Calcium & Cognitive Decline (2007)

A total of 4,500 elderly people were involved in a 5-11 year study of the effects of blood calcium levels on cognitive decline. Cognitive function was measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and other measures of attention and memory. Higher levels of blood calcium (but still within the normal levels) was associated with worse cognitive function at the beginning of the study. They were also associated with a faster rate of decline in cognitive function during follow-up.

Schram MT et al, ‘Serum calcium and cognitive function in old age’, J Am Geriatr Soc. 2007 Nov;55(11):1786-92

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Omega 3 & Cognitive Decline (2007)

This study investigated omega 3 & cognitive decline. This was a prospective study of 2,000 people aged 50 to 65 years old. Results indicated that risk of global cognitive decline increased with elevated palmitic acid in both fractions and with high arachidonic acid and low linoleic acid in cholesteryl esters. Higher n-3 HUFAs reduced the risk of decline in verbal fluency, particularly in hypertensive and dyslipidemic subjects.

M A Beydoun, ‘Plasma n-3 fatty acids and the risk of cognitive decline in older adults: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study’, Am J Clin Nutr., vol 85(4):1103-1111, 2007

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Omega 3 & Cognitive Performance (2007)

This research investigated omega 3 & cognitive performance. Dutch researchers used data from a trial involving 404 men and women (average age 60 at the start). The researchers report that higher blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids was associated with a 60 % lower decline in mental processing speed over three years.

Dullemeijer C et al., ‘n 3 Fatty acid proportions in plasma and cognitive performance in older adults’, Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Nov;86(5):1479-85

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Homocysteine & Brain Atrophy (2002)

The study investigated homocysteine & brain atrophy. Through MRI examination of the brains of 36 healthy elderly individuals, results indicated that there appears to be an association between brain atrophy (shrinking) and higher levels of homocysteine. However, due to the small sample size further research is required to substantiate these findings further.

P S Sachdev et al., ‘Relationship between plasma homocysteine levels and brain atrophy in healthy elderly individuals’, Neurology, 58(10):1539-41, 2002

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Homocysteine associated with brain atrophy in the healthy elderly. Sachdev, Neurology, 58(10):1539-41, 2002

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Vitamin D & Cognition (2006)

This study examined vitamin D & cognition. Vitamin D status, cognitive performance, mood, and physical performance in older adults was assessed. 58% of the participants were found to have abnormally low vitamin D levels. Vitamin D deficiency was associated with presence of a mood disorder and with worse performance on 2 measures of mood and cognitive performance.

C H Wilkins et al., ‘Vitamin D deficiency is associated with low mood and worse cognitive performance in older adults’, J Geriatr Psychiatry, 14(12):1032-40, 2006

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Homocysteine & Brain Shrinkage (2011)

This study investigated homocysteine & brain shrinkage. UCLA School of Medicine researchers inlcuding a sample of 732 elderly people subjected to MRI brain scans, found that those with raised homocysteine levels have greater brain shrinkage regardless of age and diagnosis. Among those with cognitive impairment, the greater the homocysteine level the greater was the brain atrophy. The authors state ‘ Vitamin B supplements such as folate may help prevent homocysteine-related atrophy in Alzheimer’s disease by possibly reducing homocysteine levels.’

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Rajagopalan, P., Hua, X., Toga, A. W., Jack, C. R., Jr, Weiner, M. W., & Thompson, P. M. (2011). Homocysteine effects on brain volumes mapped in 732 elderly individuals. Neuroreport, 22(8), 391–395. https://doi.org/10.1097/WNR.0b013e328346bf85

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B12 & Cognition (2011)

This study investigated B12 & cognition.  This study compared markers of vitamin B12 deficiency with various measures of brain shrinkage (MRI scans) and function (neuropsychological test results) over a 5 year period.  Results indicated that Methylmalonate, a specific marker of B12 deficiency, may affect cognition by reducing total brain volume. However, the effect of homocysteine (nonspecific to vitamin B12 deficiency) on cognitive performance may be mediated through increased white matter hyperintensity and cerebral infarcts.

Tangney CC, Aggarwal NT, Li H, Wilson RS, DeCarli C, Evans DA, Morris MC (2011) Vitamin B12, cognition, and brain MRI measures – A cross-sectional examination. Neurology 77:1276-1282

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Folate, B12 & cognitive impairment (2007)

This study investigated folate, B12 & cognitive impairment. A high folic acid and B12 intake in the elderly may be protective against age-related memory decline. However, those with a high folic acid intake, from fortified food or supplements, but a low B-12 status have more memory decline and hence a greater risk for dementia. They are also at greater risk of anaemia. This research found that 4% of the elderly in the USA have high folate and low B12 status.

In seniors with low vitamin B-12 status, high serum folate was associated with anemia and cognitive impairment. When vitamin B-12 status was normal, however, high serum folate was associated with protection against cognitive impairment.

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M S Morris, ‘Folate and vitamin B-12 status in relation to anemia, macrocytosis, and cognitive impairment in older Americans in the age of folic acid fortification’, Am J Clin Nutr.85(1):193-200, 2007

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Homocysteine & Cognition (2007)

This study evaluated the association between plasma homocysteine levels and cognition. The presence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in 1215 elderly subjects (aged 60-85years) from Korea was assessed. Individuals with MCI may be at an increased risk for developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Homocysteine levels, in addition to folate and vitamin B12 levels were measured in blood samples. The presence of MCI was assessed by an independent physician using Mayo clinic criteria which included: 1) memory complaint, preferably corroborated by an informant; 2) objective memory impairment for age; 3) largely preserved general cognition; 4) essentially normal activities of daily living; and 5) no dementia.

The results also showed that high homocysteine was associated with low blood folate or vitamin B12 levels suggesting that supplementation of these nutrients may be helpful in reducing elevated homocysteine levels.

The results found a strong association between increased plasma homocysteine levels and risk of MCI. The association appeared to be independent of other well-known risk factors for cognitive decline such as age, sex, education, smoking, marital status, and serum vitamin levels which suggests that hyperhomocysteinemia may be an independent risk factor for MCI in elderly Korean subjects.

Kim, J. et al., ‘Plasma Homocysteine Is Associated with the Risk of Mild Cognitive Impairment in an Elderly Korean Population’, The Journal of Nutrition, 137 (9), 2093-2098, September 2007

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Homocysteine & Dementia (2011)

This was a meta-analysis* of eight studies, involving almost 9,000 subjects. The results found that at 5 µmol/l increase in homocysteine level was associated with a 35% increase in incidence of dementia.

The researchers could not conclude that raised homocysteine is an actual cause. However, they did estimate that if it was causal, we could expect an approximate 20% reduction in risk of dementia from treatment with folic acid and B12.

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Homocysteine and dementia – a clear association. Wald, Kasturiratne, & Simmonds (2011). Alzheimer’s and dementia 7: 412-417

*Meta-analysis: a collation and analysis of a group of studies on the same topic

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