Vitamin E May Prevent Cognitive Decline

CHICAGO--A study presented at the World Alzheimer's Congress on July 11 showed that high intakes of vitamin E reduced memory loss and stalled cognitive decline. Beginning in 1993, the study followed more than 6,000 people 65 years and older over a three-year period. Study participants were asked about their daily diets, including vitamin supplement use. Cognitive function was tested with a series of performance exams, including remembering details of a long story and grouping similar symbols and numbers together after studying them for a short amount of time. The majority of study participants consumed between 200 to 400 IU of vitamin E per day.

"This study is important because most of the previous research has focused on antioxidant nutrients as treatment therapy in persons who already have Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease," said Martha Morris, the study's principal author and an assistant professor at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center. "There is limited study on whether dietary intake of antioxidant nutrients can protect against the disease from ever occurring." For additional information,visit www.rpslmc.edu.