Dietary intake of copper can delay cognitive decline in the elderly in my country

The number of patients with dementia has increased dramatically due to population growth and aging. There is currently no effective drug to treat dementia, so it is necessary to identify controllable variables before the onset of dementia to delay or reverse cognitive decline. Copper is an essential trace element for maintaining human homeostasis and is found in large quantities in cereals and legumes. As a coenzyme, copper is involved in a series of biological processes related to cognitive function, such as anti-oxidative stress, neuropeptide activation, neurotransmitter synthesis, synaptic transmission, neuronal myelination, etc. In recent years, the role of dietary nutrition in slowing cognitive decline has received widespread attention, however, the relationship between dietary copper intake and cognitive decline in the elderly remains unclear.

In response to the above unresolved clinical problems, a study recently published in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry investigated the effects of dietary copper intake on the rapid decline of cognitive function in the elderly in China. The results showed that maintaining an appropriate dietary copper intake (greater than or equal to 1.3 mg/day) can significantly slow down the decline of cognitive ability in the elderly in China. Professor Qin Xianhui of the School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University and Anhui Institute of Biomedical Sciences is the corresponding author, and Meng Qiguo and Liu Chengzhang are the first authors.

This study is a prospective cohort study based on the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). A total of 3106 Chinese elderly participants aged 55 years or older who participated in at least two cognitive function surveys were included. Dietary copper intake data were assessed by 24-hour dietary recall and household food inventory method for 3 consecutive days, and the mean dietary copper intake during the follow-up period represented its long-term exposure level. Cognitive function was assessed based on three subsets of the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-Modified (TICS-m) project, and the study outcome was the 5-year rate of change in cognitive function.

Figure 1 Association between dietary copper intake and rate of change in cognitive function

As shown in Figure 1, dietary copper intake was nonlinearly positively correlated with changes in cognitive function, with an inflection point of approximately 1.3 mg/day. In participants whose dietary copper intake was less than 1.3 mg/day, cognitive function declined sharply as dietary intake decreased; in participants whose dietary copper intake was greater than or equal to 1.3 mg/day, changes in cognitive function tended to stabilize, with no obvious downward trend. In addition, the rapid decline in cognitive ability caused by low dietary copper intake was more obvious in people with lower carbohydrate intake and less physical activity.

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This study revealed the relationship between dietary copper intake and cognitive decline in the elderly in my country. Our previous study also found that dietary copper intake was significantly associated with the risk of new-onset hypertension and all-cause mortality in the Chinese population. This series of studies consistently showed that controlling dietary copper intake to an appropriate level may have multiple health benefits in the elderly population in my country.

Our findings once again emphasize the important role of nutrition in aging-related neurodegenerative diseases. Scientific nutrition and a reasonable diet are the foundation and cornerstone of comprehensive health promotion.

References:

Meng Q, Liu C, Zu C, et al: Association Between Dietary Copper Intake and Cognitive Decline: A Perspective Cohort Study in Chinese Elderly. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2023; doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2023.05.001

Editor | Meng Qiguo Gan Xiaoqin

Audit | Qin Xianhui

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