Khaberni -A recent study revealed that copper, available in simple everyday foods like potatoes, may play an important role in preventing dementia and enhancing brain health.
The study, published in the medical journal "Scientific Reports", showed that consuming approximately 1.22 mg of copper daily, roughly equivalent to eating two medium-sized potatoes with their skins, can enhance cognitive functions and reduce the risk of cognitive decline, especially in the elderly, particularly those with a history of strokes.
Professor Wei Yi Jia, the lead researcher of the study from Hebei Medical Hospital in China, said: "Dietary copper is essential for brain health, especially for those with a history of strokes."
He explained that this rare mineral helps in releasing iron in the body, which contributes to transporting oxygen to the brain and protecting it from cognitive decline.
According to the British National Health Service, copper plays a vital role in brain development in children, strengthening the immune system, and bone health, and it is recommended for adults aged 19 to 64 to consume 1.2 mg daily.
The study included analyzing data from more than 2400 adults in the United States, where their consumption of dietary copper was tracked over four years, alongside assessing their cognitive abilities. The results showed that those who consumed the highest amounts of copper achieved the best outcomes in memory and thinking tests, even after excluding factors such as age, gender, heart diseases, and alcohol consumption.
Despite the importance of copper, researchers warned against overconsumption, as excessive levels may be toxic.
It is believed that copper plays a role in regulating neurotransmitters in the brain, which are chemicals responsible for learning and memory processes, making it an element with a protective effect against dementia, which affects more than one million people in the UK alone, with Alzheimer's disease being the most prominent cause.
These results come at a time when other studies have shown that a deficiency in minerals in drinking water, such as calcium, magnesium, and copper, may be linked to an increased risk of dementia, especially in regions that contain "soft" water with low mineral content.
Scientists hope that these findings will pave the way for simple, low-cost dietary strategies that contribute to protecting memory and mental health in old age.
