http://www.nitrc.org/forum/forum.php?forum_id=8496 <table border="0" width="100%"><tr><td align="left"/></tr></table> <p><b>Lutein and Zeaxanthin Are Positively Associated with Visual-Spatial Functioning in Older Adults: An fMRI Study.</b></p> <p>Nutrients. 2018 Apr 07;10(4):</p> <p>Authors: Mewborn CM, Lindbergh CA, Robinson TL, Gogniat MA, Terry DP, Jean KR, Hammond BR, Renzi-Hammond LM, Miller LS</p> <p>Abstract<br/> Lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) are two xanthophyll carotenoids that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Previous work has demonstrated their importance for eye health and preventing diseases such as age-related macular degeneration. An emerging literature base has also demonstrated the importance of L and Z in cognition, neural structure, and neural efficiency. The present study aimed to better understand the mechanisms by which L and Z relate to cognition, in particular, visual-spatial processing and decision-making in older adults. We hypothesized that markers of higher levels of L and Z would be associated with better neural efficiency during a visual-spatial processing task. L and Z were assessed via standard measurement of blood serum and retinal concentrations. Visual-spatial processing and decision-making were assessed via a judgment of line orientation task (JLO) completed during a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan. The results demonstrated that individuals with higher concentrations of L and Z showed a decreased blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) signal during task performance (i.e., "neural efficiency") in key areas associated with visual-spatial perception, processing, decision-making, and motor coordination, including the lateral occipital cortex, occipital pole, superior and middle temporal gyri, superior parietal lobule, superior and middle frontal gyri, and pre- and post-central gyri. To our knowledge, this is the first investigation of the relationship of L and Z to visual-spatial processing at a neural level using in vivo methodology. Our findings suggest that L and Z may impact brain health and cognition in older adults by enhancing neurobiological efficiency in a variety of regions that support visual perception and decision-making.<br/> </p><p>PMID: 29642425 [PubMed - in process]</p> en-us Copyright 2000-2026 NITRC OSI Mon, 27 Apr 2026 6:45:39 GMT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss NITRC RSS generator