Healthy Aging— Head To Toe

Science-backed supplements to protect all your parts.

- By Lisa Turner

You can’t prevent the passage of time—but you can lessen its impact on all parts of your body. Keep your organs fit, your cells strong, and your skin supple with science-backed supplements shown to minimize the effects of aging. (Bonus: most of them work on multiple organs and systems.)

For Your Brain Anthocyanins, a family of antioxidants found primarily in red-purple fruits and vegetables, protect against age-related changes in the brain and may delay or even prevent cognitive decline. They work in part by lowering inflammation and inhibiting DNA damage, and research links anthocyanins with improvements in learning, recall, and memory, and a reduced risk of cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer’s.

B vitamins are critical for brain health, and low levels—especially of B6, B12 and folate—are linked with neurological and psychological changes, including mood alterations, cognitive impairment, and dementia. B vitamins protect the brain by blunting inflammation that contributes to cognitive decline, enhancing DNA repair and slowing brain atrophy associated with aging. Research suggests that supplementing with B vitamins, especially B6, B12, and folate, enhances brain performance, supports mood, and lessens the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s.

EPA and DHA, the biologically active forms of omega-3 fats, have a variety of neuroprotective properties, including keeping neuronal membranes healthy, slowing brain atrophy, lowering inflammation, and protecting the brain from the effects of aging.

They also support healthy mood, and studies link a higher intake of EPA and DHA with a reduced risk of depression, cognitive decline, and neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s.