Memory boosters for seniors

Australian researchers have stumbled upon findings that show folic acid and Vitamin B12 supplements can prevent memory loss in people 60 years and over.

Originally setting out to determine whether folic acid could help reduce depression, researchers instead discovered there was a considerable effect on cognitive decline.

The team of researchers, based at several universities across Australia, studied about 900 people in Sydney, Canberra and in the southern NSW regional centre of Wagga Wagga, and found folate and Vitamin B12 was reportedly an “inexpensive” way for people to improve memory function.

Participants were given a dose of 400 micrograms of folic acid and 100 micrograms of Vitamin B12 per day.

Folate and folic acid are both vitamins in the B group. Folate occurs naturally in food, whereas folic acid is a synthetic form of the vitamin usually found in fortified foods such as cereals and vitamin supplements.

“I didn’t expect such a small dose of folate supplement would have such an effect on cognition levels,” one of the study’s authors, Professor Helen Christensen, said.

Despite the findings, Professor Christensen said more research was needed.

“We would really think it was a great idea to replicate this with another group of people before we can be running around stridently suggesting people should be making sure they have the folate in their food,” she suggested.