#Copper

Emerging research from major population studies and brain autopsy investigations is revealing copper’s surprisingly critical role in cognitive function and energy production, with higher dietary intake associated with better test scores in older adults and increased brain copper levels linked to slower mental decline and reduced Alzheimer’s pathology. Recent analysis of over 2,400 American adults aged 60 and older found that those consuming more copper through diet scored significantly higher on processing speed, verbal fluency, and memory assessments, while separate neuropathological research examining brain tissue from deceased study participants discovered that higher copper concentrations in key brain regions correlated with slower cognitive deterioration and fewer signs of dementia-related damage. Clinical case reviews simultaneously highlight that copper deficiency, though relatively uncommon, can cause debilitating symptoms including persistent fatigue, numbness and tingling, balance problems, and anemia that mimics other conditions, making proper recognition essential for effective treatment. For Thai readers, these findings emphasize the importance of incorporating copper-rich foods naturally abundant in local cuisine—including seafood, nuts, seeds, and traditional soy products—while understanding that most healthy individuals can meet their needs through varied eating patterns without requiring supplements.

A cluster of recent reports and scientific papers has put a spotlight on copper, a micronutrient most people think about only in passing. New analyses of large US datasets suggest that modestly higher dietary copper is associated with better cognitive test scores in people aged 60 and over, while long‑running brain autopsy research links higher brain copper with slower cognitive decline and less Alzheimer’s pathology. At the same time, clinicians warn that true copper deficiency — while uncommon — can cause persistent fatigue, numbness and balance problems, and that certain patients (bariatric surgery, malabsorption, heavy zinc use) are at risk. For ordinary readers the takeaway is practical: most people can meet needs with a varied diet that includes shellfish, liver, nuts, seeds, tofu and whole grains, but anyone with unexplained fatigue or neurological symptoms should consult a doctor rather than self‑supplement. (Sources: Telegraph [news summary], Scientific Reports [NHANES analysis], NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, MAP autopsy study.) See links in the text for full sources.