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Carotenoids For Cognition: Study Suggests Link Between Intake And Brain Health

News

“It was observed that better performances in cognitive function tests were associated with increased dietary intakes of alpha-carotene and beta-carotene, in a new cross-sectional study utilizing elderly participants from the Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).” [Source: nutraingredients.com]

Comment

Alpha-carotene and beta-carotene are far from being the only nutrients that can benefit brain health. A review published in 2021 examined the effects of 21 different nutrients and phytonutrients on cognitive function. Promisingly, the researchers found noteworthy benefits to memory, attention, intelligence, vocabulary, creative thinking, reaction time, comprehension, learning, and other critical measures of cognition.

Published in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Research by researchers from the United States, the review examined a total of 96 separate scientific articles. The nutrients and phytonutrients analyzed in these papers included alpha-lipoic acid; B vitamins; cholinergic precursors such as choline, lecithin, and phosphatidylserine; vitamin D; vitamin E; N-acetylcysteine; omega-3 fatty acids; rosemary; saffron; curcumin; zinc; and others.

Significantly, the researchers concluded that many of these natural substances may be promising for treating cognitive impairment, especially in people afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. Based on this finding, they advised that healthy adults and patients exhibiting cognitive defects would be best served to consider the intake of multiple nutrients and phytonutrients to improve aspects of their cognitive function.

To learn more about the beneficial effects of nutrition for improving cognitive function and dementia, see this article on our website.