Relationship between Serum and Brain Carotenoids, 𝜶-Tocopherol, and Retinol Concentrations and Cognitive Performance in the Oldest Old from the Georgia Centenarian Study

Table 5

Mean (±SEM) concentrations of carotenoids, 𝛼-tocopherol, and retinol in the brain (average of cerebellum, frontal, occipital, and temporal cortices) based on premortem GDRS scores in decedents with normal cognitive function (GDRS = 1), subjective mild memory loss (GDRS = 2), and mild cognitive impairment (GDRS = 3).

pmol/g	Global deterioration scale (GDRS)^a
	1 (𝑛=5)	2 (𝑛=7)	3 (𝑛=11)
Lutein, trans	133±21^b	124±17^b,c	67±14^c
Total lutein (cis + trans)	145±22^b	127±18^b,c	68±15^c
Zeaxanthin, trans	45.0±7.5	43.1±6.3	25.9±5.0
Cryptoxanthin	90.1±22.4	63.2±19.0	57.2±15.1
𝛽-Carotene, trans	77.6±10.5^b	48.0±8.9^b,c	39.5±7.1^c
Lycopene, trans	37.0±9.0	26.1±7.6	16.4±6.1
𝛾-Tocopherol	1609±370	2129±313	1518±249
𝛼-Tocopherol	67408±5295	63205±4475	60028±3570
Retinol	572±109	530±92	691±74

^aGDRS = 1: no subjective complaints or objective evidence of memory deficits; GDRS = 2: subject complaints, but no objective evidence of memory deficits; GDRS = 3: mild cognitive impairment.
Means not sharing a common superscript in the same row are significantly different at 𝑃<0.05 (univariate ANOVA with Bonferroni adjustment for multiple comparisons).