A new study shows that hospitalized patients aged 60 and older with hypomagnesemia and hypocalcemia present lower scores on cognitive tests.
Researchers in Poland found that in addition to age, body mass index and chronic heart failure, calcium and magnesium deficiencies are markers of cognitive decline, with a potential additive effect when both deficiencies occur together.
"These findings underscore the necessity of monitoring nutritional levels and ion concentrations in advanced-age patients to prevent cognitive deterioration," the researchers wrote in the journal Nutrients.
The study noted that hypomagnesemia and hypocalcemia are common in seniors and exacerbate cognitive decline.
Magnesium plays a vital role in the central nervous system where it is needed for energy production and protection from free radicals in the mitochondria and acts as a regulator of synaptic plasticity in the brain.
"Furthermore, magnesium serves a pivotal role in detoxification processes, inhibits neuroinflammation, reduces beta-amyloid production and prevents the phosphorylation of Tau protein," the researchers wrote.
Some studies indicate that high magnesium supplementation reduces the risk of dementia, but others reveal a U-shaped relationship with excess magnesium worsening cognitive outcomes.
Calcium is essential for signaling processes in the brain that support learning and memory. Deficiency can lead to electrolyte and ion balance disturbances, which may also occur due to aging. Previous studies have linked calcium deficiency to dementia, although results have been conflicting.
"It is essential to determine whether poorer cognitive performance generates hypocalcemia, whether hypocalcemia causes worse cognitive performance, or whether the abovementioned relationship depends on other undetermined factors," the researchers noted.
Most previous studies focus on dietary intake of calcium and magnesium, and the current study is reportedly the first to assess serum levels and cognitive processes in older adults.
The cross-sectional study recruited 1,220 hospitalized Polish patients aged 60 and older. Researchers obtained a detailed medical history and blood samples to assess calcium and magnesium levels.
They conducted the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Clock-Drawing Test (CDT) for each participant and assessed the scores as indicators of mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
Statistical analysis methods were used to determine the influence of age, sex, common concomitant diseases and ion disturbances.
The results showed that participants with MMSE scores below 24, indicating dementia, had significantly lower calcium and magnesium concentrations than the normal MMSE group.
People with CDT scores below five had significantly lower calcium concentrations. And while age and BMI affected the scores, calcium and magnesium levels had the most impact.
"Our findings indicate that in addition to age, body mass index and chronic heart failure, both hypomagnesemia and hypocalcemia are associated with reduced cognitive performance," the researchers wrote.
They called for further research incorporating more comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations to better understand the relationship between cognitive function and electrolyte balance.