A study has discovered that multivitamin consumption could aid in slowing down cognitive decline that is linked to aging. The extent could reach as much as two years.
Multivitamins Can Slow Age-Related Cognitive Decline
The study "Effect of multivitamin-mineral supplementation versus placebo on cognitive function: Results from the clinic sub-cohort of the COSMOS randomized clinical trial and meta-analysis of three cognitive studies within COSMOS" found that individuals who are 60 years or older and who took the Centrum Silver multivitamins exhibited slower cognitive decline compared to those who had a placebo.
This report comes as the third portion of the COSMOS (Cocoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study). The three studies have revealed that people who consume daily vitamins for up to three years exhibit slower cognitive brain aging, equivalent to two years.
All three studies had more than 5,000 volunteer participants. The first two parts examined the volunteers through web and phone interviews over the course of two to three years. Results revealed that those who took multivitamins daily had higher scores in cognitive tests. This was compared to those who only took a placebo.
The latest study examined almost 600 individuals in person. The researchers were able to find the same results as in the previous two studies. The latest report's results confirm the statistically significant and consistent benefits of taking multivitamins daily, compared to a placebo, when it comes to memory and general cognition.
Promising Potential
The results come as promising potential, especially since the Alzheimer's Association projects that by the year 2060, the number of individuals in the US who are 65 years or older and who have Alzheimer's dementia may go as high as 13.8 million. This could happen unless medical advancements are seen to prevent, slow down, or cure the condition.
In 2020, 5.6 million Americans were dealing with Alzheimer's disease. Symptoms typically appear after 60 years old, while risk goes up as age increases. In the US, the condition is part of the top 10 leading causes of death. While younger people could also get the condition, it is less prevalent among them.
Chirag Vyas, MBBS, MPH, and instructor in investigation at Massachusetts General Hospital's (MGH) Department of Psychiatry, explains that cognitive decline is one of the top health problems for the majority of older adults. Vyas adds that taking daily multivitamin supplements shows potential to be an accessible and appealing approach to slowing down cognitive decline.
Check out more news and information on Medicine & Health in Science Times.
