Daily intake can protect you from mental deterioration

As we age, our brain changes naturally. Behaviors such as shorter attention spans, less ability to multitask, and difficulty remembering names are some of the most common ailments seniors struggle with. But there is good news!

A new study found a link between a daily multivitamin and cognitive health, suggesting it may be possible to slow the brain’s aging process.

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The findings, published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, were conducted by researchers from Wake Forest University’s School of Medicine and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

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Researchers wanted to see if taking a daily cocoa extract supplement or multivitamin could reduce the risk of diseases like cancer, stroke, and more. Over 2,200 participants over the age of 65 were recruited for the study, with a follow-up process for three years. During this time, the researchers had the participants complete various tasks that tested their cognitive abilities.

The participants were divided into groups, with one taking the cocoa extract and the other taking a placebo. Another group took the multivitamin and had their results compared to another placebo group.

“Our study showed that although cocoa extract did not affect cognition, daily multivitamin-mineral supplementation resulted in statistically significant cognitive improvement,” said study author Laura Baker. “This is the first evidence of cognitive benefit in a large, longer-term study of multivitamin supplementation in older adults.”

Photo by Carol Yepes/Getty Images

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The study results indicate that taking the vitamin supplements for three years was able to slow down the aging process of the brain by 60%. These benefits were more pronounced in people with cardiovascular disease, which is great since these people are already at a higher risk of experiencing cognitive decline.

While the researchers make it clear that their findings are preliminary, if followed up, the study could offer people a new and non-invasive way to keep their brains fit and healthy for as long as possible.