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Association between Multiple Trace Elements, Executive Function, and Cognitive Impairment with No Dementia in Older
Seung-Woo Ryoo1, Baek-Yong Choi1, Seok-Yoon Son1
1Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea.
Nutrients
|April 13, 2024
Summary
Essential trace elements (ETEs) may protect older adults from cognitive impairment. This study found that multiple ETEs were associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment with no dementia (CIND).
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Cognitive impairment in older adults is a growing public health concern.
- Previous research linked individual essential trace elements (ETEs) to cognitive function, but the combined effects remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between multiple ETEs and cognitive impairment with no dementia (CIND) in older Korean adults.
- To examine the relationship between ETEs and executive function.
Main Methods:
- Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model applied to 336 older adults.
- Measured blood levels of manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), and molybdenum (Mo).
- Assessed cognitive function using tests for executive function, including digit symbol coding (DSC) and the Korean color word Stroop test (K-CWST).
Main Results:
- A negative association was observed between multiple ETEs and the odds of CIND.
- Manganese (Mn) showed a U-shaped relationship with CIND, identified as the most dominant element.
- Copper (Cu) and Selenium (Se) were positively associated with performance on specific executive function tests (K-CWST and DSC, respectively).
Conclusions:
- Exposure to a combination of ETEs may offer a protective effect against cognitive impairment in older adults.
- Specific ETEs like Mn, Cu, and Se play distinct roles in maintaining cognitive health and executive function in aging populations.
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