Daily Multivitamins May Slow Cognitive Aging and Improve Memory in Older Adults, Study Finds
A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that taking daily multivitamins may have a positive impact on cognitive health in older adults. The research, led by Chirag Vyas from Massachusetts General Hospital, indicates that daily multivitamin use can slow cognitive aging and improve memory.
The study analyzed data from 573 individuals who participated in the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS). The participants were divided into two groups: one group took daily multivitamins, while the other group was given a placebo. Over a two-year period, the researchers found that the vitamin group experienced a modest improvement in global cognition compared to the control group.
Furthermore, the vitamin group saw significant improvement in episodic memory, although there was no noticeable change in executive function and attention. The researchers also conducted a meta-analysis of three related studies from COSMOS, which provided strong evidence of benefits for both global cognition and episodic memory. They estimated that daily multivitamin use slowed global cognitive aging by the equivalent of two years compared to a placebo.
The findings of this study are significant because cognitive decline is a major concern for older adults. The researchers believe that taking a daily multivitamin, which contains more than 20 essential micronutrients, could be an accessible and appealing approach to slow cognitive aging.
Howard Sesso, an associate epidemiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a co-leader of the COSMOS study, emphasizes the need to understand the mechanisms by which a daily multivitamin protects against memory loss and cognitive decline. He suggests that nutritional status and other aging-related factors could play a role in these benefits.
Registered dietitian nutritionist Kelsey Costa suggests that the enhancement of memory related to multivitamin consumption could be due to resolving existing nutrient deficiencies. Older adults are at a higher risk of cognitive decline due to a lack of essential nutrients. Vitamins play a crucial role in various cognitive functions, including memory creation and preservation.
Neurosurgeon Dr. Jonathan Rasouli highlights the link between nutrition, gut bacteria, and cognitive health. He explains that healthy diets lead to better gut bacteria, which in turn improves cognitive health. However, further research is needed to definitively prove this link.
The study did not identify which specific vitamins in the daily supplements had a positive effect on brain health, indicating the need for more research in this area. Dr. Yuko Hara, the director of Aging and Alzheimer’s Prevention at the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, suggests that the vitamins that play the greatest role in cognitive health may vary among individuals and depend on their existing deficiencies.
Claire Sexton, from the Alzheimer’s Association, agrees that more research is needed before recommending widespread use of multivitamin supplements to reduce the risk of cognitive decline in older adults. She emphasizes the importance of independent confirmatory studies in larger and more diverse populations.
Despite the need for further research, Vyas believes that the COSMOS study is unique in its comprehensive approach to assessing cognition, testing a multivitamin-mineral supplement, and including a large number of participants. The study provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of daily multivitamin use for cognitive health.
In conclusion, the study suggests that taking daily multivitamins may slow cognitive aging and improve memory in older adults. While more research is needed to understand the specific mechanisms and determine the most effective vitamins, these findings offer hope for maintaining cognitive health as we age.
