Vitamins and Brain Health

Copyright: © 2012 de Jager CA. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Brain shrinkage occurs with ageing and has been shown to predict the decline of mental functions such as memory, executive function and speed of information processing [1]. Cognitive impairment resulting from loss of brain tissue and loss of neuronal excitation can progress to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia. Thus there is a challenge to find ways to maintain brain health before these processes affect cognitive function and functional independence. Certain vitamins have gained attention in the promise of protecting neuronal integrity and slowing brain shrinkage including omega-3, vitamin B12, folic acid, vitamin D and anti-oxidants such as vitamins C and E. A recent study in an ageing cohort showed that a nutrient biomarker profile high in plasma marine ω-3 fatty acids was associated with positive cognitive and MRI outcomes [2]. Another biomarker profile high in plasma vitamins B (B1, B2, B6, folate, and B12), C, D, and E was also associated with more favourable cognitive and MRI measures, while a profile characterised by high trans-fats was less favourable.