A recent study—believed to be the first large, long-term study of its kind—investigated the effects of cocoa extract (CE) and multivitamin and mineral (MVM) supplements on global cognition in older adults from the general population. The results showed that daily CE supplementation for three years did not affect cognitive function. In contrast, the study found that MVM significantly improved global cognition, episodic memory, and executive function after three years of use. Participants with a history of cardiovascular disease at baseline may have shown a more pronounced MVM benefit, indicating either greater relative improvement or more protection from CVD-related cognitive decline.

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias affect more than 46 million people worldwide. Safe and affordable treatments to prevent cognitive decline in older adults are urgently needed. In response to this need, certain dietary supplements have been touted as having protective effects on cognition.

Normal brain function requires various vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Deficiencies in these nutrients may increase the risk for cognitive decline and dementia with age. Yet clinical trials of individual nutrients’ effects on cognition have yielded mixed results. This study, however, suggests that the use of multivitamin and mineral supplements may be beneficial for cognitive function in older adults.

It’s nice to get good news once in a while. A simple, inexpensive treatment that many—including myself—already take daily has been shown to significantly slow the pace of mental decline as we age. I would recommend it to anyone interested in improved longevity.