The plant pigments lutein and zeaxanthin have been shown to protect against macular degeneration. New research suggests they may also support cognitive function by enhancing cerebral blood flow in older adults. There is a direct connection between the eye and the brain, and when doctors examine the retina and optic nerve, they are indirectly looking at brain cells. The retina is made up of certain plant pigments that are good indicators of visual health. Two of these pigments are carotenoids called lutein and zeaxanthin. Supplementing with these carotenoids can help prevent age-related vision loss.
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A 2018 study showed that lutein and zeaxanthin may also enhance cognitive function by improving cerebral blood flow. Even when these carotenoid supplements were taken relatively late in the life cycle, brain function improved. This is exciting news because reduced cerebral circulation is a factor that contributes to neurodegeneration. The carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin have a reputation for their ability to prevent age-related vision loss. Now research suggests they offer additional benefits to the brain. A clinical study of older adults found that zeaxanthin and lutein increased cerebral blood flow and protected the brain from the effects of aging.
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The Eye/Brain Connection
Carotenoids are yellow to orange pigments found in many vegetables. They were originally isolated in carrots, hence their name.
Consuming high amounts of certain carotenoids may protect against macular degeneration (an eye disease that can lead to blindness), cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases. Two carotenoids in particular, lutein and zeaxanthin, are highly concentrated in the human retina. However, the more we learn about these nutrients, the more we realize that they are just as important to brain health as they are to the eye. This makes sense, since the retina is structurally an extension of the brain itself. Furthermore, lutein and zeaxanthin belong to a subgroup of carotenoids called xanthophylls, which have recently been identified as the predominant carotenoids in all major brain regions. Based on these findings, researchers at the University of Georgia conducted the first-ever randomized controlled trial to test whether supplementation with lutein and zeaxanthin might benefit cognitive function in older adults.
Lutein and Zeaxanthin Boost Brain Blood Flow
In the study, a group of older adults (average age 72) took either a placebo or a pill containing lutein (10 mg) plus zeaxanthin (2 mg) daily for one year. Researchers used an advanced imaging technique called functional magnetic resonance imaging to observe brain activity in real time while the subjects performed various tasks involving learning and recall. This technique gave researchers the unique opportunity to watch brain regions "light up" during cognitive tasks in a way that highlighted blood flow to each brain region - a measure that indicates how hard the brain is working on the task at hand.
The study had two important findings
The first was that subjects who supplemented with lutein and zeaxanthin maintained their baseline cognitive abilities over the year of the study. This suggests that lutein supplementation has a favorable cognitive impact. The second finding helps explain why the nutrients have a protective effect on cognition. The results showed that patients who took the supplements experienced significant increases in cerebral blood flow in areas of the brain that are critical for cognition and memory. This activation was not seen in those areas in the placebo group. These findings suggest that lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation may: (a) produce a "brain-preserving effect" by shielding against the effects of aging on cognitive performance. (b) Enhance cerebral blood flow to specific regions that support this cognitive function. Lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation starting at a relatively advanced age is effective, with effects evident within a year. This is encouraging news for older adults who are most in need of protecting brain function.
How Lutein and Zeaxanthin Work
Lutein and zeaxanthin have protective effects on the eyes and brain. Researchers are still investigating why this is the case, but they think it has to do with their unique biological structure.
Lutein is able to immerse itself into fatty brain cell membranes, traveling through the cell's external and internal environments. This stabilizes the cell structure and prevents oxidative stress inside and outside the cell. What's particularly interesting is that the brain seems to automatically concentrate lutein in the most vulnerable areas of brain cell membranes, where important polyunsaturated fatty acids reside. Once there, lutein/zeaxanthin delivers neurologically important fats that protect against oxidation and physical stress.
Summarizes
Lutein and zeaxanthin are widely praised for their vision-protective effects in the macular region of the retina. They have also been shown to support cognitive function and enhance cerebral blood flow in older adults. These findings extend previous research that showed a strong correlation between high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin in the eye and improved cognitive function and protection of the brain's white matter. Its unique biological structure allows lutein to bridge brain cell membranes and protect against oxidative stress generated inside and outside the cell. The effects of lutein and zeaxanthin on cognitive function and cerebral blood flow were evident even when they began late in life, meaning that the window of opportunity to protect the brain remains open, even for older adults.
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