Multivitamins are a way to slow memory loss
A study published a week ago showed that taking a daily multivitamin may slow memory loss in people aged 60 or older. This is the third in a series of studies evaluating the cognitive effects of daily vitamins in older adults. A systematic review of the three studies said that their cumulative results were similar: the group that took multivitamins had better memory function compared to the group that took a placebo.
The studies used different methods and “non-overlapping” participants, resulting in slightly different results, but together they add to growing evidence that taking a daily multivitamin can have a significant impact on cognition among older adults. Cognitive decline is among the top health concerns for most older adults, said Chirag Vyas, an instructor in the department of psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital and lead author of the latest study. Daily supplements provide an “attractive and accessible approach” to slow this decline, he said.
These studies are part of the Cocoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcome Study (COSMOS), a larger body of research examining the health effects of certain nutritional supplements. The most recent study of 573 individuals found statistically significant improvements in short- and long-term memory among those taking multivitamins — for example, remembering a list of words given to them during a test. But there was less benefit than in the first study for executive function tasks, such as counting backwards or remembering the names of animals or vegetables at the right time, says Joan Manson, chief of preventive medicine at the Brigham and co-leader of the COSMOS study with Howard Sisso. », Assistant Department Director. The first study, which tested participants' cognition through telephone interviews, showed a 1.8-year delay in memory loss and cognitive function in old age, while the second study, which included web-based assessments, found that the group taking the vitamins showed an estimated 3.1-year delay. Less memory loss compared to the placebo group. The third study showed a two-year delay in memory loss. The first study showed a “significant” benefit in both memory and executive function, while the second study focused primarily on memory, not executive function, Manson said.
Paul Schultz, MD, professor of neurology and director of the Center for Neurocognitive Disorders at McGovern Medical School at UT Health Houston, said many patients worry about developing Alzheimer's disease, but he said it's often because of the normal cognitive decline associated with aging. “This study suggests an interesting possibility that some degree of natural aging could be avoided by simple vitamin supplements,” Schultz added.
Manson confirmed: “The results are amazing and powerful in their consistency. “Each study shows a slightly different result, but taken together, they are a strong indicator of the overall benefits of multivitamins on memory and cognitive aging.” The research was the result of studies conducted on 5,000 participants, and lasted for a period of three years. The latest study appeared Thursday in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Manson said the probability of these results occurring by chance is less than 1 in 1,000, according to calculations in the meta-analysis. This raises the “possibility that these are real effects of multivitamins,” she said. All studies used a commonly available multivitamin – Centrum Silver for adults (ages 50+). But although it hasn't been studied, any high-quality multivitamin would likely provide similar benefits, Manson said. “If this is an expensive drug, it will be aggressively marketed, even before there is evidence of its long-term safety,” she added.
She pointed out that “multivitamins are available without a prescription and at reasonable prices, and we already know that they are safe when taken for many years.” She explained that individuals can obtain the essential vitamins and minerals necessary for brain health through healthy food. She added that “many people suffer from a deficiency in one or more important micronutrients important for cognitive function,” including vitamins B12, lutein, and zinc. She said that the Centrum product contains these vitamins, “but this does not mean that people should give up healthy eating, because they are taking multivitamins.” Vitamins and minerals are very popular among Americans.
More than 39% of people over the age of 60 take it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Donald Hensrud, a nutritionist at Harvard University, said: “Although this study does not replace recommendations for eating a healthy diet, it reinforces previous findings and remains the best evidence for taking multivitamins, at least for people over the age of 60.” And above.”
Marilyn Simmons*
*A Washington-based freelance writer specializing in health, science, and the environment.
Published by special arrangement with the Washington Post and Bloomberg News Service.
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