Swedish researchers have demonstrated that the lower your brain levels of tocotrienols and tocopherols, both forms of vitamin E, the more likely you are to have mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease.

The researchers analyzed the detailed vitamin E blood level status in a total of 521 people; 168 people with Alzheimer’s, 166 people with mild cognitive impairment, and 187 cognitively normal people.

Those with cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s were almost never in the highest third of vitamin E status in their blood levels, and were typically in the lowest status. For tocotrienols those with cognitive decline were 92 percent less likely to be in the top third in their blood levels; those with Alzheimer’s were 94 percent less likely to be in the top third.

For tocopherols, 85 percent were less likely to be in the top third for both cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s.

Clearly, better vitamin E in the blood predicts better vitamin E status in the brain and therefore, better protection of the brain from damage that leads to cognitive decline.

Another interesting study has identified two important conclusions for the very first time. One is that vitamin E is needed for cell membrane repair. The other is that a lack of vitamin E reduces the ability of cells to repair. While this study was done with muscles, the mechanism of rejuvenation likely applies to your brain as well.

I have previously reported that at the point at which vitamin E levels in the brain decline, is like the straw that breaks the camel’s back, in terms of Alzheimer’s onset. It thus appears that the forms of vitamin E are not only needed for cellular protection but also for cellular rejuvenation.



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