Relationships between macular pigment optical density and cognitive function in unimpaired and mildly cognitively impaired older adults

• Published in: Neurobiology of aging Vol. 35; no. 7; pp. 1695 - 1699
• Main Authors: Renzi, Lisa M., Dengler, Melissa J., Puente, Antonio, Miller, L. Stephen, Hammond, Billy R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.07.2014
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Attention - physiology; Brain - metabolism; Brain - physiology; Carotenoids; Carotenoids - metabolism; Cognition; Cognition - physiology; Cognitive Dysfunction - metabolism; Cognitive Dysfunction - psychology; Female; Humans; Internal Medicine; Lutein; Lutein - metabolism; Macula Lutea - metabolism; Macular pigment optical density; Male; Mild cognitive impairment; Neurology; Neuropsychological Tests; Retinal Pigments - metabolism; Spatial Behavior - physiology; Visual Perception - physiology; Xanthophylls - metabolism; Zeaxanthin; Zeaxanthins; Lutein; Zeaxanthin; Cognition; Carotenoids; Macular pigment optical density; Mild cognitive impairment

Low carotenoid status (especially of the xanthophylls, lutein [L], and zeaxanthin [Z]) is common in older adults and has been associated with a number of degenerative diseases of the central nervous system ranging from retina (e.g., macular degeneration) to brain (e.g., Alzheimer's disease). In...