Neurocognitive effects of multivitamin supplementation on the steady state visually evoked potential (SSVEP) measure of brain activity in elderly women

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Title: Neurocognitive effects of multivitamin supplementation on the steady state visually evoked potential (SSVEP) measure of brain activity in elderly women
Author(s): Macpherson, Helen; Silberstein, Richard; Pipingas, Andrew
Abstract: Objective: Growing evidence suggests that dietary supplementation with selected micronutrients and nutraceuticals may have the potential to improve cognition in older adults. Fewer studies have investigated the effects of these substances on brain activity. Methods: This study was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, conducted to explore the effects of 16 weeks supplementation with a combined multivitamin, mineral and herbal formula on the steady state visually evoked potential (SSVEP) measure of brain electrical activity. Participants were elderly women aged between 64 and 79 years, with subjective memory complaints. Baseline and post-treatment SSVEP data was obtained for 22 participants in the multivitamin group and 19 in the placebo group. A spatial working memory delayed response task (DRT) was performed during the recording of the SSVEP. Results: The results revealed that when compared to placebo, multivitamin supplementation delayed SSVEP latency during retrieval, interpreted as an increase in inhibitory neural processes. Behavioural performance on the DRT was not improved by the multivitamin, however improved performance accuracy was associated with increased midline central SSVEP latency. There were no multivitamin-related effects on SSVEP amplitude. Conclusion: These findings indicate that in the elderly, multivitamin supplementation may enhance neural efficiency during memory retrieval.
Publication type: Journal article
Research centre: Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Life and Social Sciences. Centre for Human Psychopharmacology
Source: Physiology and Behavior, Vol. 107, no. 3 (Oct 2012), pp. 346-354
Publication year: 2012
FOR Code(s): 06 Biological Sciences; 11 Medical and Health Sciences; 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
Keyword(s): Brain activity; Cognition; Elderly women; Multivitamins; Spatial working memory; Steady state visually evoked potential; SSVEP
Publisher: Elsevier
ISSN: 0031-9384
Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2012.08.006
Additional information: This work was supported by funding from Swisse Vitamins Pty Ltd. Swisse Vitamins Pty Ltd provided the multivitamin and placebo supplements used in this trial and randomly allocated the treatments. Swisse Vitamins Pty Ltd was not involved in any other aspects of the conduct of the trial, analysis, or interpretation of the trial findings.
Peer reviewed