--- title: "ICMR-NIN study links vitamins to cognitive health in older adults" url: https://projectchintan.com/article/icmr-nin-vitamin-cognition-study-fzk49 publisher: Project Chintan author: Project Chintan Newsroom section: Health published: 2026-08-17T12:30:48.539Z modified: 2026-08-17T14:00:06.325Z language: en-IN --- # ICMR-NIN study links vitamins to cognitive health in older adults A Hyderabad-based study by ICMR-NIN analyzed 184 adults aged 55–85, finding that deficiencies in vitamins D, B2 and B9 were common among those with mild cognitive impairment and that higher levels of vitamins D and B6 correlated with better cognitive performance. ## Key takeaways - In a cross-sectional study of 184 adults 55–85 in Hyderabad, 36.4% had mild cognitive impairment. - Deficiencies were most common in vitamins D, B2 and B9 among those with MCI. - Higher blood levels of vitamins D and B6 were associated with better cognitive performance. - Causality is not established; further trials are needed to test supplementation effects. ## What Happened Researchers from ICMR-NIN conducted a community-based cross-sectional study in Hyderabad, assessing 184 adults aged 55 to 85. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and blood samples were tested for vitamins A, D, B1, B2, B6, B9 and B12. The study found that 36.4% of participants met criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Those with MCI showed lower levels of several micronutrients, with deficiencies in vitamins D, B2 and B9 being particularly prevalent. Conversely, higher blood levels of certain vitamins, notably D and B6, were linked to better cognitive performance. The work was published in the international journal Nutrients and is based on measurements of neuronal biomarkers alongside vitamin status. The authors highlight the potential role of nutritional assessment and intervention for older adults at risk of cognitive decline. Key figures cited include the prevalence of MCI within the sample and the association between micronutrient status and MoCA-derived cognitive outcomes, alongside observations of higher blood glucose and systolic blood pressure among those with MCI. The study’s leaders emphasize that establishing causality requires further trials, while recommending early nutritional evaluation as part of healthy ageing strategies. ## Why It Matters The findings suggest that maintaining adequate micronutrient levels could be relevant for brain health in ageing populations. If nutritional status influences cognitive performance, screening for vitamin deficiencies might become part of strategies to delay or mitigate cognitive decline among older adults. The authors call for additional studies to determine whether supplementation can improve cognitive outcomes and to clarify causal pathways. ## Background Mild cognitive impairment is described as an intermediary stage between normal ageing and dementia, involving measurable changes in memory and thinking that may impair daily activities. The study measured multiple vitamins in the blood and linked these levels to neuronal biomarkers and cognitive test results, within a sample from a single city. ## Key Facts - Study location: Hyderabad, India - Sample size and age range: 184 adults aged 55–85 - Assessment tool for cognition: Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) - Vitamins measured: A, D, B1, B2, B6, B9, B12 - Proportion with mild cognitive impairment: 36.4% - Vitamins D, B2 and B9 were notably lower in the MCI group - Higher vitamins D and B6 associated with better cognitive performance - Publication: Nutrients journal - Study leaders: G. Bhanuprakash Reddy (ICMR-NIN), Bharati Kulkarni (ICMR-NIN Director) - Publication date: August 17, 2026 ## What Happens Next Researchers indicate the need for further studies to establish causality and to assess the impact of nutrient supplementation on cognitive outcomes. They also advocate for early nutritional assessment as part of aging health strategies while acknowledging that more trials are required to confirm whether improving micronutrient status can influence cognitive trajectories. --- Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/icmr-nin-vitamin-cognition-study-fzk49 Reported from: Multiple Sources