Several nutrients are linked with cognitive function and mood in older adults, according to a new report.
Experts know that certain nutrients such as folate and potassium play vital roles in brain health and neurological function. That said, a lot of older adults don’t get enough of the recommended intake.
Nutrients with the most consistent associations with cognitive function include vitamin A, vitamin E, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, folate, magnesium, potassium, zinc, vitamin K, and lutein and zeaxanthin. The nutrients were linked to higher cognitive functioning test scores, especially with higher intake levels.
“We found several associations between lower B vitamin intake and lower cognitive function scores,” the authors noted.
The nutrients that work best for depression differ by gender, at least for women. Vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, vitamin K, potassium, and dietary fiber showed consistent inverse associations with depression among the women. There weren’t significant links between nutrients and depression in men, the data showed.
Data came from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2014. The scientists included people in the study that were 60 years old and up who could recall what they consumed; the study included those with valid cognitive function data or depression scores. The study was published on Tuesday in BMC Nutrition.
Is it better to get nutrients from a supplement or food? The authors touched on that, and said that a lot of randomized controlled trials don’t show supplementation can help, though they’d like to see results over a longer span of time than has been done. Only a few studies have evaluated long-term effects of multivitamin supplementation in large groups, the researchers noted. Generally, doctors tell people to get nutrition directly from food.
“Our findings suggest that older adults with sufficient intakes of certain essential nutrients have higher cognitive function,” the authors wrote. The team called for more research to confirm if supplements or food sources are best to prevent age-related declines in mood and cognitive function.
