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Research at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, are showing that the carotenes lutein and zeaxanthin may be of benefit in maintaining cognitive health. Lutein and zeaxanthin are best known for their ability to accumulate in the retina of your eye and protect it against macular degeneration.
Research is now showing that the levels of lutein and zeaxanthin in the macular pigment directly predict brain levels of these carotenes, and the amount of density of these carotenes in the macular pigment predicts cognitive function in healthy older adults.
An analysis of brain tissue of decedents from a population-based study in centenarians found that zeaxanthin concentrations were significantly related to that individual’s prior cognitive function, memory, verbal fluency, and the lack of dementia. Lutein was related to recall and verbal fluency.
In a 4 month, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in older women that involved lutein supplementation (12 mg/d), alone or in combination with DHA (800 mg/d), verbal fluency scores improved significantly in the DHA, lutein, and combined-treatment groups. Memory scores and rate of learning improved significantly in the combined-treatment group, who also showed a trend toward more efficient learning.
It is now clear that the carotenes lutein and zeaxanthin are another helpful brain food, working synergistically with DHA to bolster brain health. All three nutrients are great for eye health as well.
More...
Research is now showing that the levels of lutein and zeaxanthin in the macular pigment directly predict brain levels of these carotenes, and the amount of density of these carotenes in the macular pigment predicts cognitive function in healthy older adults.
An analysis of brain tissue of decedents from a population-based study in centenarians found that zeaxanthin concentrations were significantly related to that individual’s prior cognitive function, memory, verbal fluency, and the lack of dementia. Lutein was related to recall and verbal fluency.
In a 4 month, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in older women that involved lutein supplementation (12 mg/d), alone or in combination with DHA (800 mg/d), verbal fluency scores improved significantly in the DHA, lutein, and combined-treatment groups. Memory scores and rate of learning improved significantly in the combined-treatment group, who also showed a trend toward more efficient learning.
It is now clear that the carotenes lutein and zeaxanthin are another helpful brain food, working synergistically with DHA to bolster brain health. All three nutrients are great for eye health as well.
More...