From NIH Research Matters
Memory and thinking skills tend to decline as we get older. Certain lifestyle factors — such as a healthy diet, physical activity, and social interactions — might help to protect cognitive health as we age. Some studies have suggested that taking multivitamins or other dietary supplements may help protect thinking and memory. But few large-scale studies have directly examined how dietary supplements affect cognitive health in older adults. Clinical trials to date have shown mixed results.
A research team led by Dr. Adam M. Brickman of Columbia University set out to test the idea. Their study included more than 3,500 volunteers, ages 60 and older. Most were white (94%), and more than half had a college degree (56%). Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a daily multivitamin or a placebo pill. Neither they nor the researchers knew which type of pills they were given.
