Vitamins For Cognitive Function & Energy

Certain vitamins, primarily the B group, are involved in maintaining cognitive function and in cellular metabolism, which produces energy. Reduced cognition, which manifests as inability to perform complex tasks, reduced reading and writing skills, and confusion, is relatively common in the elderly and usually labeled senile dementia. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of senile dementia and is also characterized by reduced short-term memory, depression and lack of energy. Higher brain functions and energy levels are often linked because of the "double-duty" properties of certain B vitamins.

Vitamin B-6

Vitamin B-6, or pyridoxine, is required for the production of neurotransmitters and hormones necessary for the brain's higher functions. B-6 is related to serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline synthesis, which allows for communication between neurons in the brain. B-6 is also required for liberating glucose from amino acids and glycogen, processes known as gluconeogenesis and glucogenesis, respectively. Glucose is the main source of energy for the brain and the primary substance oxidized in all cells to produce ATP energy-storage molecules. A deficiency in B-6 contributes to reduced cognitive function, impaired memory function, depressed moods and lack of energy, as cited in "Human Biochemistry and Disease."

Vitamin B-9

Vitamin B-9, or folic acid, is important for the development of the nervous system and higher brain functions such as cognition. A Dutch study published in a 2007 edition of "Lancet" found that folic acid supplements administered for three years reduced cognitive decline and preserved short-term memory in men and women between the ages of 50 and 70. Folic acid is also required for amino acid and nucleic acid metabolism, which contributes to energy production. Red blood cell production in bone marrow is partially reliant on folic acid. Red blood cells carry oxygen to tissues, which is necessary for oxidation reactions and energy production.

Vitamin B-12

Vitamin B-12, or cobalamin, is also required for higher brain functions, especially short-term memory retention and cognitive ability, as cited in "Biochemical, Physiological and Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition." In particular, your body needs B-12 to produce myelin, a protective sheath surrounding nerve cells that also increases the transmission rates of the brain's electrical signals. Efficient flow of electrical signals is crucial for cognitive function, which involves communication between many regions of the brain. Like folic acid, B-12 is needed in the synthesis of DNA and red blood cells. Further, B-12 is specifically involved in the metabolism of fatty acids and protein to derive glucose, an important process in the absence of carbohydrates.

Vitamin A

Although vitamin A is not involved in energy production, it is required for normal development of the central nervous system, among other functions. In 1998, scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies found that vitamin A promotes higher learning and enhances short-term memory. They discovered that vitamin A, as retinol, directly stimulates neurons in the hippocampus region of the brain, which is associated with learning and memory. Vitamin A is also a powerful antioxidant, which protects blood vessels from the damage caused by free radicals. Protecting these vessels from damage can indirectly promote cognitive function by maintaining appropriate blood flow.