Copper Intake Linked to Cognitive Health in Older Adults, suggests study

Higher dietary copper intake was associated with improved cognitive performance. After accounting for numerous confounding factors, people in the highest quartile of copper consumption (Q4) had significantly superior cognitive scores than those in the lowest quartile (Q1).

Specifically, higher copper intake was linked to improved scores on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST: β = 3.80, 95% CI: 1.90-5.70), Animal Fluency Test (AFT: β = 1.23, 95% CI: 0.48-1.99), CERAD Immediate Recall Test (CERAD-IRT: β = 0.58, 95% CI: -0.06 to 1.22), CERAD Delayed Recall Test (CERAD-DRT: β = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.15-0.80), and the overall cognitive Z score (β = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.10-0.29).

These beneficial connections were more strong in people with a history of stroke. Furthermore, a multivariate smooth spline analysis revealed that the relationship between copper intake and cognitive function accompanied an inverted L-shaped nonlinear pattern, with optimal intake thresholds of 1.63 mg/day for DSST, 1.42 mg/day for AFT, and 1.22 mg/day for the Z score.

Overall, the current study suggests a link between dietary copper consumption and improved cognitive performance in American older persons, particularly those who have had a stroke. According to the dose-response study, the ideal copper consumption amount is around 1.22 mg per day.

Source:

Jia, W., Zhu, K., Shi, J., & Yong, F. (2025). Association between dietary copper intake and cognitive function in American older adults: NHANES 2011-2014. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 24334. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09280-9