You can't buy the mind
Dietary supplements for memory and intelligence turned out to be useless
Sergey Kolenov, Hi-tech+
Hieronymus Bosch, "Extracting the Stone of Stupidity" – VM.
An international group of experts has found no evidence of popular theories about the "pumping" of the brain with the help of dietary supplements. To slow down the aging of the brain, it is better to invest not in pills, but in a healthy lifestyle.
Dietary supplements to support brain function are experiencing an unprecedented surge in popularity. In the USA alone, their sales doubled from 2006 to 2015. According to some calculations, more than a quarter of Americans over the age of 50 regularly take such dietary supplements. However, there is no evidence that they actually work.
Having studied the evidence base of such drugs as B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, caffeine, coenzyme Q10, ginkgo biloba and a number of others, experts from the World Council on Brain Health found no serious evidence that these compounds are able to prevent dementia (Sarah Chapman, Cochrane Collaboration: Preventing dementia: do vitamin and mineral supplements have a role?).
According to the researchers, the existing data is not enough to recommend any dietary supplements to the elderly to support brain function.
Moreover, dietary supplements can even be harmful because they are not tested as thoroughly as medicines, scientists warn.
At the same time, the lack of certain substances, for example, vitamins B9 and B12, can negatively affect cognitive functions and brain health. Nevertheless, the team emphasizes, it is better to get these compounds from food, and the addition of supplements to the diet should be discussed with a doctor.
Experts urge not to spend money on expensive dietary supplements, but instead eat more vegetables and fruits, engage in physical activity and stimulate the brain with mental exercises. In addition, hearing and blood pressure should be checked regularly. According to some reports, timely treatment of hypertension can prevent the development of dementia.
Biologically active supplements for brain health are very popular among biohackers – people who want to prolong their lives and fully unleash their mental and physical potential.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru