Wednesday Nov 06, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study in Journal of Aging Research suggests that dietary supplements such as antioxidants, carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, tocopherols and vitamin A may help prevent or delay cognitive decline.

Oxidative stress is assumed to be involved in age-related cognitive decline and antioxidants may play a role in the delayed cognitive decline. The study found carotenoids not necessarily antioxidants help maintain cognitive function in older people.

For the study, Elizabeth J. Johnson from Tufts University in Boston, MA and colleagues analyzed information from 78 octogenarians and 220 centenarians in the Georgia Centenarian Study and found serum lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene concentrations were consistently associated with better cognition in the study population and in the centenarians.

Brain tissues from 47 centenarian decedents were analyzed for carotenoids, alpha-ctocopherol and retinol and their concentrations were compared with cognitive function including global cognition, dementia, depression and other cognitive domains like memory, processing speed, attention and executive function.

In brain tissues, lutein and beta carotene were correlated with cognition with its association with leutein concentrations more consistent.

The researchers concluded "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 alpha-tocopherol was less related to cognition than these carotenoids."

Carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene, tocopherols and vitamin A are found abundant in plants like green leafy vegetables, which means that eating these vegetables may help retain cognitive function if not extending a person's lifespan.

Lutein and zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene, tocopherols and vitamin A are available on the Internet and local health stores as dietary supplements for food consumers who do not have sufficient intake of green leafy vegetables to purchase. (David Liu PHD)