(Source: Reuters) - Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston report that long-term use of the dietary supplement beta carotene may offer some protection from decline in memory, thinking and learning skills that often precedes Alzheimer's disease.
Beta carotene is an antioxidant- a vitamin that prevents some of the damage caused by free radicals - created when the body turns food into energy.
The study pointed to a protective effect against cognitive decline in healthy men who look beta carotene for about 18 years, but not in men who took the supplements for one year.
The findings indicate beta carotene may be an important weapon in warding off memory problems that may foreshadow Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. However, study author Francine Grodstein added that taking beta carotene may come with risks for some people, such as increasing the possibility of developing lung cancer in smokers.
Go to full story: reuters.com
