Taking a daily multivitamin may offer protection against memory loss in older adults, according to a series of studies involving over 5,000 participants.
The trio of studies, part of the larger COSMOS trial, explored the effects of a daily multivitamin, specifically Centrum Silver, on cognitive aging.
Dr. Chirag Vyas, from Massachusetts General Hospital, noted that compared to a placebo, daily multivitamin use was associated with a delay in cognitive aging of approximately two years.
Published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the final study included 573 adults aged 60 and older who were randomly assigned to take either a multivitamin or a placebo daily for two years.
Cognitive function was assessed through in-person and remote tests at the study’s onset and conclusion. Earlier studies in the series used similar methods to evaluate cognitive function.
Centrum Silver, provided by Pfizer for the trial, and funding from Mars Inc., supported the COSMOS trial but did not influence study design.
According to Vyas, who led the third study, the combined results indicate that daily multivitamin use can modestly benefit global cognition—such as reasoning and attention—and everyday memory recall in healthy older adults.
However, the specific vitamins and minerals responsible for these cognitive benefits remain unclear, necessitating further research to identify them, as well as to include more diverse racial and ethnic groups beyond the predominantly white participants.
“As people age, neuronal membranes begin to deteriorate, and vitamins may protect against some of this deterioration,” explained Vyas.
Dr. Richard Caselli, a neurology professor, expressed cautious optimism about the findings, noting the minimal cognitive changes over three years in healthy individuals without Alzheimer’s.
While he would recommend daily multivitamins to older patients, Caselli remains skeptical about the extent of cognitive impact.
Dr. Zaldy Tan, from Cedars Sinai, suggested that certain individuals with dietary vitamin deficiencies might benefit more from multivitamins, though he highlighted uncertainty regarding whether the improvement stems directly from the multivitamins or other factors.
Caselli emphasized the importance of overall health maintenance in protecting against cognitive decline, recommending social engagement, mental and physical activity, and management of conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
Regarding multivitamin use, he suggested it could be beneficial for individuals concerned about dietary vitamin and mineral adequacy.
“Taking a multivitamin supplement is likely beneficial, but its substantial impact on those with a healthy diet remains uncertain,” Caselli concluded.
