Recent articles in Alzheimer's and Dementia and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shed light on the potential benefits of daily multivitamin supplementation for older individuals' cognitive health. While randomised trials have generally shown the limited advantages of multivitamins, these studies suggest a nuanced perspective.

Two separate trials, each spanning three years, examined the effects of a comprehensive daily multivitamin regimen containing vitamins A, B12, C, D, E, biotin, potassium, magnesium, and zinc on cognitive function in older adults.

In the first trial, involving 2,262 participants with an average age of 73, individuals were randomly assigned to either take the multivitamin or a placebo. Initially, both groups showed comparable cognitive scores, but after three years, the multivitamin group exhibited a significantly higher combined cognition score. Notably, this improvement was more noticeable among participants with existing cardiovascular disease.

The second trial engaged 3,562 participants with an average age of 71, none of whom had a history of heart attack, stroke, or invasive cancer. Over the course of three years, their cognitive abilities were repeatedly assessed. Interestingly, those taking multivitamins outperformed the placebo group on a test involving the immediate recall of 20 words.

In summary, while the benefits of multivitamins for cognitive function in older adults appear modest and are expressed through specialised measures, these trials offer a fresh perspective on potential cognitive health advantages.