Implications for Millions Suffering from Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
A new study conducted under the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS) has found that taking a daily multivitamin supplement may have significant benefits for memory and cognition in aging adults, potentially slowing cognitive decline. These findings could have major implications for the millions of Americans who are currently suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Positive Effects of Multivitamins on Cognition
Previous studies under the COSMOS project have already shown that daily multivitamin supplements can have a positive effect on cognition. The current study combines data from over 500 participants with a meta-analysis of data from more than 5,000 participants, all with an average age of 69. The results, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, demonstrate that a daily multivitamin supplement can improve memory and cognition over a period of two years when compared to a placebo.
The study reveals that those who took multivitamins displayed memory equivalent to someone nearly five years younger and had cognition equivalent to someone two years younger. The benefits were most prominent in episodic memory, the ability to recall specific memories, but not in executive attention, the ability to focus and block out distractions.
Potential Approach to Slow Cognitive Aging
Dr. Chirag Vyas, the first author of the study and an instructor in investigation in the department of psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), believes that daily multivitamin supplements have the potential to be an accessible and appealing approach to slow cognitive aging. With cognitive decline being a top health concern for older adults, these findings provide evidence for the role of multivitamins in supporting better cognitive aging.
Addressing the Growing Concerns
Currently, there are an estimated 6.7 million people in the U.S. living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, a number projected to rise to 14 million by 2060. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including controlling high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and depression, has already been shown to slow the risk of dementia. The new study adds to this body of knowledge, suggesting that daily multivitamin supplements can further improve brain health.
Limitations and Further Research
It is important to note that the multivitamin brand used in the study was Centrum Silver, and the study did not explore the specific vitamins responsible for the positive effects. Furthermore, the study had a predominantly white participant pool, so the results may not be fully applicable to the non-white population.
Nevertheless, the study’s findings provide hope for older adults seeking ways to preserve brain health and potentially slow cognitive decline. Daily multivitamin supplements could offer a simple and accessible solution for supporting better cognitive aging.