Vitamins for a Better Memory

Researchers at Harvard Medical School report that taking certain vitamins helps prevent memory loss. Even more importantly, they report that it's never too late to impact memory by adopting certain good health habits, including getting enough antioxidants such as vitamin C. In addition to deterring memory loss, vitamins also ease symptoms related to some types of age-related dementia. Vitamins may be harmful when taken in large doses, so always discuss vitamin use with your primary physician.

Vitamin E

In an article about memory loss prevention, Marilyn S. Albert PhD, Professor of Psychology and Neurology at Harvard Medical School, mentions the importance of Vitamin E. A 2002 study published in "Archives of Neurology" tracked 2,889 people ages 65 and older and the supplements they took. None of the participants had any cognitive decline at the beginning of the study. After 3 years, 36 percent of the participants who included daily use of Vitamin E had less mental decline than those who did not. Albert recommends attention to diet, sleep patterns and life-long learning as other preventative measures for memory retention.

Vitamin B-12

Researchers at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University estimate that 10 to 15 percent of the population age 60 and over suffers deficiencies in Vitamin B-12. Although scientists still don't understand all the biochemical processes of B-12 deficiency, the condition carries clear neurological symptoms which include memory loss, disorientation and dementia. Not all of these conditions are reversible, especially when they are longstanding. As people age, getting digestive systems to absorb all of the B-12 from food sources becomes more difficult. Adults need 2.4 micrograms of B-12 per day.

Folic Acid

UCLA Professor of Neurosurgery and Physiology, Fernando Gomez-Pinella, reports that diet, exercise and sleep alter the way our brains function. Changing a diet enhances cognitive function and helps counteract the effects of aging. Gomez-Pinella states that adequate amounts of folic acid, other B vitamins and sufficient omega-3 fatty acids delay the effects of aging and reduce cognitive decline. Examples of foods high in folic acid include leafy green vegetables such as spinach and kale, citrus fruits and dried beans and peas. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke funded the Gomez-Pinella study.