Vitamins for the brain

Daily use of multivitamins can slow down the cognitive aging of the elderly

A three-year study of more than 2,200 elderly people showed that daily intake of multivitamin-mineral supplements leads to a statistically significant improvement in cognitive functions. Cocoa extract did not have such an effect.

Article by Baker et al. Effects of cocoa extract and a multivitamin on cognitive function: A randomized clinical trial published in the journal of the Alzheimer's Association Alzheimer's & Dementia.

Maria C. Carrillo, Ph.D., chief scientist of the Alzheimer's Association, said of the study: "This is the first positive large-scale long-term study showing that multivitamin-mineral supplements for the elderly can slow cognitive aging. Although the Alzheimer's Association is encouraged by these results, we are not prepared to recommend the widespread use of multivitamin supplements to reduce the risk of cognitive decline in older adults."

"Independent confirmatory studies in larger and more diverse study groups are needed. It is extremely important that future methods of treatment and prevention are effective for all population groups."

"For now and until more data is available, people should talk to their healthcare providers about the benefits and risks of all dietary supplements, including multivitamins."

"We foresee a future in which many treatments and risk reduction strategies will be available that fight cognitive aging and dementia in different ways — for example, heart disease and cancer — and which can be combined into powerful combination therapies ... combined with recommendations for a healthy lifestyle, such as diet and physical activity".

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru