Most people experience mild memory loss occasionally. Such lapses in memory are normal, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and are proof that your brain functions appropriately -- sorting, storing, prioritizing and retrieving information. Recommended measures to prevent memory loss include keeping your brain active, maintaining low cholesterol, preventing high blood pressure, getting regular exercise and socializing. For additional memory-loss prevention, a few vitamins are known to positively affect memory in healthy people and in people with medical conditions that cause memory loss.
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B1, also called thiamine, is used to prevent memory loss, including in patients with Alzheimer's disease. People also take vitamin B1 to improve learning potential. Health-care providers sometimes treat Wernicke's encephalopathy syndrome, a memory disorder, with thiamine shots, according to Medline Plus. Vitamin B1 deficiency causes memory loss in some people.
Vitamin B6
A 2002 study of short-term use of vitamin B6 supplements showed significant improvement in some areas of memory, including verbal ability, speed of processing and recall and recognition, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is used to treat memory loss and improve concentration. Vitamin B12 deficiencies can cause memory loss in some people. Medline Plus says that there is insufficient evidence that vitamin B12, given in combination with folic acid and vitamin B6, improves memory and thinking for patients age 65 and older.
Vitamin E
Some Alzheimer's disease patients might experience a slow-down in memory loss when treated with vitamin E. However, patients with mild memory loss who take vitamin E continue to advance to full-blown Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's patients sometimes receive a combination of 5mg of donepezil, also called Aricept, and 1,000 IU of vitamin E daily to slow memory decline.
Antioxidant Vitamins
Some vitamins are antioxidants that protect your cells against free radicals and improve the flow of oxygen throughout your body and your brain. Vitamins C, E and beta carotene are antioxidants and, according to HelpGuide.org, can stimulate and improve your brain function.
