Can Breakfast Cereal (or Spinach) Improve Brain Performance?

A study published in the respected medical journal The Lancet says that increased folic acid intake can aid memory and brain speed.

The study covered over 800 people aged 50 to 70. After three years, the group taking 800 micrograms per day of folic acid (not quite one milligram) performed "significantly better" than a group taking a placebo. Memory scores were up 13%, information processing speed up 8.7%, and sensorimotor speed improved 6.4%.

The conclusion: "Folic acid supplementation for 3 years significantly improved domains of cognitive function that tend to decline with age."

The research was conducted by a team led by Dr. Jane Durga of the Netherlands' Wageningen University.

Folic acid breaks down the amino acid homocysteine. Elevated levels of homocysteine are associated with blood vessel damage and clotting, which reduces blood flow throughout the body, including to the brain. Low concentrations of folate and high levels of homocysteine are tied to poor cognitive performance. Much recent research seems to indicate that reduced blood flow to the brain is at least partially implicated in a range of age-related brain performance problems.

Folic acid sources include leafy vegetables, dietary supplements, and even some breakfast cereals. Total, Total Corn Flakes, Total Raisin Bran, Product 19, Multigrain Cheerios, and Plus Smart Start all provide the U.S. recommended daily allowance of 400 micrograms of folic acid (although that's half the amount used in the study).

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We noted this earlier LifeTwo article that some researchers believe that higher folate intake is associated with lower Alzheimer's risk.