title: Macular pigment optical density is related to cognitive function in older people.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  the xanthophylls lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) exist in relatively high concentration in multiple central nervous tissues (e.g. cortex and neural retina). L + Z in macula (i.e. macular pigment, MP) are thought to serve multiple functions, including protection and improvement of visual performance. Also, L + Z in the macula are related to L + Z in the cortex.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to determine whether macular pigment optical density (MPOD, L + Z in the macula) is related to cognitive function in older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  participants were older adults (n = 108, 77.6 ± 2.7 years) sampled from the age-related maculopathy ancillary study of the Health Aging and Body Composition Study (Memphis, TN, USA). Serum carotenoids were measured using high performance liquid chromatography. MPOD was assessed using heterochromatic flicker photometry. Eight cognitive tests designed to evaluate several cognitive domains including memory and processing speed were administered. Partial correlation coefficients were computed to determine whether cognitive measures were related to serum L + Z and MPOD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MPOD levels were significantly associated with better global cognition, verbal learning and fluency, recall, processing speed and perceptual speed, whereas serum L + Z was significantly related to only verbal fluency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MPOD is related to cognitive function in older people. Its role as a potential biomarker of cognitive function deserves further study.
authors.affiliation: Carotenoids and Health Laboratory, Tufts University, 711 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
authors.forename: Rohini
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vishwanathan
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iannaccone
authors.forename: Tammy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kritchevsky
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: Giovannella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carboni
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forma
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Satterfield
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Karen C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schalch
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Renzi
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rosano
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013714:Tennessee; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D065146:Zeaxanthins
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D014975:Lutein
keywords: ageing; cognition; lutein; macular pigment; older people; zeaxanthin