A daily multivitamin and mineral supplement (补充物) may reduce cognitive (认知的) decline in older people, according to a US study that is the first to demonstrate that they may benefit ageing brain function.
The trial, involving more than 2,200 over-65s, suggests daily supplements may slow cognitive decline by about 60%, or nearly two years, with the most substantial effects seen in older people with a history of heart attack.
While experts in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia (痴呆症) are encouraged by the findings, they say larger studies are needed to confirm the effect before recommending daily multivitamins to protect older people from cognitive decline.
“We provide the first evidence in a long-term trial of older women and men that daily use of a safe multivitamin-mineral can improve cognition,” the researchers wrote in Alzheimer’s and Dementia, the journal of the Chicago-based Alzheimer’s Association. “This finding could have important public health indications for brain health and resistance to future cognitive decline.”
Researchers at Wake Forest University in North Carolina and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston investigated whether a daily cocoa extract or multivitamins with minerals improved memory and other mental tasks in 2,262 older people. The researchers rated participants’ “global cognition” before and during the three-year trial through tests involving word lists, number problems, verbal fluency and story recall.
Cocoa extract is rich in substances called flavanols and past research suggested they might benefit brain function. The latest trial found daily cocoa supplements made no difference to cognitive performance.
Daily multivitamin-mineral supplements, however, appeared to improve cognitive scores, in particular for those with heart attack. The results suggest “either greater relative improvement or more protection from cognitive decline”, the authors wrote.
Prof Laura Baker, co-principal investigator on the Cosmos study at Wake Forest University, said: “While these initial findings are promising, additional research is needed in a larger and more diverse group of people. Also, we still have work to do to better understand why the multivitamin might benefit cognition in older adults.”
12. What does the US study show according to the passage?
A.Elderly people suffer from cognitive decline. |
B.Cognitive decline leads to worse brain function. |
C.Seniors get heart attack due to cognitive decline. |
D.Multivitamins and minerals help to slow cognitive decline. |
13. What can we know about the participants in the trial?
A.They improved memory and other mental tasks after the trial. |
B.They took tests like word lists and number problems for two years. |
C.They improved cognitive performance greatly after taking cocoa extract. |
D.They boosted cognitive scores after taking multivitamins and minerals. |
14. How do the researchers mainly conduct the study?
A.By comparing different groups. |
B.By summarizing historical reports. |
C.By filling up questionnaires. |
D.By examining medical records. |
15. Which statement will Prof Laura Baker probably agree with?
A.The findings turn out to be of little significance to older adults. |
B.It is clear why multivitamins reduce cognitive decline. |
C.Further study should be conducted in a larger population. |
D.There is an urgent need to recommend multivitamins to the old. |