Can Dietary Supplements Improve Cognitive Health in Older Adults?

As we age, it's common for our memory and thinking abilities to decline. To combat this, various lifestyle factors such as a healthy diet, physical activity, and social interactions have been suggested to protect cognitive health in older adults. Some studies even propose that taking multivitamins or dietary supplements may help preserve memory and thinking skills. However, large-scale studies directly investigating the impact of dietary supplements on cognitive health in older adults are scarce, and the results from existing clinical trials are mixed.

To explore this idea further, Dr. Adam M. Brickman and his team from Columbia University conducted a study involving over 3,500 volunteers aged 60 and older. The majority of participants were white (94%), and more than half had a college degree (56%). The volunteers were randomly assigned to either a daily multivitamin group or a placebo group. Neither the participants nor the researchers knew which group they were in.

GET 1$ KETO MEAL HERE!

At the beginning of the study, all participants took a series of online cognitive tests to assess their abilities. These tests were then repeated annually for three years. The results of the study were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition on May 24, 2023.

After the first year, the group taking the daily multivitamin showed significantly higher scores on a test of immediate recall compared to the placebo group. The test involved viewing a series of 20 words, one at a time, for three seconds each. Immediately after, participants were asked to recall as many words as they could remember.

In the multivitamin group, the average number of recalled words improved from around 7.1 to 7.8 after the first year. For comparison, the placebo group saw a change from about 7.2 to 7.6 words. While the multivitamin group's scores continued to improve slightly in the second and third years, the difference compared to the placebo group was not statistically significant. Other types of cognitive tests showed no significant variations between the groups.

THE MOST COMPLETE MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENT BLEND AVAILABLE

Introducing Magnesium Breakthrough: Unleash Your Potential with this Revolutionary Supplement! Boost your energy, enhance sleep quality, and improve overall well-being with our cutting-edge formula. Packed with 7 essential forms of magnesium, this breakthrough supplement is designed to support muscle relaxation, reduce stress, and promote mental clarity. Experience the power of optimized magnesium absorption for optimal health and vitality. Don't let magnesium deficiency hold you back. Take the leap towards a better you with Magnesium Breakthrough. Try it today and unlock the key to unlocking your true potential!

Interestingly, participants with a history of cardiovascular disease had lower immediate recall scores at the beginning of the study compared to those without such a history. However, after one year of taking multivitamins, the scores of those with cardiovascular disease significantly improved, becoming comparable to those without the disease.

These findings build upon a related study supported by the NIH, published last year. That study, involving over 2,200 individuals aged 65 and older, revealed that a daily multivitamin enhanced a broad measure of cognitive function. Notably, the improvements were more pronounced in individuals with a history of cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Brickman explains, "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." He adds, "Cognitive aging is a top health concern for older adults, and this study suggests that there may be a simple, inexpensive way to help older adults slow down memory decline."

Further research is needed to explore more diverse populations and identify which specific nutrients may play a role in protecting memory.

This research received support from NIA grants AG050657, AG071611, and AG058417.

Reference: Yeung LK, et al. Multivitamin supplementation improves memory in older adults: A randomized clinical trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2023. Epub May 24. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.05.011.