Micronutrients for Dementia Prevention

Dementia is a term for a decline in mental abilities that interferes with daily life. Dementia is the progressive destruction of cognitive functions that occurs in a context of full consciousness. Nutrients, such as micronutrients, can have positive effects on prevention of dementia. There are four main types of micronutrients: water-soluble vitamins, such as most B vitamins and vitamin C; fat-soluble vitamins that do not dissolve in water, including vitamins A, D, E, and K; macrominerals, minerals needed by the body in larger amounts, such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium; and trace minerals, minerals needed by the body in smaller amounts, including iron, zinc, copper, and selenium. Micronutrients can have roles in the functioning of the nervous system, and studies have reported their roles in dementia. This chapter aims to evaluate the role of micronutrients in the prevention of dementia. In the current chapter, we review vitamins and microminerals with experimental data for elucidating their role in prevention of dementia. We investigated B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamins D, E, and K and macronutrients calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium.