Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders (ADRD) are a group of conditions that cause mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. These conditions affect one’s ability to function socially, personally, and professionally. It’s important to recognize that Alzheimer’s disease begins long before symptoms start just like many other conditions. There is evidence that simple prevention strategies can reduce the risk of ADRD by as much as 50%.

According to a new study published last month in Nutritional Neuroscience, researchers investigated sex differences in the effect of dietary magnesium intake and the risk of different types of cognitive impairment.  

This study included 612 individuals ages 55 years of age and older from 2018 and 2019 to investigate the relationship between dietary magnesium intake and the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire about the frequency of foods and intake of 81 food items and/or groups over the past 12 months. Magnesium content of the food and participant intake of each food was used to calculate the total daily dietary magnesium intake per person by summing the daily magnesium intake contributed by each food group. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) was

used to assess cognitive function of the participants, and overall cognitive function of each participant was reflected by their total MoCA score.

As a result, the research team found that dietary magnesium intake was associated with a

reduced risk of aMCI in women and these associations remained significant after adjusting for macronutrient intake, associated diseases, and sociodemographic information. This is similar to the results of previous studies.

It is best to use a good bioavailable form of magnesium such as glycinate or malate instead over oxide. The best form of magnesium that crosses the blood brain barrier is magnesium L-threonate. This form is designed to support cognitive function, memory, and overall brain health.

Other brain supportive nutrients to consider are GPC, CDP-choline, gingko biloba, and phosphatidylserine, and curcumin. GPC and CDP-choline are water soluble forms of choline that can cross the blood brain barrier and support brain health. These help make more acetylcholine, neurotransmitters, as well as phosphatidylcholine in the cell membranes.

By Michael Jurgelewicz, DC, DACBN, DCBCN, CNS

Source: Gao X, Sun Y, et al. Adequate dietary magnesium intake may protect females but not males older than 55 years from cognitive impairment. Nutr Neurosci. 2023 Feb 19;1-12. doi: 10.1080/1028415X.2023.2169986.

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