A recent study revealed that taking a daily multivitamin can help slow down the decline in memory among older individuals. This research, the third of its kind, adds to the growing evidence supporting the idea that multivitamins may have a positive impact on cognitive decline associated with aging.
According to JoAnn Manson from Harvard Medical School, who participated in all three trials, the outcome is significant, stating, "The result is equivalent to slowing cognitive aging by two years, which is quite substantial." These trials were part of a larger study investigating whether taking a multivitamin or a cocoa extract supplement could prevent heart disease or cancer in people aged 60 and older. The study was funded by the manufacturer of the cocoa supplements. Some participants also took memory tests to evaluate potential mental effects of the supplements.
In the latest trial, 573 participants were randomly assigned to take either the multivitamin (Centrum Silver), a cocoa extract supplement, or placebo tablets. Memory testing was conducted in person at the beginning of the study and two years later. The results showed that those who took the multivitamin performed slightly better on the memory tests compared to those who took the placebo tablets.
Similar results were observed in two other branches of the larger study, where participants took memory tests online or over the phone.
JoAnn Manson suggests that these findings indicate that multivitamins show promise as a safe and affordable strategy to protect memory and slow cognitive aging in older adults. However, it's unclear which components of the multivitamin may be responsible for the benefit. Duane Mellor at the British Dietetic Association urges caution, noting that because the trial wasn't specifically designed to investigate memory effects, further research is needed to draw definitive conclusions.