• Cancellations should be addressed in writing to Hugo Costa at hcosta@ilsieurope.be

Substitution

Substitution of attendees are accepted if addressed in writing to Hugo Costa at hcosta@ilsieurope.be

👉 Click here to register

Looking for an opportunity to present your research?

The organising committee is welcoming abstracts for oral and poster presentations from researchers in the field.
Submit yours here!

Themes

Session 1️⃣ 🥗🛡️ Nutrition, Diet and Immune Function
Session 2️⃣ 🧬🔍 Biomarkers of Cognitive Ageing and Nutrition: Current Advances and Future Directions
Session 3️⃣ 🥦💪 Nutritional Interventions for Frailty, Sarcopenia, and Cognitive Function
Session 4️⃣ 🦷🦠 Nutrition, Dental Health, Oral Microbiome, and Cognition: Exploring the Connections
Session 5️⃣ 💰⚖️ The Intersection of Sex, Nutrition, and Socioeconomic Inequalities: Implications for Health in Old Age
Session 6️⃣ 🧠🌿 Nutrition for Mental Health in Old Age: Addressing Depression & Anxiety

Deadlines

Poster abstracts: May 14th, 2025.
Oral abstracts: closed.

Rules

Abstracts should be focused on the themes mentioned above, and should not exceed 2500 characters.
When composting your abstract, please keep in mind:

• Relevance: The abstract should be relevant to the conference theme or topic.
• Originality: The abstract should present original research or innovative ideas.
• Clarity: The abstract should be written in clear and concise language, with a well-defined structure and logical flow.
• Significance: The abstract should demonstrate the significance and potential impact of the research or ideas presented.
• Methods: The abstract should provide a clear and concise summary of the research methods used, including the study design, data collection, and analysis.
• Results: The abstract should clearly and accurately describe the research findings and their implications.
• Conclusion: The abstract should provide a clear and concise conclusion that summarizes the main points of the research or ideas presented.
• Grammar and References: The abstract should adhere to grammar rules and include appropriate and relevant references, cited correctly.

The 10th Mediterranean Neuroscience Society Conference will take place from June 7th to June 11th, 2025, in the captivating coastal town of Platanias, near Chania on the island of Crete, Greece.

The conference will bring together neuroscience experts, professionals, and students from around the world, including over 400 anticipated participants. With a commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse atmosphere, the conference will feature extensive opportunities for training, networking, and social interactions. The aim is to provide an exceptional platform for sharing knowledge, ideas, and recent advancements across the full spectrum of basic, translational, preclinical, and clinical neuroscience.

The Scientific and Organizing Committees have curated an engaging program that features keynote speakers, opinion leaders, and experts from across the globe. Dedicated to promoting research, education, advocacy, policy-making, and public awareness in all areas of brain science, the conference will support dialogue and collaboration among neuroscience professionals. The MNS is pleased to offer travel stipends and prizes to young scientists, particularly from the southern Mediterranean regions, encouraging North-South networking and scientific exchange.

Learn more

About the location

About the venue

Kyowa Hakko Bio Co. Ltd. is the an international health ingredients manufacturer and world leader in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and food & beverage products. Kyowa is the maker of branded ingredients, including  Cognizin® Citicoline, Setria® Glutathione, Eyemuse™ Lacticaseibacillus paracasei KW3110, Pantesin® Pantethine, as well as L-Alanyl-L-Glutamine.

Website: KYOWA HAKKO BIO CO.,LTD.

Sponsored lunch session - Friday 1st June - 13:45 to 14:30

Unlocking Brain Health: Evaluating the Role of Cognizin® Citicoline in Cognitive Function

Speakers:

• Danielle Citrolo, PharmD., Vice President of Scientific & Regulatory Affairs at Kyowa Hakko U.S.A., Inc.
• Eri Nakazaki, Ph.D., manager in the Bio Business Promotion Department, Health Science Department at Kirin Holdings.

MEDIA PARTNER

Agro FOOD Industry Hi Tech is a peer-reviewed journal of TKS TeknoScienze Publisher. It deals with Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods and Healthy Ingredients. Founded in 1990 Agro FOOD Industry Hi Tech soon became a leading journal in linking industry and academia and gained an immediate appreciation worldwide. Since 2023, it enjoys an additional format, which is totally digital, responsive, and interactive!

Website: https://www.teknoscienze.com/agro-food-industry/

ILSI Europe welcomes food and related industry or scientific journals to sponsor the 5th edition of the Symposium. Interested in this opportunity? Contact Hugo Costa at hcosta@ilsieurope.be