Slowing Mental Decline in the Elderly

"There's an urgent need for safe and affordable interventions to protect cognition against decline in older adults."

"Our study showed that although cocoa extract did not affect cognition, daily multivitamin-mineral supplementation resulted in statistically significant cognitive improvement."

"This is the first evidence of cognitive benefit in a large longer-term study of multivitamin supplementation in older adults."

Laura Baker, study investigator, Wake Forest University School of Medicine 

Scientists at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina looked at taking cocoa or multivitamin supplements over three years. They found those who got multivitamins had a slower rate of mental decline than others.

 

In recent research, part of a wider trial by Brigham and Women's Hospital where over 21,000 men and women across the United States took part in an investigation into the potential of cognitive improvement trials in the elderly, a conclusion was reached that a daily multivitamin could effectively maintain cognitive sharpness for an additional two years.

Through this research, results indicated that daily multivitamin intake for three years resulted in a significant reduction in cognitive decline, commonly seen when people age. Decline was halted by about 60 percent, equating with 1.8 years, findings that raise optimism that dementia could be prevented with the use of supplementary vitamin intake.

Experts feel the results of the research represented the first positive, large-scale, long-term study to indicate that multivitamin-mineral supplementation for older adults may answer an urgent need to preserve the function of the elderly mind. To the present, evidence on the impact of multivitamins on the brain was limited. Most such trials resulted in the impression there is little impact with regular multivitamin intake.

During the study, researchers looked into whether a daily cocoa extract supplement or alternately a daily multivitamin-mineral supplement reduces the risk of developing heart disease, stroke, cancer and other deleterious health conditions. Multivitamins taken daily will typically contain vitamins A, C, D, E and K,, along with a range of B vitamins and nutrients such as calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium.

Over 2,200 participants between ages 65 and over were enrolled and followed for a three-year period. Tests were completed over the telephone at the start of the protocol and then annually in an evaluation of memory retention and other cognitive skills. At the completion of the study, the research team estimated three years of multivitamin supplementation translated to an approximate 60 percent slowing of cognitive decline.

Benefits were seen to be relatively greater in participants with "significant" cardiovascular disease. Individuals with such a chronic cardiovascular condition already are at increased risk for cognitive impairment and decline, which makes the finding all that more significant. Dr. Baker cautioned that further studies are required in confirmation of the findings prior to making health recommendations.

"With aging, the situation can get worse. A lot of our older adults do not have adequate nutrition for a number of reasons,"

"As we get older, we are more likely to have medical conditions that can compromise micronutrient sufficiency."

"The medications that we take for these conditions can also affect micronutrient sufficiency by interfering with the body’s ability to absorb these essential nutrients from the diet."

Laura Baker, study investigator, Wake Forest University School of Medicine