Vitamin E 'slows cognitive decline' in dementia patients

Vitamin E could help reduce cognitive decline in patients suffering from dementia. New research has suggested that people diagnosed with dementia could benefit from daily doses of vitamin E in order to slow the rate that the disease progresses.

Published in the 'Journal of the American Medical Association' (JAMA), the research shows that patients treated with daily doses of the vitamin need less help from carers and were better able to carry out daily tasks for longer when compared to patients given a placebo.

Some 613 people suffering from mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease were enrolled in the study. Participants were split into four groups with the first group receiving high vitamin E doses and the second being treated with a dementia drug called memantine. The third group was given a placebo while the final group received both memantine and the vitamin E dosage. 

Over the course of two years, changes in participants' cognitive ability were measured. This was assessed by their ability to perform everyday tasks, like dressing themselves. It was found that those receiving the high dose of vitamin E had a rate of decline that was reduced, on average, by 19 per cent a year compared to those who received a placebo.

The researchers suggest that vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) helps to reduce the rate of decline in those suffering from mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. This could enable them to continue performing everyday tasks and reduce the burden put on the caregivers.

Dr Doug Brown, director of research and development at the Alzheimer's Society, commented on the study, saying that finding treatments that enable those suffering with dementia to carry out everyday activities is important. These types of treatments, he said, allow those with dementia to live as normal for as long as possible.

However, the Alzheimer's Society also raised concerns that the high dosage of vitamin E used in the trial might not be a safe form of treatment of dementia sufferers.