Taking a common vitamin may help slow brain aging, according to new research highlighting a link between low levels of the nutrient and cognitive decline.
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A recent scientific study examining over 2,000 elderly individuals in Japan found that participants with lower plasma levels of vitamin C exhibited gray matter shrinkage and weakened connectivity within a vital brain network responsible for memory and attention.
According to a report published by ScienceDaily and reviewed by Al Arabiya.net, while the study does not definitively prove that vitamin C directly protects the brain, it adds to a growing body of evidence indicating that proper nutrition plays a critical role in preserving cognitive health during advanced age.
Previous research has suggested that individuals with higher dietary intake of vitamin C face a lower risk of age-related cognitive decline. However, studies examining whether blood plasma concentrations of vitamin C directly correlate with structural changes in the brain have remained relatively limited.
To investigate the link, researchers analyzed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and blood plasma samples from 2,044 Japanese adults over the age of 64. Using MRI data, scientists calculated gray matter and white matter volumes while adjusting for total brain size.
The team also assessed neural connectivity within the "default mode network" (DMN)—a critical system of interconnected brain regions involved in attention, episodic memory, and other cognitive functions. After controlling for confounding factors known to influence brain health—such as age, education level, and physical activity—a consistent pattern emerged: participants with lower plasma levels of vitamin C tended to display reduced gray matter volume and diminished neural connectivity within the default mode network.
The findings suggest that maintaining adequate vitamin C levels could help support cognitive function and preserve brain health during aging. However, the researchers emphasized that the observational nature of the study prevents establishing a direct cause-and-effect relationship between vitamin C and changes in brain structure or function.
"Our study shows that higher plasma vitamin C levels are associated with better-preserved structural connectivity of the default mode network, a core brain network involved in cognitive functions," said study author Tomohiro Shintaku. "This result generates a promising hypothesis that a vitamin C–rich diet may contribute to maintaining brain health and mitigating age-related cognitive decline in older adults."
"What interested me most about this research was our ability to observe these subtle yet meaningful links between a specific dietary factor and large-scale brain networks, drawing on a robust and extensive study population of over 2,000 older individuals," Shintaku added. "This really highlights the potential impact of our daily dietary habits on brain structure." — (Al Arabiya)
