New Tufts study finds surprising connection between vitamin K, brain health

Proceeding from a new article, SciTechDaily unveils that a recent study from Tufts University has uncovered a surprising link between vitamin K deficiency and cognitive decline, raising new concerns about the impact of diet on brain health as people age. 

The research reveals that not getting enough of this essential nutrient—found in leafy greens like kale and spinach—could impair memory and learning, potentially paving the way for future age-related brain issues.

The research, published by the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University, highlights the importance of vitamin K in cognitive function. The findings suggest that insufficient vitamin K may contribute to cognitive decline in older adults.

The study focused on menaquinone-4, a form of vitamin K that is abundant in brain tissue, and found significantly reduced levels of this nutrient in the brains of vitamin K-deficient mice. This deficiency was linked to noticeable cognitive decline, as indicated by a series of behavioral tests designed to assess memory and learning.

“We found a higher number of activated microglia, which are the major immune cells in the brain,” says Tong Zheng, the study’s lead author. “Excessive activation of microglia can lead to chronic inflammation, which is a key factor in age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases.”

Senior author Sarah Booth, director of the HNRCA, emphasized that while their research suggests a connection between vitamin K and brain health, a balanced diet rich in vegetables remains the most important takeaway. “People need to eat a healthy diet,” she says, “They need to eat their vegetables.”

Booth also mentioned that Tufts University collaborates with Rush University Medical Center, combining animal and human studies to better understand how diet and nutrition can impact long-term brain health.

By Naila Huseynova