Low Mineral Intake Linked to Worse Cognitive Capacity

by | Dec 13, 2023 | 2023, Brain Health, Cognitive Health, Minerals

Written by Taylor Woosley, Staff Writer. Analysis of the Montral Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test of 201 participants show that subjects in the lowest mineral intake of magnesium, copper, and manganese had lower MoCA scores compared to those in the higher mineral intake tertile. 

mineralsSignificant gains in human longevity have been made in the last few decades, with an average 5.5-year increase in life expectancy observed between 2000 and 20161. Elevated older populations have led to an increase in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases including cancer, dementia, and depression2. Dementia is usually preceded by a stage of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) which is when cognitive deficits beyond those of normal aging are detectable, but function is not significantly impaired3.

Minerals are micronutrients that contribute to the high demand of energy from the brain, establish and maintain brain structures, and enable intracellular connections4. Selenium is a trace element that has been analyzed as a potential agent for preventing the development of dementia-related disorders through its ability to protect against oxidative stress and inflammatory processes5. Additionally, magnesium is a mineral essential for synaptic conduction and research has shown that long-lasting healthy levels of magnesium-ion causes functional improvements in synapses of the aging brain6.

Lorenzo-Mora et al. conducted an observational cross-sectional study to analyze the relationship between mineral intake with neuroprotective actions and cognitive function in adults using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test. Data used in the study was from the COGDEM cohort which consisted of 262 subjects with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease development. Subject inclusion consisted of having a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥24, a modified Hachinski score ≤4, and a Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) Short-Form score ≤5. 201 participants (63.2% female, mean age of 59.8 ± 7.9 years) with complete information on MoCA test scores and dietary information were included in the final analysis.

A three-day food and beverage consumption record was completed by participants to assess nutrient intake and mineral contributions. Anthropometric data including weight, height, and BMI were collected. Furthermore, physical activity was measured using accelerometers for 7 days. Blood samples were obtained to assess genomic DNA and participants were classified as carriers (APOE ε4+) or non-carriers (APOE ε4-) of the ε4 allele of the APOE gene. Depression was analyzed using the 15-item GDS and cognition was assessed using the MMSE test and MoCA.

A two-way ANOVA test was utilized to investigate the relationships between energy and mineral intake and the MoCA score and sex. Significant findings of the study are as follows:

  • Positive correlations were noted for the total sample between the MoCA score and copper intake (p = 0.007), iron contribution (p = 0.014), manganese contribution (p = 0.002) and copper contribution (p = 0.003).
  • Additionally, women experienced positive correlations between the MoCA score and copper intake (p = 0.003), manganese intake (p = 0.045), iron contribution (p = 0.013), magnesium contribution (p = 0.047), copper contribution (p = 0.000), and manganese contribution (p = 0.000).
  • Women with an iron intake of >15.37 mg/day were less likely to have cognitive impairment compared to those with an iron intake of <13.47 mg/day. Furthermore, women with a manganese intake of >3.10 mg/day were less likely to have cognitive impairment compared to those with a manganese intake of <1.82 mg/day.

Results of the observational cross-sectional study show that subjects with low daily intakes of magnesium, copper, and manganese had lower cognitive test scores. Participants with cognitive impairment were shown to have lower intake of iron and manganese, and these findings were most prominent in female subjects. Study limitations include the inability to infer causality of results based on the study design, the potential risk of participation bias, and the inability to assess biomarkers because fasted blood samples were not obtained.

Source: Lorenzo-Mora, Ana M., Ana M. López-Sobaler, Laura M. Bermejo, Liliana G. González-Rodríguez, Esther Cuadrado-Soto, África Peral-Suárez, María Dolores Salas-González et al. “Association between Mineral Intake and Cognition Evaluated by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA): A Cross-Sectional Study.” Nutrients 15, no. 21 (2023): 4505.

© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Click here to read the full text study.

Posted December 13, 2023.

Taylor Woosley studied biology at Purdue University before becoming a 2016 graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a major in Writing. She currently resides in Glen Ellyn, IL.

References:

  1. Bruins MJ, Van Dael P, Eggersdorfer M. The Role of Nutrients in Reducing the Risk for Noncommunicable Diseases during Aging. Nutrients. Jan 4 2019;11(1)doi:10.3390/nu11010085
  2. Garrido-Dzib AG, Chávez-Loría G, Magallón-Zertuche V, Avila-Nava A, Palacios-González B, Gutiérrez-Solis AL. Micro- and Macronutrient Intake and Food Group Frequency Consumed by Subjects with Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Latin America: A Systematic Review. Journal of Alzheimer’s disease : JAD. 2023;94(2):425-439. doi:10.3233/jad-230231
  3. Rutjes AW, Denton DA, Di Nisio M, et al. Vitamin and mineral supplementation for maintaining cognitive function in cognitively healthy people in mid and late life. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Dec 17 2018;12(12):Cd011906. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011906.pub2
  4. Tardy AL, Pouteau E, Marquez D, Yilmaz C, Scholey A. Vitamins and Minerals for Energy, Fatigue and Cognition: A Narrative Review of the Biochemical and Clinical Evidence. Nutrients. Jan 16 2020;12(1)doi:10.3390/nu12010228
  5. Pereira ME, Souza JV, Galiciolli MEA, et al. Effects of Selenium Supplementation in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment or Alzheimer’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. Aug 5 2022;14(15)doi:10.3390/nu14153205
  6. Chen C, Xun P, Unverzagt F, et al. Serum magnesium concentration and incident cognitive impairment: the reasons for geographic and racial differences in stroke study. Eur J Nutr. Apr 2021;60(3):1511-1520. doi:10.1007/s00394-020-02353-7