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Trace Elements and Cognition in the General Population: the HUNT Study
Daniel Radosław Sokołowski1, Trond Peder Flaten2, Anica Simić2
1Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Neurotoxicology
|July 31, 2026
Summary
Whole blood trace element levels showed no significant links to cognitive performance in a Norwegian general population study. Zinc had a minor U-shaped association, but overall, low exposure suggests no clinically relevant cognitive effects.
Area of Science:
- Neurobiology
- Environmental Health
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Trace elements are vital for neurobiology, but their link to cognitive function in the general population is understudied.
- This study investigated eight trace elements (selenium, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, lead, manganese, copper, zinc) and their association with cognitive performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between whole blood trace element concentrations and cognitive performance approximately six years later.
- To assess potential links in a Norwegian general population cohort.
Main Methods:
- High-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to measure whole blood trace element concentrations.
- Cognitive performance was evaluated using a web-based test battery assessing processing speed, motor speed, attention, episodic memory, and working memory.
- Linear models adjusted for age, sex, and education were employed to estimate associations.
Main Results:
- No significant associations were found for selenium, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, lead, manganese, or copper.
- Zinc exhibited a slight U-shaped association with cognitive performance, indicating slightly lower performance at mid-range concentrations, though the effect was small.
- Cognitive performance decreased with age and increased with educational attainment.
Conclusions:
- Whole blood trace element concentrations showed no clinically meaningful associations with cognitive performance in this low-exposure general population.
- Findings suggest that current exposure levels to non-essential trace elements may be too low to impact cognitive health significantly.
- Limitations include potential underestimation of cumulative exposure and the possibility of the study being underpowered to detect modest effects.
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