Hirosaki University study links Vitamin C to brain health

A large-scale study conducted by Hirosaki University in Japan suggests that higher blood levels of Vitamin C are associated with better-preserved brain structure and improved connectivity between brain regions involved in memory and cognitive functions, even as people age.

The research, published in the journal PLOS One, analyzed data from 2,044 participants in a Japanese elderly health tracking project. The participants had an average age of 70, with women making up over 61% of the group. Using MRI scans, researchers focused on gray matter volume and the default mode network, a system of connected brain regions active during reflection, memory, and higher cognitive processes.

The findings indicate that lower Vitamin C levels correlate with reduced gray matter volume and changes in default mode network connectivity. This relationship remained statistically significant after accounting for various factors, including age, sex, education, diabetes, high blood pressure, lipid metabolism, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity.