An everyday multivitamin may help elderly persons' memory, according to a study

 A recent study suggests that taking a daily multivitamin pill may help older persons' memory and slow down their cognitive deterioration.

An everyday multivitamin may help elderly persons' memory, according to a study

The study discovered benefits in one's capacity to recall a memory.

By Dr. Aishwarya Thakur and Mary Kekatos

2:03 AM on January 20, 2024

                                                            Source abcnews.com

For the millions of Americans suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's disease, the findings may have far-reaching effects.

The third study in the series is part of the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS), a large-scale national clinical trial examining the potential benefits of multivitamin supplements and cocoa extract on cognition and the risk of Alzheimer's disease. The report was published on Thursday.

The team discovered that taking daily multivitamins did improve memory in two earlier experiments. With an average age of 69, the current study combines a meta-analysis of data from over 5,000 people with a study of over 500 participants.

"A daily multivitamin supplement has the potential as an appealing and accessible approach to slow cognitive aging," stated first author Chirag Vyas in a statement announcing the study. "Cognitive decline is among the top health concerns for most older adults," Vyas said. Vyas is an instructor in investigation in the psychiatry department at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).

                                                    Source abcnews.com

573 participants were given in-person cognitive tests as part of the study's initial phase. In comparison to a placebo, the results, which were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, demonstrated that taking a daily multivitamin improved memory and cognition over a two-year period.

Those who took multivitamins showed cognitive abilities comparable to those of people two years younger and memory comparable to those of people almost five years younger.

Furthermore, gains in episodic memory—the ability to recall a memory—but not in executive attention—the capability to ignore distractions and concentrate on a task—saw statistically significant benefits.

In a meta-analysis based on the three distinct trials, which included participants who did not overlap, the researchers also discovered that taking a multivitamin improved memory and cognition, which may be beneficial for seniors who are malnourished.

Dr. Olivia Okereke, senior author of the study and director of geriatric psychiatry at MGH, said in a statement, "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."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are currently an estimated 6.7 million persons in the United States living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. By 2060, that number is anticipated to climb to 14 million.

Prior studies have demonstrated that upholding a healthy lifestyle, which includes managing diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and depression, can reduce the incidence of dementia. According to the CDC, reducing smoking, abstaining from binge drinking, and increasing physical activity can all help to enhance brain health.

The Centrum Silver brand of multivitamin was utilized in this study, thus results from other brands might differ. This is just one of the study's shortcomings. Furthermore, it's unclear which specific vitamins in the multivitamin itself were responsible for the beneficial effects.

Additionally, the conclusions of the current study might not apply to the non-White population because 98% of the study's participants were White.

Source abcnews.com