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Vitamin A Vital for Memory and Learning
Studies conducted on mice have shown that certain cell receptors for Vitamin
A played an important role in learning and memory. Mice that lacked the genes
for these two receptors performed poorly in spatial ability and memory tests.
Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California report in Neuron (December) that Vitamin A is essential for both proper development of the nervous system in a developing embryo as well as brain function throughout life.
Ronald Evans, Salk professor and senior author of the research commented that “Vitamin A is a type of molecular key that unlocks one of the most powerful functions of the human brain, which is learning.”
Some 190 million children worldwide are believed to suffer from Vitamin A deficiency which can lead to stunted growth and blindness.
Information provided is courtesy of and compiled by the Academy of Anti-Aging Research staff, editors, and other reports.
Anti-Aging Perspective:
How well Vitamin A can enhance the aging brain remains to be determined. It is sufficient to say that Vitamin A is cheap and safe enough that supplementation as an insurance makes sense. Vitamin A is fat soluble, but can be toxic, however. The smarter way to ensure that you’re getting enough Vitamin A is through beta-carotene, which is converted in the body to Vitamin A. Optimum daily allowance from anti-aging perspective is 25,000 IU of beta-carotene.
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