Recent research indicates that multivitamins may have the potential to mitigate age-related memory decline in specific individuals.
In accordance with Adam Brickman, the primary researcher of the study and a professor of neuropsychology at Columbia University, the research provides crucial insights into the advantages of vitamins.
Assessing Multivitamins’ Impact on Recall Abilities
Brickman stated that the study indicated potential benefits associated with the consumption of multivitamins. However, further investigation is necessary to identify the specific nutrients responsible for this effect.
The study, conducted jointly by Columbia University in New York and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, monitored the well-being of over 3,500 individuals aged 60 and above for a duration of three years. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a daily multivitamin or a placebo. Their memory was evaluated annually through online memory tests.
During the test, participants were presented with a series of 20 words, individually displayed for three seconds each. Immediately after the test and following a 15-minute break, participants were asked to recall as many words as possible. This assessment focused on the hippocampus, the brain region associated with learning and memory.
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Improved Memory Function
The researchers discovered that individuals who took daily multivitamins for one year exhibited improved memory function. The multivitamin group advanced from 7.10 words to 7.81 words, while the placebo group had an improvement from 7.21 words to 7.65 words.
The disparity observed was deemed comparable to the typical age-related memory improvement over a span of three years. Notably, patients with heart disease displayed even greater improvement.
Mars Edge, the supplier of the tools for cognitive evaluation, and Pfizer Consumer Healthcare (now Haleon), the company that makes Centrum Silver, contributed funding to the study. It is important to note that both companies were not involved in data collection or analysis to maintain the study’s impartiality, as reported by Time.
These findings hold significance because the brain, like other organs, requires adequate nutrition. Insufficient nutrients can have a detrimental impact on memory.
Andrew Budson, a neurology professor at Boston University, described the findings as innovative and relevant to cognitive behavioral neurology.
Despite the encouraging results, scientists caution against relying solely on multivitamins for cognitive health among older adults. They advise against substituting a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle with supplements.
Dr. JoAnn Manson, a professor of medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School and one of the principal researchers of the study, suggests that vitamins may serve as a supplement for middle-aged and older individuals who struggle with nutrient absorption or have poor diets.
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