A DAILY multivitamin pill could stave off Alzheimer’s disease, scientists say.
Researchers at Mass General Brigham in the US found people who take the tablets have slower brain ageing and less memory loss.
Getty – ContributorScientists say taking a daily multivitamin could slow cognitive decline[/caption]
They estimate the benefit was equal to being two years younger.
Lead author Dr Chirag Vyas, instructor in investigation at the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, said: “Cognitive decline is one of the top health concerns for most older adults, and a daily supplement of multivitamins has the potential to slow it.”
Brain power naturally declines with age but it’s faster in people with a condition called cognitive impairment, which raises the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Not everyone with cognitive impairment will have the brain robbing disease, but the National Institute of Ageing says about 10 to 20 per cent of over people over 65 with the condition develop dementia over a one-year period.
Now, scientists said early signs of brain decline may be delayed by taking cheap supplements that contain a mix of several vitamins and minerals.
They asked 573 over-60s to repeat memory and thinking tests over two years, with 272 taking a multivitamin and 301 a placebo.
Findings, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, showed that people taking the vitamins had better memory compared to those taking placebo pills.
There was also a “modest benefit” to cognitive abilities.
In addition, the team analysed data from two previous studies involving more than 5,000 people.
They added: “Overall, our findings support the benefits of a multivitamin supplement in preventing cognitive decline in older adults.”
They said it could be because nutrient deficiencies raise the risk of cognitive decline.
In the UK more than 900,000 people have dementia, with most cases caused by Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia.
Over-65s and those with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and depression, are most at risk.
Co-author of the report and chief of the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dr JoAnn Manson, said: “This is exciting and supports the promise of multivitamins as a safe, accessible and affordable approach to protecting brain health.”
Signs of cognitive impairement
Some older adults have more memory or thinking problems than other adults their age, a condition called mild cognitive impairment.
Symptoms won’t be as severe as those of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
People with the condition are are still able to take care of themselves and do their normal daily activities, according to the National Institute of Ageing.
Signs of mild cognitive impairment include:
Losing things often
Forgetting to go to events or appointments
Having more trouble coming up with words than other people of the same age