Looking to keep your brain running smoothly well into your golden years? Then start taking a beta carotene supplement now, suggests a recent study. Researchers report that men taking beta carotene for many years had some protection against declines in memory, thinking and learning skills that often precede Alzheimer’s disease. The effect was not seen in people who took the supplement for a short time – an average of one year. The men in the long-term group took the supplements for an average of 18 years. "What works for men almost certainly should work for women," say the researchers. Some research, however, suggests that taking beta carotene may have risks for some people such as raising lung cancer risk in smokers.
Source: CBC News, Nov 12, 2007