Cognitive decline refers to a decrease in a person’s ability to think, reason, remember, and make decisions.
It is a natural part of aging, but in some cases, it can progress to a level that interferes with a person’s daily life, leading to conditions such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia.
MCI is a condition where people have problems with memory, language, and other mental functions beyond those expected for their age, but not severe enough to be classified as dementia.
Dementia is a severe form of cognitive decline that affects a person’s ability to perform everyday activities due to a decline in thinking, memory, and reasoning skills.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for around 60-80% of all cases.
A recent study conducted by Wake Forest University suggests that taking a daily multivitamin may help maintain cognitive health with aging and prevent cognitive decline.
The study examined 21,442 men and women across the U.S. and evaluated whether taking a daily cocoa extract supplement or a daily multivitamin-mineral supplement reduces the risk of developing heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other health outcomes.
Although the cocoa extract supplement did not have any effect on cognition, the daily use of a multivitamin-mineral supplement resulted in statistically significant cognitive improvement.
According to the researchers, several micronutrients and minerals are required to support normal body and brain function, and deficiencies in older adults may increase the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
Therefore, taking a daily multivitamin may be beneficial in preventing cognitive decline and maintaining cognitive health in older adults.
More than 2,200 participants aged 65 and older enrolled in the study and were followed for three years.
They completed tests over the phone at baseline and annually to evaluate memory and other cognitive abilities.
Although the study showed that taking a daily multivitamin-mineral supplement may improve cognition in older adults, the researchers caution that additional studies are needed to confirm these findings before any health recommendations can be made.
It is essential to understand the impact of cognitive decline on the aging population as it can severely interfere with daily life.
Therefore, this study sheds light on the importance of proper nutrition and dietary supplements in maintaining cognitive health in older adults.
This is the first evidence of cognitive benefit in a large longer-term study of multivitamin supplementation in older adults, and future research could help determine the underlying mechanisms and specific nutrient requirements that contribute to cognitive health.
A multivitamin is a dietary supplement that contains a combination of vitamins and minerals.
Multivitamins are intended to provide essential nutrients that may be missing or not consumed in sufficient amounts in a person’s diet.
Multivitamins may contain a variety of vitamins, such as vitamin A, C, D, E, K, and B vitamins, as well as minerals like calcium, magnesium, and iron.
Multivitamins come in various forms, including tablets, capsules, gummies, and liquids. They are widely available over-the-counter and can be purchased at drugstores, supermarkets, and online retailers.
However, it is important to note that while multivitamins can be beneficial for some people, they should not be considered a replacement for a healthy diet and lifestyle.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about how the Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and Omega-3 fats and carotenoid supplements could improve memory.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and Vitamin E may help prevent Parkinson’s disease.
The study was conducted by Laura D. Baker et al and published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
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