Our thinking skills—which include paying attention, taking in information, remembering, and planning—typically slow down with age.
Simple blood tests and metabolic measures can flag early trends toward forgetfulness or reduced mental sharpness, and diet plays a key role: eating plenty of fresh vegetables, nuts, fish, and getting enough magnesium supports healthy brain function.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an intermediate stage where memory or reasoning slips more than in normal aging, but daily life remains largely unaffected.
People with MCI face a higher chance (6–25%) of progressing to dementia compared with those without it, yet early nutrition improvements, such as boosting intake of brain-friendly nutrients, can help slow or even partially reverse these changes.
Full-blown cognitive dysfunction and dementia—seen in conditions like Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia—can severely disrupt memory, language, and everyday tasks. Some causes, like depression, low thyroid function, or vitamin B12 deficiency, are treatable, making early detection crucial.
Because cognitive decline carries heavy emotional and financial costs for individuals, families, and health systems, spotting subtle biochemical or lifestyle warning signs and taking steps—healthy eating, exercise, stress management—offers the best chance to slow or halt its progression.
The Optimal DX Cognition Biomarker series focuses on relevant biomarkers, including:
- Albumin
- Albumin:Globulin Ratio
- Copper
- Cortisol
- Cortisol:DHEA Ratio
- DHEA
- Estradiol
- Fibrinogen
- Folate
- Glucose
- Glutathione
- HbA1c
- Homocysteine
- Insulin
- Iron
- Luteinizing hormone (LH)
- Magnesium
- Omega-3 Index
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin C
- Inflammatory Biomarkers Associated with Cognition, including cytokines, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, CRP, GlycA, and myeloperoxidase.
Want to Learn More?
OPTIMAL DX MEMBERS CLICK HERE to access Optimal DX's "Biomarkers of Cognition" Series and to learn more about Biomarkers of Cognition.
