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Folic acid may aid cognitive function
Folic acid supplementation may improve cognitive function among older adults, according to an article published in the January 20 issue of the Lancet. In a study of adults with inadequate folate status, supplementation enhanced participants’ memory to the equivalent of a memory 4.7 to 6.9 years younger.
Participants were given daily 800 µg folic acid orally for three years or a placebo. At the beginning of the study, both groups had similar scores on cognitive tests, but three years later the group getting folic acid had the cognitive function of a younger person, with better memory overall, delayed-recall memory, sensorimotor speed, information processing speed, and global cognitive function.
Study author Jane Durga, PhD, of Wageningen University in the Netherlands and her colleagues noted the need for further study of folic acid’s potential. “Although folic acid improved performance on tests of memory, including delayed recall, additional research is needed to determine whether folic acid supplementation can reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease,” the report said. |
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