Researchers at Boston’s Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Brigham and Women’s Hospital analyzed cognitive function in older adults who took either a cocoa extract supplement, a multivitamin, or a placebo daily for three years. (GetFocusStudio, Shutterstock)
Estimated duration: 5-6 minutes
WINston-Salem, N.C. — Taking a daily multivitamin may be associated with improved brain function in older adults, says new study, and its benefits for those with a history of cardiovascular disease. seems to be large.
The findings didn’t surprise the researchers, but rather shocked them, said study author Laura Baker, professor of gerontology and geriatrics at Wake Forest University in North Carolina.
“I have to use the word ‘shocked,'” said Baker.
Researchers at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, in collaboration with Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, evaluated the cognition of older adults who were assigned to take either a cocoa extract supplement containing flavonoids, a multivitamin, or a placebo for three days each day. Analyzed features. Year. Until the results were revealed, no one, not even the researchers, knew who was assigned to which routine.
“Based on previous reports of cardiovascular benefits, we really believed that cocoa extract would provide some benefit to cognition, so we are waiting for data analysis to reveal that big result. Vitamins,” Baker said. “We are excited because our findings reveal a new investigative tool for a simple, accessible, safe and inexpensive intervention that may provide a protective layer against cognitive decline. I’m here.”
However, she and her team added that based on these results alone, they are not ready to recommend that older adults add a daily multivitamin to their routines immediately.
Findings released Wednesday Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, is inconclusive and cannot be generalized in general. Further research is needed to confirm them.
“It is too early to make these recommendations,” Baker said. “I feel like I should do this in another study.”
Finding the Connection to Brain Health
The new study included 2,262 people aged 65 and older who were enrolled between August 2016 and August 2017 and followed for 3 years. Participants completed annual telephone tests to assess cognitive function. They were scored on remembering stories, demonstrating verbal fluency, and lining up numbers, among other tests.
The researchers analyzed function by comparing people who took cocoa extract daily to placebo and people who took a multivitamin daily to placebo based on test scores.
Researchers found that taking a multivitamin for three years appeared to slow cognitive aging by 1.8 years, or 60%, compared to placebo. had no effect on cognitive function, the researchers wrote.
The study, supported by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging, also found that multivitamins were most beneficial for older adults with a history of cardiovascular disease.
“It is well known that people with cardiovascular risk factors may have low levels of vitamins and minerals in their blood. Therefore, supplementing with these vitamins and minerals can improve cardiovascular health. There is a strong link between cardiovascular health and brain health,” said Mary S., professor of neurology and UCLA. Dr. Keith Vossel, Director of the Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Care, said.
Thanks to the relationship between cardiovascular and brain health, taking steps to prevent cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions, such as maintaining a healthy diet and exercise, can also benefit the brain. have a nature
“If we can really eliminate or prevent chronic diseases, we can prevent dementia,” he said. “Up to about 40% of dementia could be prevented with better lifelong prevention.”
Although the specific factors driving this association between multivitamins and cognitive function are unknown and require further research, Baker and her team found that multivitamins are rich in micronutrients such as vitamin C and vitamin E. We believe it may be related to how it benefits people who may be deficient in , magnesium or zinc.
“As we age, the situation can get worse. Many older people are not getting enough nutrition for a variety of reasons,” says Baker.
“The older we get, the more likely we are to have medical conditions that can compromise micronutrient adequacy,” she said. It can also affect micronutrient sufficiency by interfering with the body’s ability to absorb these essential nutrients from
“We went down this road some time ago.”
Other studies have had mixed results about the association between certain vitamins and supplements and the risk of dementia, warned Vossel.
“In vitamins and dementia research, we have been down this road for some time. We recommended vitamin E based on promising results, but then, and since then, results have been mixed,” says Vossel.
He added that older people should consult their primary care physician before starting a vitamin or supplement routine.
“Supplements are generally safe, but overdosing on vitamins can be very dangerous and should be monitored carefully, especially for people with memory loss.” E intake may also increase the risk of bleeding, so these are just some considerations.”
Overall, the results of the new study are encouraging, said Heather Snyder, vice president of medical and scientific relations at the Alzheimer’s Association.
“There is certainly follow-up work needed, especially independent confirmation in studies with larger and more diverse populations. But this is encouraging,” she said. More research is needed to understand what the vitamins are beneficial for.”
