Aging Brain: Certain vitamins found to improve memory and slow brain aging as we age.

Cognitive aging, particularly memory decline, is a critical health concern for many individuals, especially older adults.

However, the results of a recent extensive study conducted by researchers at Columbia University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard indicate that a simple and cost-effective strategy may exist to slow down age-related memory decline.

The study’s findings strongly suggest that incorporating a daily multivitamin supplement into one’s routine can potentially contribute to maintaining cognitive function and preserving memory as people age.

“Cognitive aging is a top health concern for older adults,” says lead author Adam M. Brickman, “and this study suggests that there may be a simple, inexpensive way to help older adults slow down memory decline.”

Numerous seniors incorporate vitamins or dietary supplements into their daily routine with the belief that these products contribute to overall health maintenance. However, research examining their impact on memory and brain function has yielded inconsistent results, and only a limited number of extensive, randomized trials have been conducted.

Daily Multivitamin Supplements May Slow Down Age-Related Memory Decline

In the new study conducted as part of the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS), researchers investigated the impact of daily multivitamin supplementation on cognitive function in a group of over 3,500 adults, predominantly non-Hispanic white individuals over the age of 60. Over a period of three years, participants were randomly assigned to either take a daily multivitamin supplement or receive a placebo. The study specifically focused on evaluating memory function associated with the hippocampus, an area of the brain affected by normal aging.

To assess memory function, participants completed a series of online cognitive assessments at home at the end of each year. The results revealed that individuals who took the daily multivitamin experienced improvements in memory compared to those who received the placebo. Remarkably, this improvement was sustained throughout the entire three-year study period and was estimated to counteract approximately three years of age-related memory decline. Notably, the beneficial effect was more pronounced among participants with pre-existing cardiovascular disease.

These findings align with another recent COSMOS study involving over 2,200 older adults. That study also demonstrated that regular intake of a daily multivitamin resulted in enhanced overall cognition, memory recall, and attention. Similarly, the positive effects were more significant among individuals with underlying cardiovascular disease.

“There is evidence that people with cardiovascular disease may have lower micronutrient levels that multivitamins may correct, but we don’t really know right now why the effect is stronger in this group,” adds Brickman.

The Significance of Optimal Nutrition for a Healthy Aging Brain

The recent study focused on the correlation between a multivitamin supplement and improved memory, without examining the specific elements responsible for this positive effect. Nonetheless, these findings contribute to the mounting body of evidence highlighting the significance of nutrition in optimizing brain health throughout the aging process.

The results of study indicate “that the aging brain may be more sensitive to nutrition than we realized, though it may not be so important to find out which specific nutrient helps slow age-related cognitive decline,” points out first author Lok-Kin Yeung.

“The finding that a daily multivitamin improved memory in two separate cognition studies in the COSMOS randomized trial is remarkable, suggesting that multivitamin supplementation holds promise as a safe, accessible, and affordable approach to protecting cognitive health in older adults,” adds co-author JoAnn Manson.

“Supplementation of any kind shouldn’t take the place of more holistic ways of getting the same micronutrients,” says Brickman. “Though multivitamins are generally safe, people should always consult a physician before taking them.”

Source: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.05.011

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