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Intake of niacin, folate, vitamin B-6, and vitamin B-12 through young adulthood and cognitive function in midlife: the coronary artery risk development in young adults (CARDIA) study
Qin et al. (2017) based this multicentre study on the hypothesis that higher intake of vitamins such as niacin, folate, vitamin B-6, and vitamin B-12 in young adulthood will reward those individuals with better cognition later in life. Firstly, data was drawn from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, including 3,136 participants (black and white men and women aged 18-30). Dietary intake from years 0, 7, and 20 were examined, and at year 25 cognitive function was measured through the use of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) for verbal memory, the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) for psychomotor speed, and a modified Stroop interference test for executive function. The higher RAVLT and DSST scores indicated enhanced cognitive function later in life. When the highest quintile was compared to the lowest, it was revealed that the cumulative total intake of niacin was significantly associated with 3.92 more digits on the DSST (p < 0.01) and 1.89 points lower interference score on the Stroop test (p = 0.05). Also, total folate intake was associated with 2.56 more digits on the DSST (p = 0.01), higher intakes of vitamin B-6 and vitamin B-12 resulted in improved psychomotor speed (comparing quintile 5 with quintile 1). The researchers concluded that greater inclusion of B vitamins throughout young adulthood correlated to higher cognitive function in midlife. [NPID: cognition, vitamins, niacin, folate, vitamin B-6, Vitamin B12, B12, executive function, brain function, brain health, verbal memory, psychomotor speed, midlife]
Year: 2017
