All in your head It's pretty much common knowledge -- at least in natural-medicine circles -- that lutein and zeaxanthin help prevent macular degeneration. Healthy retinas have a high concentration of these two carotenoids and the macula is attached to one end of the retina. Simple enough. But recently a group of forward-thinking researchers decided to see what was happening at the other end of the retina -- and if these nutrients are as important to the brain and cognitive function as they are to vision. They drew blood samples from 589 volunteers, measured the samples for levels of various carotenoids including lutein and zeaxanthin, then compared these finding with the results from several cognitive function tests the subjects underwent. They found that low levels of two specific carotenoids were indeed associated with poor mental function. Zeaxanthin was one of them. But the other was a bit more surprising, since its primary claim to fame has nothing to do with eyes -- or any body part above the belt, for that matter. The other carotenoid the researchers found lacking in the subjects scoring low marks on the cognitive function evaluations was lycopene (which is best-known for its ability to help prevent prostate cancer). If you're not already taking lutein and zeaxanthin to protect your vision (and your skin, as I told you about back in June in the eTip "Vision of beauty"), this news makes it the perfect time to start. And while you're at it, throw some lycopene into the mix to give your system a "quadfecta" of protection against macular degeneration, wrinkles, cognitive decline, and prostate cancer. Sources:
"Zeaxanthin linked to better mental performance in the elderly," NutraIngredients (www.nutraingredients.com), 7/26/07
"Plasma carotenoid levels and cognitive performance in an elderly population: Results of an EVA study," Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences 2007; 62A(3): 308-316 | 
