MineralsMagnesium

Serum magnesium level is associated with cognitive function in Palestinian elderly

In a cross-sectional study of 200 older adults (mean age 64.6 years), serum magnesium levels showed a substantial correlation with cognitive function as measured by the MoCA score. The mean MoCA score was 24.5 ± 3.66, and magnesium levels were also associated with smoking status and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), but not with activities of daily living (ADL) or other factors like sleep quality.

Last updated: Jul 8, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Serum magnesium level is associated with cognitive function among the elderly in Palestine, a cross-sectional study.

observational

Al-Kum L, Shakhshir A, Badrasawi M, Al-Amouri F · BMC research notes (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: N/A (cross-sectional)
Intervention: Serum magnesium level (measured as a biomarker, not an intervention)
Outcome: Cognitive function (MoCA score), IADL, ADL, smoking status
Effect Size: N/A (correlation reported but no specific effect size given)
Population: Palestinian elderly adults (n=200, 36.5% men, 63.5% women, mean age 64.6 ± 3.3 years)

Result:

PubMed: 41877271DOI: 10.1186/s13104-026-07682-0

Mechanism Graph

Magnesium is involved in synaptic plasticity and neurotransmission
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Magnesium deficiency may impair neuronal function
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Low magnesium may contribute to cognitive decline
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Result: Association between higher magnesium and better cognitive function

Limitations

  • ⚠Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference
  • ⚠Cognitive function is influenced by multiple additional factors not captured in this study
  • ⚠Small sample size (n=200) and limited generalizability to other populations

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the main finding of this study?▼

Serum magnesium levels were significantly correlated with cognitive function (MoCA score) and instrumental activities of daily living in Palestinian elderly, but not with sleep quality or other lifestyle factors.

How was cognitive function measured?▼

Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score, with a mean of 24.5 ± 3.66 in the study sample.

Did the study find a link between magnesium and sleep quality?▼

No, the study reported no significant correlation between serum magnesium levels and sleep quality.

What are the limitations of this study?▼

The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot establish causality. It also had a small sample size and did not account for all factors influencing cognitive function.

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References

  1. 1.Al-Kum L, Shakhshir A, Badrasawi M, Al-Amouri F. "Serum magnesium level is associated with cognitive function among the elderly in Palestine, a cross-sectional study.." BMC research notes, 2026. PMID: 41877271 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-026-07682-0
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.