But research on the health benefits of multivitamins has been mixed at best. This year, for example, the US Preventive Services Task Force, a leading authority on preventive healthcare, reviewed 90 of the best available studies on supplements and vitamins, concluding the products didn't protect healthy adults lacking nutritional deficits against cardiovascular disease, cancer, or death from all causes.

Might research on different doses, supplement combinations, or populations prompt a different conclusion? Well, yes — in fact, that may have already happened, according to a new study that focused on memory and brain function. Our current options for improving brain health are limited.

For example, regular exercise, optimal weight, and a heart-healthy diet can improve cardiovascular health and lower the chances of certain types of dementia, such as dementia due to strokes. Beyond such common-sense measures, no available medicines, supplements, or treatments reliably improve brain function over the long term, despite advertisements claiming otherwise.

That's why researchers continue to explore whether certain foods or supplements could prove effective. In a recent study published in Alzheimer's and Dementia , more than 2, volunteers ages 65 and older were randomly assigned to receive cocoa or a placebo, a multivitamin or a placebo, or both cocoa and a multivitamin for three years.

The multivitamin chosen for this study was Centrum Silver , which contains 27 vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients in various amounts. When tests of cognition were analyzed at the end of the trial, those receiving cocoa did not demonstrate any improvement. But those assigned to take a multivitamin had improved scores on tests of.

They were followed for only three years. However, it was a randomized, double-blind trial, which is considered the most powerful study design.

This study alone isn't enough to suggest routine use of multivitamins for people of all ages. It may turn out that the benefits for older adults seen in this study were due to deficiencies in certain nutrients among some of the study participants.

All authors: Lok-Kin Yeung Columbia , Daniel M. Sloan Columbia , Howard D. Brickman Columbia. The study was supported by grants from Mars Edge, a segment of Mars Inc.

Multivitamins were supplied by Pfizer. Multivitamin Improves Memory in Older Adults, Study Finds. May 24, Share this page Share on Facebook Share on X formerly Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share by email.

Adam M. References More information The study, titled " Multivitamin supplementation improves memory in older adults: A randomized clinical trial ," was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Manson and Dr. Sesso are co-leaders of the parent COSMOS trial.

Additionally, the improvement was more pronounced in study participants who had underlying cardiovascular disease. Researchers did not investigate whether any specific component of the multivitamin was responsible for the improvement in memory, but the study supports evidence that nutrition is key in optimizing brain health as we get older.

Most brands offer the same benefits, but experts suggest looking for ones with the USP Verified Mark, an indicator that a particular brand has consistent quality and the actual ingredients listed on the label.

Home Page. Aging Well · aging. BY L'Oreal Thompson Payton. To explore whether a daily multivitamin could benefit cognitive function, the researchers turned to participants in the Cocoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study COSMOS , a multiyear study which has enrolled 21, older men and women to investigate the effects of cocoa supplements and multivitamins on cognition and the risk of cancer and cardiovascular events.

Haleon, formerly known as Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, makes Centrum Silver and provided vitamins used in the trial. Mars Edge, part of the Mars candy and snack maker, partially funded the study with the National Institutes of Health.

Neither company had any role in designing the trial or input in the findings. For the new study, Brickman and his colleagues followed a subset of 3, individuals from the larger trial who were randomly assigned to receive a multivitamin or a placebo. The researchers estimate that the multivitamin intervention improved memory performance by the equivalent of 3.

That study also used data from a subset of COSMOS participants. That gives us a lot more confidence in the data. That study found no cognitive benefit from taking multivitamins. The researchers have not yet looked at other types of multivitamins to determine if they would work as well or if the benefit is specific to a certain formulation.

The effect seen by the researchers is relatively small, so that an individual might not notice any improvement although it can be seen in the larger data, said Dr. Paul Newhouse, director of the Vanderbilt Center for Cognitive Medicine, who was not involved with the new research.

Although the effect is small, using multivitamins along with other lifestyle modifications already shown to reduce the risk of cognitive decline, such as exercise and following the Mediterranean diet, might lead to a larger combined impact, he said. Newhouse doesn't recommend that doctors prescribe multivitamins to their patients to prevent cognitive decline.

they support neural signalling and the brain's natural process for generating new neurons and new brain cells. they have potent anti-inflammatory effects that a beneficial for your brain and general wellness. They may help activate the parts of your brain associated with memory.

They have been shown to improve learning and memory , making them effective memory supplements. Omega 3 is one of the first brain health supplements that come to mind. Approximately a third of your brain's grey matter the part of the brain involved in emotions, memory, and decision making, is composed of these fatty acids.

It supports all functions of the grey matter, including general cognition, motor skills and emotional regulation. It may prevent neurological conditions associated with poor grey matter health.

Higher omega 3 intake may help with focus and concentration problems. It may reduce your risks of cognitive decline , with one study finding that 75 year-olds with high blood levels of omega 3s reduced their risk of dementia by 47 per cent.

It may support improved mental health. Vitamin D is one of the most well-known brain supplements. It regulates the expression of hundreds of genes gene expression is the process where your DNA gives "instructions" to your body.

Vitamin D protects against cognitive decline. Enter your email below to get 10 small habits to build into your everyday routine that are easy as well as weekly braincare tips. In lists of vitamins for brain health, iron is often overlooked.

It supports overall blood health , including the production of red blood cells. It's needed for your blood cells to be able to transport energy and nutrients through your body including to your brain.

It supports intellectual performance. It strengthens general cognitive performance , including memory and attention. It reduces the risk of psychiatric illnesses.

Selenium is rarely talked about, but it's an essential mineral found in trace amounts in foods like whole wheat, nuts and seeds, and dairy products. You need very little just 55µg a day , yet an estimated 1 billion people worldwide are deficient in selenium.