Third big study says multivitamins help memory

What's the news: A daily multivitamin helps prevent memory loss and slow down cognitive aging.

Why should we believe it: This news is based on a new study published last week by scientists at Harvard Medical School and Columbia University. The scientists tracked a group of 573 individuals, aged 60 or older, over two years. Some of the subjects were given multivitamins, others placebo. Result? A "modest benefit" of the daily multivitamin on global cognition.

Why this is a big deal: This is the third large study to look at effects of a multivitamin on cognition and memory. The scientists in this study pooled the new results with the previous two studies and performed a meta-analysis. The conclusion was that the daily multivitamin "significantly benefits both global cognition and episodic memory."

So what specifically can you do now: Unless you are sure you are already getting the necessary levels of a dozen or more vitamins and minerals, consider taking a good daily multivitamin. It could make your brain work better today, and save it from decline tomorrow.

If you need a recommendation, ConsumerLab.com, a third-party testing lab, recommends Kirkland Signature Daily Multi. It has a great price (it's the Costco supplement brand) and according to Consumer Lab, it provides "at least 100% of the recommended daily intake" of most vitamins and minerals.