Daily Multivitamin Supplements May Improve Memory and Slow Cognitive Decline in Aging Adults, New Study Finds
A groundbreaking new study has found that taking a daily multivitamin supplement can have significant benefits for memory and cognitive decline in aging adults. The implications of this research are enormous, particularly for the millions of Americans who are currently suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
The study, known as the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS), is a large-scale clinical trial that aims to test the effectiveness of cocoa extract and multivitamin supplements in improving cognition and reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s. This latest study, published on Thursday, is the third in a series of studies conducted under COSMOS.
Previous studies conducted by the same group have already shown that daily multivitamins have a positive impact on cognition. However, this current study takes it a step further by combining data from over 500 participants with a meta-analysis of data from more than 5,000 participants.
“Cognitive decline is among the top health concerns for most older adults, and a daily supplement of multivitamins has the potential as an appealing and accessible approach to slow cognitive aging,” says Chirag Vyas, the first author of the study and an instructor in investigation in the department of psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).
The study involved administering in-person cognitive assessments to 573 individuals. The results, which were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, revealed that taking a daily multivitamin significantly improved memory and cognition over a period of two years, compared to those who took a placebo.
Remarkably, those who took multivitamins displayed memory levels equivalent to someone nearly five years younger than themselves and had cognition equivalent to someone two years younger. The study also found statistically significant improvements in episodic memory, which refers to the ability to recall a memory.
Dr. Olivia Okereke, the senior author of the report and director of geriatric psychiatry at MGH, emphasizes the importance of these findings for older adults who are concerned about preserving brain health. “These findings will garner attention among many older adults who are, understandably, very interested in ways to preserve brain health, as they provide evidence for the role of a daily multivitamin in supporting better cognitive aging,” she says.
The study also highlights the urgent need for interventions to combat dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, there are approximately 6.7 million people in the U.S. living with these conditions, and this number is expected to rise to 14 million by 2060, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
While previous research has already shown that maintaining a healthy lifestyle can slow the risk of dementia, including factors such as controlling high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and depression, this study adds another potential avenue for improving brain health. Cutting down on smoking, refraining from binge drinking, and engaging in regular physical exercise have also been shown to have positive effects on brain health, according to the CDC.
However, it is important to note that the study does have some limitations. The multivitamin used in the study was the Centrum Silver brand, so it is unclear whether other multivitamin brands would produce the same results. Additionally, 98% of the participants in the study were white, so the results may not be applicable to the non-white population.
In conclusion, this groundbreaking study provides compelling evidence that taking a daily multivitamin supplement can improve memory and slow cognitive decline in aging adults. While further research is needed to determine the specific vitamins responsible for these effects and to explore the generalizability of the findings to diverse populations, this study offers hope for those seeking accessible and effective approaches to combat cognitive aging.
