Researchers from Tufts University have found evidence of a close link between vitamin K deficiency and cognitive decline with age.
These findings, published in the prestigious journal Nutrition, open new avenues for understanding how nutrition affects long-term brain health.
The six-month study, conducted on middle-aged mice, showed that vitamin K deficiency leads to a series of negative changes in the brain. Researchers observed a significant decline in learning and memory abilities in the group that received a vitamin K-deficient diet compared to their peers who received sufficient amounts.
The results revealed that mice deficient in vitamin K had significant difficulties in novel object recognition tests and demonstrated impairment in spatial tasks requiring memory of specific locations. Examining brain tissue, the researchers found a decrease in the formation of new neurons in the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for memory and learning, as well as an increase in neuroinflammation, which is commonly associated with neurodegenerative diseases.
Interestingly, vitamin K, which is known for its essential role in blood clotting, is abundant in leafy green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, kale, green peas, and Brussels sprouts.
Dr. Sarah Booth, director of the research center and senior author of the study, notes that these findings reinforce the importance of a balanced diet, emphasizing that "the solution does not lie in nutritional supplements, but in eating leafy green vegetables rich in this vital vitamin."
For his part, Dr. Tong Zeng, the study's lead researcher, explains that the team is currently working to understand the precise mechanisms through which vitamin K affects brain health, which may pave the way for developing new strategies to preserve cognitive function with age.
These findings once again highlight the importance of proper nutrition in maintaining mental health and provide a strong argument for including leafy greens in your daily diet, not only for their well-known cardiovascular benefits, but also for their potential role in protecting the brain from the effects of aging.