Judi Dench Takes Memory Supplements to Remember Lines
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Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Even James Bond’s boss needs a little help.
World-famous English actress Judi Dench, 78, takes memory supplements to help memorize her lines, she revealed in a recent interview.
“I take that wonderful thing called IQ every morning … it’s wonderful,” the Skyfall movie star told Channel 4 News, which is based in the United Kingdom.
Dench’s testimonial to the effectiveness of memory supplements was backed up today by Dr. Gary Small, director of the UCLA Longevity Center, who told ABC News they work at least on a short-term basis.
“There are short-term studies showing some of these products do help with memory,” said Small, co-author of a book titled, The Alzheimer’s Prevention Program.
“We don’t know whether there are long-term benefits,” he said. A study released Tuesday by the Alzheimer’s Association found that one in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia.
Proven memory aid supplements include phosphatidylserine and DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, said Small. He wasn’t familiar with the “IQ” supplement Dench referenced.
A recent Japanese study found that a soybean-derived phosphatidylserine supplement taken by patients suffering from mild cognitive impairment caused memory to improve after six months, he said.
Another study showed that people who took DHA for four months had sharpened memory compared with study subjects who took a placebo, he said.
But the best memory aid of all? Hopping on a treadmill or doing another form of cardiovascular exercise, he said.
“I do physical exercise,” Small said. “I think that’s probably the best thing people can do.”
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio