As we age, sometimes we forget things. Like where we put our keys. Or phone. Or the name of the movie we watched 30 minutes ago.
A large study led by researchers at Columbia University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital has found that taking a daily multivitamin supplement can slow age-related memory decline.
Many older people take vitamins or dietary supplements under the assumption they will help maintain general health. But studies to determine whether they improve memory and brain function have been mixed.
In the recent study, more than 3,500 adults over age 60 were randomly assigned to take a daily multivitamin supplement or placebo for three years. At the end of each year, participants performed a series of cognitive assessments designed to test memory function of the hippocampus, part of the brain affected by normal aging.
By the end of the first year, memory improved for people taking a multivitamin, compared with those taking a placebo. The researchers estimate the improvement, which was sustained over the three-year study period, offset about three years of age-related memory decline.
The results are consistent with another recent study that found taking a daily multivitamin improved overall cognition, memory recall and attention.
Though the researchers did not look at whether any specific component of the multivitamin was linked to memory improvement, the findings support growing evidence that nutrition helps optimize brain health as we age.
If you or a loved one are looking for a simple, inexpensive way to help stave off cognitive decline, reaching for the multivitamins might just be a good step.