A new study suggests that multivitamins may have a small, positive effect on memory performance in older adults.
The study: Researchers monitored approximately 3,500 participants who took either a multivitamin or a placebo for 3 years to assess cognitive aging and memory.
* After one year, those taking the multivitamin were able to recall roughly a quarter more words than those in the placebo group.
Expert reactions: While some experts find the results “intriguing,” others emphasize that the overall effect was quite small and that multivitamins did not influence other areas of cognition assessed in the study.
* Dr. R. Sean Morrison would not encourage the use of multivitamins as a way to protect against memory loss, as he believes the effects measured in the studies are not convincing enough.
Complementary approach: Dr. JoAnn Manson emphasizes that multivitamins should not be a substitute for a healthy diet but could complement a balanced diet and help maintain cognitive health among older adults.
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