Dementia risk could increase with low levels of essential vitamin

“Normal” vitamin B12 levels may not be enough for DEMENTIA DEPARTMENTNew research.

Researchers at the University of California San Francisco have studied 231 healthy older adults (on average 71 years) who did not have dementia or slightly cognitive damage.

Blood tests showed that their level B12 average was 414.8 PMOL/L, while the recommended minimum level in the US is only 148 PMOL/L.

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It has been revealed that participants who had lower B12 levels have a “slower cognitive and visual processing speed” when laying tests, which is associated with a “subtle cognitive fall”, according to a statement by UCSF.

The effect was more pronounced with age.

People with lower levels also had more lesions in white matter in the brain, which can be a warning sign for declining cognitive dementia or strokeThe researchers discovered.

The findings were published in Annals of Neurology on February 10th.

Based on these results, researchers recommend updating current B12 requests.

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“Previous studies that defined healthy quantities of B12 could miss the subtle functional manifestations of high or low levels that can affect people without causing open symptoms,” said Senior author Ari J. Green, Dr. med. The Weill Institute of Neuroscience.

“Audit of the definition of lack of B12 to include functional biomarkers could lead to earlier intervention and prevention of cognitive fall.”

Researchers acknowledged that the study included only older adultswhich can have “special vulnerability” to lower level B12.

However, these lower levels “can affect the cognition to a greater extent than what we have previously thought, and can affect the much larger population proportion than we understand,” said the first author Alexandra Beaudry-Richard, who is currently completing a doctorate in research and medicine at the UCSF Department of Neurology and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Ottawa.

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“In addition to redefinating the lack of B12, clinicians should Consider supplementation In older patients with neurological symptoms, even if their levels are within normal limits, “she suggested in release.

“Ultimately, we have to invest in multiple research on fundamental biology of insufficiency B12, as this may be prevented by the cause of the fall of cognitive cognitive.”

“Even participants with the B12 levels considered” normal “medical standards today showed clear signs of neurological damage.”

Dr. Brett Osborn, Neurosurgeon in Florida and Expert in longevityShe said the study supported the idea that “normal” vitamin B12 levels were “rough inadequate” to protect brain from falling associated with age.

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“Even participants with the level B12 according to today’s medical standards considered” normal “, showed clear signs of neurological damage – slower processing speeds, increased white substances on MRI (marker of small vessel diseases) and elevated Tau protein (biomarker neurodegeneration).

Current minimum recommendations are not designed for optimal cognitive function or longevity, Osborn states.

“Instead, they were based on the population average – inherently wrong approach when today the ‘average’ person is metabolic unhealthy. This is another example of the mainstream of the mainstream medicine Behind science. “

The Osborn clinic recommends the supplements of B-Comploices, including B12, to ensure a healthy level of homocysteine, amino acids that occur during protein metabolism.

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“When homocysteine ​​is elevated – potential proxy for low B12 – the brain function declines,” Osborn said.

The doctor noted that the study was observed and that “correlation does not prove the causal -a perception.”

“But do you really need a randomized controlled test to say that optimizing B12 intake uses brain health? This is like waiting for the study to confirm that eating vegetables is good for you,” Osborn said.

“The data is there. Science is crystal clear.”

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Like researchers, Osborn invited to update at “normal” lab levels.

“It’s time to start Defining health Optimal levels – not what happens “average” in the increasingly ill population. Because who wants to be normal when you can be optimal? “

“There are no clear evidence that suggests benefits in the Appendix B12 in patients without deficiency.”

Dr. Earnest Lee Murray, a Neurologist certified At Jackson-Madison General Hospital in Jackson, Tennessee, it agreed that this research raises the issue of redefinition that levels represent B12.

“Previous studies have recommended supplementation in patients with well -known vitamin B12 deficiency to relieve cognitive issues; however, no clear evidence suggests the benefit of supplementation of B12 in patients without lack,” Murray, who was not involved in the studio, said Fox News Digital .

The neurologist warned against people taking “mega-down-to-” vitamins.

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“Often high levels of vitamins, especially B12, will not cause problems; however, this can happen,” Murray said.

“I would recommend patients who are older or at risk of developing cognitive fall, talk to their doctor about testing – not only for vitamin B12 levels, but also for other markers who could suggest irregular absorption of Vitamin B12.”