OBJECTIVE: Growing evidence suggests that dietary supplementation with selected micronutrients and nutraceuticals may have the potential to improve cognition in older adults. Fewer studies have investigated the effects of these substances on brain activity. METHODS: This study was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, conducted to explore the effects of 16 weeks supplementation with a combined multivitamin, mineral and herbal formula on the steady state visually evoked potential (SSVEP) measure of brain electrical activity. Participants were elderly women aged between 64 and 79 years, with subjective memory complaints. Baseline and post-treatment SSVEP data was obtained for 22 participants in themultivitamin group and 19 in the placebo group. A spatial working memory delayed response task (DRT) was performed during the recording of the SSVEP. RESULTS: The results revealed that when compared to placebo, multivitamin supplementation delayed SSVEP latency during retrieval, interpreted as an increase in inhibitory neural processes. Behavioural performance on the DRT was not improved by the multivitamin, however improved performance accuracy was associated with increased midline central SSVEP latency. There were no multivitamin-related effects on SSVEP amplitude. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that in the elderly, multivitamin supplementation may enhance neural efficiency during memory retrieval.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: Growing evidence suggests that dietary supplementation with selected micronutrients and nutraceuticals may have the potential to improve cognition in older adults. Fewer studies have investigated the effects of these substances on brain activity. METHODS: This study was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, conducted to explore the effects of 16 weeks supplementation with a combined multivitamin, mineral and herbal formula on the steady state visually evoked potential (SSVEP) measure of brain electrical activity. Participants were elderly women aged between 64 and 79 years, with subjective memory complaints. Baseline and post-treatment SSVEP data was obtained for 22 participants in the multivitamin group and 19 in the placebo group. A spatial working memory delayed response task (DRT) was performed during the recording of the SSVEP. RESULTS: The results revealed that when compared to placebo, multivitamin supplementation delayed SSVEP latency during retrieval, interpreted as an increase in inhibitory neural processes. Behavioural performance on the DRT was not improved by the multivitamin, however improved performance accuracy was associated with increased midline central SSVEP latency. There were no multivitamin-related effects on SSVEP amplitude. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that in the elderly, multivitamin supplementation may enhance neural efficiency during memory retrieval.
Authors: Helen N Macpherson; David J White; Kathryn A Ellis; Con Stough; David Camfield; Richard Silberstein; Andrew Pipingas Journal: Front Aging Neurosci Date: 2014-04-16 Impact factor: 5.750
Authors: David J White; Katherine H M Cox; Matthew E Hughes; Andrew Pipingas; Riccarda Peters; Andrew B Scholey Journal: Front Aging Neurosci Date: 2016-12-02 Impact factor: 5.750
Authors: Anna Horwitz; Erik L Mortensen; Merete Osler; Birgitte Fagerlund; Martin Lauritzen; Krisztina Benedek Journal: Front Hum Neurosci Date: 2017-12-14 Impact factor: 3.169
Authors: Anna Horwitz; Mia Dyhr Thomsen; Iris Wiegand; Henrik Horwitz; Marc Klemp; Miki Nikolic; Lene Rask; Martin Lauritzen; Krisztina Benedek Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-02-28 Impact factor: 3.240