The COcoa supplement and multivitamin outcomes study (COSMOS) revealed promising results in the fight against cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease
With predictions indicating that nearly one in four Americans will be at high risk of cognitive decline by 2060, the findings showed the potential of a simple supplement to slow down cognitive ageing.
The COSMOS-Clinic study
In an in-clinic study conducted by researchers at Mass General Brigham, researchers conducted thorough in-person cognitive assessments with 573 participants within the COSMOS subset known as COSMOS-Clinic.
Previous studies within COSMOS had utilised telephone-based and web-based assessments. The COSMOS-Clinic study, however, offered a more comprehensive evaluation.
Prespecified analyses of data from COSMOS-Clinic revealed a statistically significant benefit for the multivitamin compared to the placebo over two years.
The study showed positive effects on global cognition, indicating that daily multivitamin supplementation can contribute to preserving overall cognitive function.
Episodic memory gets a boost
While there was a statistically significant benefit for change in episodic memory, the study did not observe the same impact on executive function/attention. This suggests that the positive effects of multivitamin supplementation are particularly notable in certain cognitive domains.
A meta-analysis combining data from the three studies, ranging from 2-3 years in treatment duration, provided robust evidence of global cognition and episodic memory benefits. The authors estimate that the daily multivitamin slowed global cognitive ageing by two years compared to the placebo.
What the researchers say
Dr Chirag Vyas, the report’s first author, emphasised the appeal of a daily multivitamin as a practical and accessible approach to combat cognitive ageing. Senior author Dr. Olivia Okereke highlighted the importance of these findings for older adults keen on preserving brain health.
Led by Dr. JoAnn Manson and Dr. Howard Sesso of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the COSMOS consortium involves collaboration between MGH, BWH, Columbia University, and Wake Forest University. Using both traditional and innovative cognitive assessment approaches, the consortium includes over 5,000 participants aged 60 and older from across the U.S.
Understanding the mechanisms
With three studies supporting the benefits of a daily multivitamin, researchers now aim to unravel how it protects against memory loss and cognitive decline.
Dr. Sesso stresses the importance of exploring the role of baseline nutritional status in safeguarding cognitive health. The COSMOS study presents an effective case for the role of a daily multivitamin in supporting cognitive health among older adults.
As the ageing population grows, this breakthrough could offer a safe, accessible, and affordable approach to preserving brain function and mitigating the impact of cognitive ageing.
