Daily Multivitamins May Slow Cognitive Decline in Older Adults, Study Suggests

While the benefits are modest, researchers estimate a two-year reduction in brain aging, though further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and potential beneficiaries.

A new study suggests that daily multivitamin intake can slow cognitive decline in adults aged 60 and above, with a modest benefit observed in global cognition over a two-year period.
The study, part of the larger COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS), involved over 21,000 older adults and found that those who took multivitamins showed a consistent improvement in memory and overall cognitive ability compared to those who received a placebo.
Researchers estimate that the memory boost observed in people taking the multivitamin corresponded to a two-year reduction in brain aging.
Despite the findings, some experts caution that the benefits are small and may not translate to significant improvements in people's lives, with some suggesting that the study's claim of a multivitamin slowing cognitive aging by two years is a stretch.
Further research is needed to understand who benefits from the supplements and why, with some suggesting that gains may be driven by people who weren't previously consuming enough of certain nutrients important for brain health.