Why Taking A Daily Multivitamin May Protect Against Cognitive Decline

A new study has found that taking a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement may help to prevent cognitive decline in older people.

The trial took place over three years and involved 2,200 participants aged 65 and older randomly assigned to take a daily multivitamin or a cocoa flavonol supplement as a placebo. The study published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia, The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, is the first positive, large-scale, long-term study to show that taking a multivitamin/mineral supplement may slow cognitive ageing.

What The Study Shows

Significant benefits were observed in those taking the multivitamin supplement, with results suggesting that daily multivitamin supplements may slow cognitive decline by about 60% – or nearly two years, with the most substantial effects being seen in older people with a history of cardiovascular disease.

The cocoa extract was chosen for the placebo because past research has suggested it is rich in flavonols and may have some benefits for brain function. However, the latest trial found that daily cocoa supplements did not affect people’s cognitive performance.

In particular, taking a daily multivitamin may help improve cognitive scores, especially for cardiovascular disease patients.

Health experts claim, however, that more extensive studies are needed to confirm the effect of daily multivitamins on protecting older people from cognitive decline.

Why Multivitamins Provide A Wide Range of Nutrients For Optimal Brain Health

This research highlights what many nutritionists have supported for a long time: ensuring you get a wide range of nutrients is essential for achieving optimal health.

There are a variety of nutrients that your body and brain need for optimal health. Some of these essential nutrients include:

B vitamins

Recommended for increased energy levels. Vitamins B6, B9 and B12 are all linked with healthy brain development and function, from mood to cognition. B Vitamins may help to prevent dementia and boost the production of neurotransmitters – chemicals that deliver messages between neurons in the brain and body.

Vitamin B6 helps to create neurotransmitters and chemical messengers in the brain. It also helps regulate energy use in the brain. Some research suggests that vitamin B6 deficiency may be linked with cognitive decline and dementia.

Vitamin B12 deficiency has also been associated with memory loss, especially in older adults. The vitamin may play a role in preventing brain atrophy, which is the loss of neurons in the brain and is often associated with memory loss or dementia.

Vitamins C, D, E and K

Vitamin C increases the feelgood neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, acting as a natural antidepressant. [2] Vitamin D is known to have powerful effects on the brain at every stage of life. Ensuring you get enough Vitamin D throughout adult life can help to prevent cognitive decline, dementia and Alzheimer’s. [3] Vitamin D has also been shown to lift mood, improve memory and increase problem-solving ability.

Getting enough Vitamin E is beneficial for helping prevent mental decline as we age, especially when it’s paired with Vitamin C. By combining Vitamin C and E, research shows this can help to maintain a good memory, slow memory loss and significantly lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. [4]

Vitamin E is beneficial for minimising damage caused by a stroke, and redirecting blood supply can prevent brain cells from dying after the event. [5, 6]

Vitamin K is also rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help keep the brain healthy and sharp as we age. [7]

Choline Bitartrate

Choline Bitartrate is water-soluble. After it’s digested, it will enter your bloodstream and cross the blood-brain barrier. Once in your brain, it boosts neural signal transmission and repairs neurons. Choline Bitartrate improves your brain function and memory by increasing the production of acetylcholine.

Folate

Folate plays an essential role in creating DNA and RNA and forming neurotransmitters and is beneficial for depression and mild cognitive impairment.

Selenium

Selenium protects against oxidative stress, and studies show that it can increase the number of new neurons, improving memory in old age. [8]

Also, consider…

Krill Oil

Krill Oil has powerful anti-inflammatory properties as a super-rich source of essential fatty acids, including Omega-3 oils. These are linked to a wide range of heart and brain health benefits. Krill Oil phospholipids are clinically proven to increase Omega-3 levels in the blood efficiently, and this nourishes the brain with essential nutrients such as phospholipids, omega-3 EPA, DHA and choline. [9]

Curcumin

By boosting levels of the brain hormone BDNF, Curcumin can increase the growth of new neurons, which may help fight degenerative processes in the brain. Curcumin can surpass the blood-brain barrier, which can powerfully boost brain function. Curcumin has also been shown to reverse age-related dysfunction. [10]

References:

[1] https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.12767

[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20688474/

[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6132681/

[4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14732624/

[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6464523/

[6] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140429085116.htm

[7] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33917442/

[8] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0162013415300799

[9] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24098072/

[10] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21334417/

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