Effects of cocoa extract and a multivitamin on cognitive function: A randomized clinical trial

Baker LD, et al.

Published in Alzheimer's & Dementia

Methodology

Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled 2x2 factorial trial (COSMOS-Mind within COSMOS); 3 years of daily cocoa extract and/or multivitamin with annual telephone-based neurocognitive assessment.

Key Findings

In the COSMOS-Mind substudy (2,262 older adults, 3 years), cocoa extract (500 mg/day flavanols) did not improve global cognition versus placebo, whereas a daily multivitamin significantly improved global cognition (mean z-score difference about 0.07 per year, p=0.007), with the largest effects in memory and executive function and among participants with cardiovascular disease history.

Conclusions

Cocoa extract did not benefit cognition; a multivitamin improved cognition in older adults.

Limitations

Telephone-administered cognitive battery rather than in-person testing; predominantly non-Hispanic White, well-nourished, highly educated volunteers; substudy of a larger trial; small absolute effect size of uncertain clinical significance; multivitamin benefit was not the parent trial primary endpoint.

Supplements Studied

Multivitamin

Vitamin

COSMOS-Mind provides the first evidence from a large, long-term, pragmatic trial to support the potential efficacy of a MVM to improve cognition in older adults.