International Journal of Academic Research in Education and Review

Vol. 14(3), pp. 152-157, August 2026

ISSN: 2360-7866

https://doi.org/10.14662/ijarer2026600

 

Full Length Research

 

 

Unlocking Memory: How Trace Elements Supplementation Liberates Word Recognition and Connecting Ability in Aged Persons with Memory Loss

 

1Robertson Vershima Sammuh, 2Prof. Gwanshak A. Nandi and 3Dr. Racheal A. Amwe

 

1Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. 2Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria 3Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Corresponding author’s E-mail: E-mail: robssammuh@gmail.com Tel. 08033734596  

Accepted 20 August 2026

Abstract

Abstract: Memory loss quietly narrows the world of older adults, making it harder to recognise a familiar word or to link a new experience to something already known. This article draws on data from a nutritional intervention carried out among aged persons with memory loss in Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria, to examine what happened when trace elements iron, zinc, selenium, and magnesium were used to correct nutritional deficiencies linked to cognitive decline. Ten older adults took part (aged 65--75): six received a course of trace elements supplementation, while four did not. Word recognition scores in the supplemented group more than doubled, rising from an average of 7.17 to 15.33, compared with a negligible change from 8.50 to 8.75 among those who were not supplemented. Connecting ability the everyday skill of linking people, places, and ideas showed an even larger shift, climbing from 8.83 to 18.83 among the supplemented group, against a modest rise from 8.00 to 9.25 in the comparison group. The comparison group's scores barely moved, which rules out simple retesting as the explanation for these gains. The findings suggest that correcting trace element deficiency can meaningfully loosen the grip of memory loss on two everyday cognitive abilities. They are preliminary, drawn from a small sample, but they point to a promising and inexpensive avenue for protecting and restoring cognitive independence in aging populations.

 

Key Words: Trace Elements Supplementation; Memory Loss; Older Adults; Cognitive Function; Word Recognition; Connecting Ability; Micronutrient Deficiency.

Paper type: research