Could a daily multivitamin boost your memory? A new study says it might help, especially if you have heart disease
- Although millions of people take multivitamins for various reasons, experts say there are no obvious health benefits, and it’s better to get those nutrients from food
- A new study, however, shows that daily multivitamin may improve memory function in some people, possibly by providing micronutrients to the hippocampus
Millions of American adults take multivitamins every day, even though the pills have not been shown to prevent ailments like heart disease or cancer – and experts say it’s better to get nutrients from food.
The latest research looks at whether taking a daily vitamin can have an effect on memory. The study found multivitamins may boost memory function in some people, by the equivalent of three years of normal, age-related memory loss.
While the study isn’t comprehensive enough to warrant broad recommendations to take vitamins, it provides important information about their use, said Adam Brickman, the Columbia University professor of neuropsychology who led the study.
Further study is needed to determine exactly which nutrients might make a difference.