Copper, Manganese, Selenium, and Zinc found to be positively associated with Cognitive Function and Academic Performance

A recent study published in Frontiers in Nutrition found a strong positive link between certain micromineral levels — copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) in the blood and cognitive function and academic performance in adolescents. Conducted on a nationally representative sample of 1,370 Kuwaiti students aged 11–14 years, the research used Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices to assess cognitive ability and school records to evaluate academic achievement.

Microminerals are essential for brain development and function, yet deficiencies are common in adolescents due to unhealthy eating habits. Results showed that adolescents with micromineral levels above the median scored an average of five points higher on cognitive tests. Similarly, those in the highest quartile of micronutrient levels outperformed their peers in the lowest quartile by approximately seven percentage points in academic scores. These associations remained significant even after adjusting for confounding variables such as socioeconomic status and parental education.

The findings underscore the importance of adequate micronutrient intake during adolescence—a critical period for brain development. The researchers suggest that improving micromineral status through public health interventions is crucial, as academic performance during early education has long-term implications for an individual’s socioeconomic status.

While this was a cross-sectional study and cannot establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, the results have significant public health implications due to the widespread nature of micromineral deficiencies.

Reference Source: Rahman A, Rao M, Aldughpassi A, Jallad R and Shaban L (2025) Blood levels of copper, manganese, selenium, and zinc are positively associated with cognitive function and academic performance in adolescents. Front. Nutr.12:1638283. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1638283