Historically discovered for its role in blood coagulation, there is now convincing evidence that vitamin K (VK) has important actions in the nervous system. As a unique cofactor to the g-glutamyl carboxylase enzyme, VK contributes to the biological activation of a number of VK-dependent proteins (VKDP’s) including Gas6 and protein S, both ligands for the TAM receptor family, and involved in key cellular events such as proliferation, differentiation, senescence and cell–cell interactions. Vitamin K also sustains brain function through its actions on the cardiovascular system, notably through its biological activation of the VKDP Matrix gla protein (MGP), a potent calcification inhibitor. In brain, VK also participates in the synthesis of sphingolipids, an important class of lipids present in high concentrations in brain cell membranes. Emerging data also point to unique actions of the K vitamers against oxidative stress and inflammation, and there is growing evidence that VK status modulates cognitive functions. This presentation will provide an overview of recent pre-clinical studies from our group, conducted in the contexts of ageing and cardiovascular disease, and which point to a modulatory role of VK status in its basic actions in brain and the vasculature, and resulting impact on cognition.
Guylaine Ferland is a professor of nutrition at Université de Montréal and scientist at the Montreal Heart Institute Research Centre. She is an expert in vitamin K metabolism and her team has made significant contributions to the role of this nutrient in brain function and cognition. In addition to her work in vitamin K, Dr. Ferland conducts research on the general role of nutrition in cognitive health during aging. In recent years she has been PI of the CIHR-funded NutCog Study, a Quebec cohort study aimed at better understanding the modulatory role of nutrition and metabolic states in cognitive aging. She is currently the lead of the Nutrition, Exercise and Lifestyle team of the Canadian Consortium in Neurodegeneration in Aging. Dr. Ferland’s research activities include both animal models and human studies, and receive funding from CIHR and FRQ-S. She is the author/co-author of >140 peer-reviewed publications and totals >110 guest presentations. Dr Ferland has served as nutrition expert on various panels, notably the DRI Micronutrient Panel [Institute of Medicine, NAS, USA]. A member of Canadian Nutrition Society since its creation in 2010, Guylaine has served in various capacities (i.e. Awards Committee, Advisory Board, Nomination Committee, Board of Directors), and was President in 2019-2021. She is currently a member of the Membership Committee of the American Society for Nutrition (since 2020). She is a frequent reviewer for nutrition journals, and regularly serves as a member of CIHR review panels where she was recognized as an “Outstanding Reviewer” in 2023-2024.