Can this simple daily routine slow the aging of your brain?
Popping a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement may help older adults hold off decline in mental function, says a new study.
According to a research paper published in the March issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, taking a daily multivitamin and mineral tablet significantly helped episodic memory and, to a lesser extent, global cognition among a group of 272 people compared with a control group of 301 who took a placebo. Both groups had a mean age of 69 and were roughly half men and half women.
The study was done within COSMOS, a nationwide program evaluating cocoa extract and multivitamin and mineral supplements and their effects on cardiovascular disease and cancer prevention in people 60 years or older. The study was performed at a Mass General Brigham clinic in Boston.
The researchers wrote that the study differed from earlier work in that it used more rigorous in-person neuropsychological assessments, and its findings were further supported by a meta-analysis of the latest study and two other COSMOS studies involving an additional 4,630 participants. They said the meta-analysis concluded the participants who took a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement over two to three years experienced an improvement in episodic memory and global cognition scores equal to approximately two years’ less of age-related mental decline.
“It’s not something we can ignore. It was a strong study,” said Arash P. Tadbiri, MD, of Bourne Primary Care, who is board certified in family and geriatric medicine, and was not involved in the study.
Micronutrients – Who Needs Them?
Micronutrients is another name for multivitamins and minerals, substances your body needs in very small amounts. Most adults get enough of them if they eat a balanced diet, according to the National Institutes of Health, and do not need to take multivitamins and mineral supplements. However, for people over the age of 50, a micronutrient may help. Other groups who may benefit from supplements include:
- Breastfed infants and toddlers
- Women who are pregnant or planning to be
- People with unhealthy diets, or who don’t eat certain foods
“All Vitamins, we can get from food. Except for vitamin D – we get it from (exposure to) sunshine,” Dr. Tadbiri said. People over 60 may get some health benefits from (vitamins), he said.
Episodic Memory and Global Cognition
Episodic memory encompasses short-term memory, which is important because losses of short-term memory are an early predictor of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, said Dr. Tadbiri. He described global cognition as a broad category of several mental abilities, including attention, calculation and executive function – all necessary to reason, regulate behavior and learn.
The Boston researchers wrote that studies have shown even small declines in mental abilities in older people can indicate an increased chance of dementia and poor cognitive ability in later life. Use of daily multivitamins and mineral may postpone onset of these symptoms, and is safe and effective, they said.
Study Limitations
Dr. Tadbiri said the study does have some limitations, such as not identifying which micronutrients are responsible for the results. More study is needed, he continued, but the results are strong enough to warrant bringing them to his patients’ attention.
“I’m going to have some discussion with patients. See if they want to take these as an opportunity,” Dr. Tadbiri said.
Other factors, such as maintaining a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, regular exercise and social activities, also can contribute to warding off age-related dementia, he said.
