Coenzyme Q10 Levels Associated With Cognitive Functioning and Executive Function in Older Adults

Abstract

Brain deterioration with age is associated with inflammation and oxidative stress that result in structural and functional changes. Recent studies have indicated that coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is associated to neurological oxidative stress and cognitive impairment. Studies with older people have shown a relationship between neurodegenerative diseases and CoQ10 levels. However, no studies have analyzed the relationship between CoQ10 and cognitive functioning in older adults. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between CoQ10 and cognitive functioning in an older adult sample, controlling for other factors that may influence aging, such as the level of physical activity and nutritional status. The sample consisted of 64 older adult subjects aged 65–99 years (76.67 ± 8.16 years), among whom 48 were women (75%). The participants were recruited among those who attended community centers to voluntarily participate in leisure activities. According to previous studies, physical activity and nutritional status are positively associated with cognitive functioning. However, the main finding of this study was that plasma CoQ10, controlling for other measures, was significantly associated to cognitive functioning and executive function. The current findings suggest that a decline in cognitive capacities may be related to reduced antioxidant defenses, as reflected by low CoQ10 levels in older adults.

Oral administration of coenzyme Q10 ameliorates memory impairment induced by nicotine-ethanol abstinence through restoration of biochemical changes in male rat hippocampal tissues

“…CoQ 10 is a critical cofactor in the mitochondrial chain of electron transport and has been found to have neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects in nervous system 64 – 66 . Consistently, there is clinical evidence indicating that attenuation of cognitive capacities in older adults is associated with reduced plasma concentration of CoQ 10 67 , 68 . In line with this evidence, experimental findings have revealed that systemic administration of CoQ10 (10 mg/kg) effectively reverses the impairment of spatial and avoidance memory in rodents 48 .…”

Enhancing healthy aging with small molecules: A mitochondrial perspective

“…In neurological contexts, CoQ10 supplementation has successfully reversed age‐related memory decline in mice by decreasing ROS and lipid peroxidation, 58 indicating potential applications in neurodegenerative diseases. Recent studies involving elderly individuals have also shown a positive correlation between plasma CoQ10 levels and cognitive and executive functions 59 . These findings underscore CoQ10's significant role in aging and its effectiveness in bolstering antioxidant defenses.…”

“…Recent studies involving elderly individuals have also shown a positive correlation between plasma CoQ10 levels and cognitive and executive functions. 59 These findings underscore CoQ10's significant role in aging and its effectiveness in bolstering antioxidant defenses. However, further research and clinical trials are necessary to fully ascertain CoQ10's benefits, optimal dosages, and supplementation duration for effectively addressing age-related conditions linked to mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage.…”