More than one in three older adults surveyed in a Hyderabad-based study showed signs of mild cognitive impairment, with researchers finding a strong association between cognitive decline and deficiencies in several key vitamins.
The findings by scientists at the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) suggest that better nutritional status may play an important role in preserving brain health as people age. Older adults with mild cognitive impairment were more likely to have deficiencies in several micronutrients, particularly vitamins D, B2 and B9, highlighting the potential role of nutrition in maintaining brain health during ageing. Published in the international journal ‘ Nutrients’ , the study – Neuronal Biomarkers and Micronutrient Status in Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment, also identified significant associations between blood levels of essential vitamins, neuronal biomarkers and cognitive performance. The findings underscore the importance of early nutritional assessment and intervention among older adults at risk of cognitive decline. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), while blood samples were analysed for vitamins A, D, B1, B2, B6, B9 and B12. Researchers also measured neuronal biomarkers, including beta-amyloid, total tau, neurofilament light chain and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Bhanuprakash Reddy, who led the research. The association between higher nutrition levels and better cognitive performance was mentioned in ICMR-NIN’s study | Photo Credit: BY ARRANGEMENT
The community-based cross-sectional study involved 184 adults aged 55 to 85 years from the city.
“While further studies and trials are needed to establish causality and assess the impact of nutrient supplementation, these findings underscore the value of early nutritional assessment and timely interventions as part of healthy ageing strategies,” said Scientist & Head of the biochemistry division at ICMR-NIN, G.
