Of the 34 currently recognized menopause symptoms, one of the most disconcerting is brain fog. An umbrella term that can involve everything from memory loss and difficulty concentrating to misplacing keys and forgetting names, menopausal brain fog can interfere with a woman’s ability to function normally — especially when coupled with the loss of cognition that often comes along with the aging process.1
Given how challenging brain fog can be, many of us may wonder, is there anything women can do to better support memory as they age? According to a recent study, taking a daily multi vitamin for brain health is potentially a good place to start.
How Common is Memory Loss?
The brain gets older along with the body, and forgetfulness is a normal part of the aging process. About 40% of all adults experience some form of memory loss after the age of 65.2 Memory loss is also common during the menopausal transition; 60% of women report declines in memory and thinking ability during perimenopause and menopause.3
Multi Vitamins for Brain Health: What Does the Science Say?
The recent study on multi vitamins and brain health was conducted at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and published in the July 2023 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.4 With the goal of measuring the impact of a daily multi vitamin on age-related cognitive decline, researchers randomly assigned more than 3,500 adults over the age of 60 to take either a multi vitamin or a placebo every day for three years.
At the end of each year, these adults did a series of online cognitive assessments designed to test memory function of the hippocampus, which is a part of the brain most affected by aging.
By the end of the first year, study participants who took a daily multi vitamin showed a cognitive improvement equivalent to about three years of age-related memory decline compared to the placebo group. This improvement was maintained over the course of the study period.
Researchers don’t know exactly which individual nutrients found in the multi vitamins were responsible for the improvement, but their results add to the growing body of evidence suggesting that nutrition does play a key role in brain health as we age.5
"Cognitive aging is a top health concern for older adults, and this study suggests that there may be a simple, inexpensive way to help older adults slow down memory decline," study leader Adam M. Brickman, PhD, professor of neuropsychology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons told ScienceDaily.6
Multi Vitamins and Menopause
The body relies on good nutrition to function, but it’s not always easy to get everything we need from our diets alone. A multi vitamin can help to fill in nutritional gaps, aiding us in feeling our best during menopause and beyond.7
Are you considering a multi vitamin to support your body (and brain) during menopause but don’t know which one is right for you? Look for a premium, quality product with ingredients that are meticulously selected and rigorously tested—and without GMOs or artificial flavors and colors.
*Please note, Bonafide’s Multi Vitamin was not included in the 2023 study mentioned above.
Resources
- https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/ENGLISH-WMD-Leaflet.pdf
- https://alzheimer.ca/en/about-dementia/do-i-have-dementia/differences-between-normal-aging-dementia#:~:text=Almost%2040%25%20of%20us%20will,to%2Dday%20lives%20without%20interruption.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4125424/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523489046?via%3Dihub
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230524181916.htm
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230524181916.htm
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6372850/
