Lutein Preserves Intelligence

Our ability to use what we've learned over our lifetime is known as crystallized intelligence and researchers have found a link to better preserving our crystallized intelligence and higher serum levels of lutein. Study findings were recently reported in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. The study included 76 men and women between the ages of 65 and 75. Serum levels of lutein were analyzed for each participant and an MRI was examined as well. Crystallized intelligence was determined by testing vocabulary. Study participants who had the higher serum lutein levels performed better in the tests and had thicker gray matter than those who had lower scores. Researchers are not sure what role lutein plays but hypothesize that it may act as an anti-inflammatory or help in cell-to-cell signaling. Or it may influence specific features of brain aging.*