Vitamin E, particularly in the form of mixed tocopherols and tocotrienols, has been investigated for its potential role in supporting or treating Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). The rationale stems from vitamin E’s antioxidant properties, which may help counteract the oxidative stress implicated in AD pathogenesis. Several clinical trials and observational studies have explored this hypothesis.

One notable randomized controlled trial (Sano et al., 1997, NEJM) found that high-dose alpha-tocopherol (2000 IU/day) modestly slowed functional decline in patients with moderate AD, though it did not improve cognition. More recent studies, such as the 2014 TEAM-AD VA Cooperative Randomized Trial (Dysken et al., JAMA), reported that vitamin E supplementation slowed the decline in activities of daily living in patients with mild to moderate AD but did not significantly affect cognitive outcomes. Importantly, concerns have been raised about potential risks, including increased mortality at high doses and possible interactions with other medications.

While the evidence suggests a possible benefit in slowing functional decline, the effect on cognition is limited, and results are inconsistent. Furthermore, most studies have used alpha-tocopherol rather than mixed tocopherols/tocotrienols, so generalization is limited. Thus, the evidence base is modest, and vitamin E is not universally recommended as standard therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease.