According to a recent scientific publication, Vitamin C might be quite essential for brain health and lack of this vitamin might cause shrinking of brain’s gray matter in elderly. This is a point of conclusion of research paper that has been attracting interest of experts and scientists working on understanding the effect of nutrition on brain functioning and healthy aging.
Since the rise of elderly population in the world the problem of keeping their brain healthy has become one of the main targets of public health. Memory loss, cognitive decline, and neurodegenerative diseases are increasingly affecting millions of people, Because of this the scientists have been drilling the causes of brain healthy aging through the brain activities and function. As the recent study, the role of Vitamin C in brain health couldn’t be overlooked any longer.
Gray matter in the brain is very critical for normal brain play. It is mostly responsible for storing and executing brain functions and processes like memory, decision-making learning emotions, and movement as well. With aging, brain structure will undergo natural changes including a gradual decrease in gray matter volume. Yet, lifestyle and nutritional factors have been on the limelight in recent times as possible ways to delay or reduce the extent of these changes.
Researchers noted that people with Vitamin C deficiency were most likely to have greatly reduced gray matter in some brain areas. The study does not clearly show that Vitamin C is the cause of brain tissue loss, but it firmly supports the link between a good diet and brain health over time.
Besides the famous role of Vitamin C in the immune system, there are a lot of things that this nutrient does for the body including that of being a strong antioxidant, which protects the cells against the damage caused by free radicals. A link between oxidative stress and aging as well as many aging related diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, has been established. By preventing the oxidative damage, Vitamin C may help maintain the normal state of brain cells and thereby support good brain functioning.
The vitamin has been suggested by researchers to be involved in the release of brain chemicals and the communication between brain cells. Since these functions underpin memory, concentration, and general cognition, long-term scarcity of Vitamin C may threaten them Mainly the elderly who besides aged changes in nutritional need and nutrient absorption are already faced with the changed diet adequacy.
Healthcare providers and the researchers are looking towards the use of preventive measures for brain health. Rather than only attempting to manage cognitive decline after it has set in, there is an increasing focus on ways to maintain brain function over time. Nutrition, physical exercise, sleep quality, and social involvement are all considered facets of healthy aging.
One of the reasons why the paper has generated quite some excitement is that Vitamin C deficiency is still more widespread than most people believe. While cases of severe deficiency are few in developed countries, deficiencies of mild or moderate nature can be brought about by poor diets, lack of fresh produce smoking chronic illnesses, or the natural decline in nutrient absorption that comes with age. These conditions can make some individuals more vulnerable to Vitamin C deficiency.
