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A new study involving more than 5,000 participants in the United States confirms: taking a multivitamin complex for only 19 cents per day would preserve the cognitive health of older people by making them look 2 years younger!
Since 2016, researchers at Mass General Brigham have been conducting a large-scale controlled trial involving more than 21,000 participants aged over 60, examining the effects of different lifestyle interventions on memory and decision-making. Today, they report the results of a meta-analysis involving 5,000 participants, more than 500 of whom underwent in-person assessments over two years.
A supplement for only 20 cents
Nutritional and micronutrient deficiencies in older adults may increase the risk of cognitive decline. But while not all supplements on the market are equal, certain multivitamin complexes could help delay cognitive aging by two years.
Their latest findings, published today in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, focused on a group of 573 participants who underwent face-to-face cognitive assessments after two to three years of taking a multivitamin supplement every day. In detail, 272 participants were randomly distributed into the “multivitamin” group and 301 into the placebo group. “Cognitive decline is one of the major health problems for most older adults, and a daily multivitamin supplement could provide an attractive and accessible approach to slowing cognitive aging” said the study’s first author, Chirag Vyas.
Those who received the multivitamin received the Centrum Silver pill, made by Haleon, which sold for about 20 cents per pill. Centrum Silver is a supplement for over-50s that contains nutrients including vitamin D, calcium and zinc. And the latter would be particularly beneficial for the cognitive good health of consumers.
Results: Researchers found that those who took multivitamins saw a “statistically significant” improvement in episodic memory when asked to complete tasks such as recalling a list of words.
Good in his body, good in his head!
A slowdown in cognitive aging by 2 years
The team also conducted a meta-analysis based on three separate studies with a treatment duration of 2 to 3 years (including 5,000 people). The results confirmed benefits for global cognition and episodic memory. The authors estimate that daily multivitamin slowed overall cognitive aging by the equivalent of two years compared to placebo.
“Meta-analysis of three separate studies on cognition provides strong and consistent evidence that taking a daily multivitamin containing more than 20 essential micronutrients helps prevent memory loss and slow cognitive aging” concludes Prof. Chirag Vyas.
An analysis which intervenes in a current sometimes heated debate on food supplements. While the market for nutritional supplements and supplements is doing well and represents billions of dollars, many medical experts remain skeptical about the ability of multivitamins to slow brain aging and only see it as a lucrative market.
This latest study shows that it is not necessary to spend tens of euros per month to benefit from these effects. But a well-chosen supplement with the right nutrients can give a little boost to your congestive health.
Slide: 10 essentials to boost your memory