Vitamin C linked to preserved brain structure in older adults

In a Japanese study of about 2,000 older adults, higher blood plasma vitamin C levels were linked to better-preserved brain gray matter and stronger connectivity in the default mode network, even after adjusting for age, smoking, diabetes and other factors. While the finding suggests vitamin C status may play a role in brain health, the study is observational and cannot prove causation, with limitations including a single blood measurement and limited generalizability beyond older Japanese adults. The results highlight dietary vitamin C sources rather than supplements as a potential piece of the broader brain-health puzzle.