Copper for a smarter you? Study finds this mineral may boost brain health as you age

Time of India

4 days ago

Copper may not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering brain health, but this could change. A recent study discovered a surprising link between copper-rich diets and improved cognitive function in older adults. Researchers believe there could be a "sweet spot" for daily copper consumption.
What did the study actually find?
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A new study from China's Hebei Medical University links higher copper intake in older adults to better cognitive function. While the results are preliminary, they provide new insights into aging and brain health.
Researchers analyzed data from over 2,400 seniors in the United States and discovered that those who consumed approximately 1.22 mg of copper per day performed better on brain tests. More research is needed to confirm this link.
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The recent study found a significant correlation between older adults' diets and improved cognitive function.
In a study conducted by a team from Hebei Medical University in China, which examined diet and health data for 2,420 adults in the United States who were 60 years of age or older, it was discovered that a higher copper intake was associated with improved cognitive function, as per a report by Science Alert.
Although there was a threshold point beyond which more copper doesn't appear to provide any additional benefits, people with higher copper intakes scored significantly higher than those with lower copper intakes across a number of measures.
How reliable are the results?
"The current study indicates a potential association between dietary copper intake and enhanced cognitive function in American older adults, particularly among those with a history of stroke," the authors of the paper write.
"An ideal copper intake level was proposed by dose-response analysis, with an inflection point of roughly 1.22 mg daily. Nevertheless, additional longitudinal research is required to validate these results. And that addresses some of the study's main shortcomings.
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The researchers estimated the participants' copper intake by asking them twice to report everything they had eaten in the previous 24 hours. Only a moment in time is provided, and self-reporting biases may be introduced.
Studies that track participants over a number of years and take more precise measurements of their copper intake would be necessary to conduct additional research.
Therefore, we cannot claim that there is a clear cause-and-effect link in this case. But the statistical strength of the association justifies more research. Furthermore, it is consistent with other research that found copper to be beneficial to the brain. We are aware that it guards against harm and facilitates neuronal communication and energy production in the brain.
Therefore, the study's findings are not shocking. They do, however, assist in determining a "sweet spot" for copper consumption and quantifying the benefits of copper across a sizable aged population and a variety of cognitive tests.
"Though copper is necessary for proper functioning of the brain, and deficiencies can lead to neurological disorders, excessive copper can be toxic, leading to oxidative stress and neurodegeneration," the investigators write.
Where do we get copper in our diets?
The daily dosage of 1.22 mg is comparable to a bowl of lentils or a handful of walnuts. Unbelievably, a variety of foods, such as oysters, potatoes, dark chocolate, wheat bran, and mushrooms, contain copper.
Micronutrients like magnesium, iron, selenium, zinc, and copper are gaining attention due to their potential role in maintaining cognitive function as people age. This is in addition to what has already been found in research on diet and good aging.
Though diet is by no means the only component, it is evident that our diet has a significant impact on the health of our brains. Improvements in the prevention and treatment of the brain issues that typically accompany aging can be facilitated by research such as this.
FAQs
How much copper could improve brain function?
The study found that taking approximately 1.22 mg per day provided the most benefit.
Where do I get copper from food?
Lentils, dark chocolate, walnuts, and mushrooms are excellent sources.