Relationship between Serum and Brain Carotenoids, 𝛼-Tocopherol, and Retinol Concentrations and Cognitive Performance in the Oldest Old from the Georgia Centenarian Study

Authors

Elizabeth J. Johnson, Tufts UniversityFollow
Rohini Vishwanathan, Tufts University
Mary Ann Johnson, University of GeorgiaFollow
Dorothy B. Hausman, University of Georgia
Adam Davey, Temple University
Tammy M. Scott, Tufts University
Robert C. Green, Harvard University
L. Stephen Miller, University of Georgia
Marla Gearing, Emory University
John Woodard, Wayne State University
Peter T. Nelson, University of Kentucky
Hae-Yun Chung, Yonsei University
Wolfgang Schalch, DSM Nutritional Products
Jonas Wittwer, DSM Nutritional Products
Leonard W. Poon, University of Georgia

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2013

Citation

Journal of Aging Research Volume 2013, Article ID 951786, 13 pages

Comments

Copyright © 2013 Elizabeth J. Johnson et al.

Open access

http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/951786

Abstract

Oxidative stress is involved in age-related cognitive decline. The dietary antioxidants, carotenoids, tocopherols, and vitamin A may play a role in the prevention or delay in cognitive decline. In this study, sera were obtained from 78 octogenarians and 220 centenarians from the Georgia Centenarian Study. Brain tissues were obtained from 47 centenarian decedents. Samples were analyzed for carotenoids, 𝛼-tocopherol, and retinol using HPLC. Analyte concentrations were compared with cognitive tests designed to evaluate global cognition, dementia, depression and cognitive domains (memory, processing speed, attention, and executive functioning). Serum lutein, zeaxanthin, and 𝛽-carotene concentrations were most consistently related to better cognition (𝑃 < 0.05) in the whole population and in the centenarians. Only serum lutein was significantly related to better cognition in the octogenarians. In brain, lutein and 𝛽-carotene were related to cognition with lutein being consistently associated with a range of measures. There were fewer significant relationships for 𝛼-tocopherol and a negative relationship between brain retinol concentrations and delayed recognition. These findings suggest that the status of certain carotenoids in the old may reflect their cognitive function. The protective effect may not be related to an antioxidant effect given that 𝛼-tocopherol was less related to cognition than these carotenoids.