Consuming the nutrient choline might be associated with a lower risk of developing dementia in older adults, according to a new study.

Researchers found that people who consume moderate amounts of choline—found naturally in foods like eggs, fish, poultry and soybeans, and available as a dietary supplement—had a significantly lower risk of dementia than those with the lowest levels.

The findings also suggest that more is not necessarily better—there appears to be a benefit plateau beyond a certain level of consumption.

What is Choline?

Choline is an essential nutrient involved in producing acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter critical for memory, muscle control and learning, and in maintaining the structural integrity of brain cell membranes.

Although the liver produces small amounts of choline, most people need to obtain it through their diet.

Rich sources include eggs, beef, chicken, fish, dairy products, soybeans and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts.

Choline is also available as a dietary supplement, although experts generally recommend meeting daily needs through food whenever possible.

Although previous studies have examined links between choline and cognitive health, findings have been inconsistent.

What to Know

The researchers analyzed data from more than 5,000 adults participating in the U.S. Health and Retirement Study.

All participants were free of dementia at the beginning of the study, had an average age of 68.6 years and were followed through 2022.

Dietary choline consumption was estimated using a validated food frequency questionnaire completed in 2013 and 2014.

During a median follow-up period of 8.4 years, 506 participants developed dementia. Compared with people in the lowest fifth of choline intake, individuals in the fourth quintile had a 32 percent lower risk of developing dementia.

However, participants with the highest levels choline consumption did not experience a statistically significant reduction in risk.

The study also found that moderate amounts of phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin consumption—two major forms of dietary choline—was associated with lower dementia risk.

The authors concluded that “moderate dietary choline intake was associated with a lower risk of incident dementia in middle-aged and older adults.”

Next Steps

Because the study was observational, the researchers pointed out that it cannot establish that choline directly prevents dementia.

The researchers said future studies and randomized trials could help determine whether increasing dietary choline or using supplements can help reduce dementia risk and to identify the optimal amount for healthy cognitive aging.

Newsweek has reached out to the study authors for comment via email.

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