Daily Multivitamins Use linked to Positive Effects On Memory And Cognitive Function

Preserving cognitive abilities is a top priority for older adults, yet effective strategies to slow cognitive decline remain limited. In a recent study published in The American Journal Of Clinical Nutrition, the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study Web (COSMOS-Web) has investigated the impact of daily multivitamin/multimineral supplementation on memory in older individuals. The results provide compelling evidence suggesting that multivitamin supplementation could be a safe and accessible approach to maintaining cognitive health in later life.

The COSMOS-Web ancillary study was conducted by Lok-Kin Yeung and colleagues in New York involving 3,562 older adults who were randomly assigned to receive either a daily multivitamin supplement (Centrum Silver) or a placebo. Over the course of three years, participants were evaluated annually using an internet-based battery of neuropsychological tests. The primary outcome measure focused on episodic memory, specifically immediate recall performance on the ModRey test, after one year of intervention. Secondary outcomes included changes in episodic memory and performance on tasks assessing novel object recognition and executive function over the three-year period.

The findings of the study were:

● Compared to the placebo group, participants receiving multivitamin supplementation demonstrated significantly improved ModRey immediate recall after one year, the primary endpoint of the study.

● This finding was statistically significant (t(5889) = 2.25, p = 0.025) and was consistent throughout the three-year follow-up period (t(5889) = 2.54, p = 0.011).

● The multivitamin supplementation did not show significant effects on the secondary outcome measures.

● Based on the analysis of the association between age and ModRey performance, the researchers estimated that the multivitamin intervention led to memory enhancement equivalent to a 3.1-year reduction in age-related memory decline.

"There is evidence that people with cardiovascular disease may have lower micronutrient levels that multivitamins may correct, but we don't really know right now why the effect is stronger in this group," Brickman said in a statement.

The findings of COSMOS-Web align with those of another COSMOS ancillary study called COSMOS-Mind, which demonstrated that daily multivitamin use led to improved cognition, episodic memory, and executive function. This effect was particularly notable in individuals with a history of cardiovascular disease. The researchers noted that people with cardiovascular conditions may have lower micronutrient levels that multivitamins can potentially correct, though further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms.

The COSMOS-Web study provides valuable insights into the potential cognitive benefits of daily multivitamin/multimineral supplementation among older adults. The results highlight the importance of nutrition in brain health and suggest that multivitamin use could be a safe, accessible, and affordable approach to protecting cognitive function. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms and confirm the generalizability of these findings across diverse populations.

Reference:

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Yeung L-K, at al "Multivitamin supplementation improves memory in older adults: A randomized clinical trial" Am J Clin Nutr 2023; DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.05.011.