Brain Glutathione Levels Associate With Cognitive Performance in Older Adults.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biochemistry
• Gerontology

Background:

• Glutathione (GSH) is the brain's primary endogenous antioxidant, crucial for redox homeostasis and neuronal health.
• Brain GSH levels decline with age, potentially increasing cognitive vulnerability.
• The link between brain GSH and human cognitive function is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between regional brain glutathione levels and cognitive performance in older adults.
• To explore the neuroprotective role of GSH in maintaining cognitive function during aging.

Main Methods:

• Utilized multi-quantum chemical shift imaging to measure brain GSH levels in 206 cognitively unimpaired older adults.
• Assessed cognitive performance across five domains: working memory, episodic memory, visuospatial processing, executive function/attentional control, and processing speed.
• Employed multiple regression analysis, controlling for age, sex, education, and study site.

Main Results:

• Higher frontal and parietal GSH levels were significantly associated with better working memory (p=0.008).
• Elevated GSH correlated with improved episodic memory (p=0.040) and visuospatial processing (p=0.001).
• No significant association was found between GSH levels and executive function/attentional control or processing speed.

Conclusions:

• Higher brain glutathione levels are associated with better performance in specific cognitive domains in older adults.
• These findings underscore the neuroprotective role of GSH in supporting cognitive health in late adulthood.
• GSH may be a key factor in the cerebral antioxidant defense system contributing to cognitive resilience during aging.