Researchers conducted a study revealing that individuals who incorporated a daily multivitamin into their routine experienced enhancements in memory function and a deceleration in cognitive decline equivalent to two years.
The research team from Mass General Brigham affirmed that their findings validate the consistent and statistically significant advantages of daily multivitamin supplementation over a placebo in terms of both memory retention and overall cognitive performance.
“The meta-analysis of three separate cognition studies provides strong and consistent evidence that taking a daily multivitamin, containing more than 20 essential micronutrients, helps prevent memory loss and slow down cognitive aging,” said first author Chirag Vyas who is also a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system.
The researchers delved into the extensive data of the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS), a comprehensive meta-analysis involving 5,000 individuals. Additionally, they recruited 573 participants for a more intensive investigation, conducting thorough cognitive assessments in person over a span of two years.
Throughout this period, some participants were administered a daily multivitamin supplement, while others received a placebo. Upon analysis, a noteworthy trend emerged: those who took the multivitamin exhibited enhanced global cognition and episodic memory compared to their counterparts who consumed the placebo. Remarkably, the multivitamin intake appeared to decelerate cognitive decline by an estimated two years.
However, it’s essential to note that this beneficial effect was not observed in executive function or executive attention. Despite the cognitive advantages seen in global cognition and episodic memory, there was no discernible impact on these specific cognitive domains.
“Cognitive decline is among the top health concerns for most older adults, and a daily supplement of multivitamins has the potential as an appealing and accessible approach to slow cognitive aging,” said Vyas.
Olivia Okereke, the director of Geriatric Psychiatry and senior author of the study, emphasized the significance of the findings, stating, “These results are poised to captivate the attention of numerous older adults who are keen on maintaining brain health. They furnish compelling evidence for the beneficial impact of daily multivitamin supplementation on cognitive aging.”
Published this week in the esteemed American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the study underscores the significance of daily multivitamin intake for cognitive well-being, marking the third COSMOS experiment to corroborate this assertion. This cumulative validation adds substantial weight to the study’s conclusions.
According to projections by the Alzheimer’s Association, a significant portion of the aging population faces heightened susceptibility to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease in the absence of effective interventions to safeguard cognitive function in advance of symptom onset.
Dr. JoAnn Manson, the lead researcher of the COSMOS trial, expressed excitement over the findings from these three independent placebo-controlled studies, underscoring their significance.
“It further supports the promise of multivitamins as a safe, accessible, and affordable approach to protecting cognitive health in older adults.”
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