Researchers Find Vitamin B May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

Researchers have reported that B vitamins may have a positive impact on memory loss for individuals with dementia. Scientists from Oxford University recently completed a two-year clinical trial, which has been described as the largest such study to date examining the effect of B vitamins on so-called “mild cognitive impairment.” Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a major risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

Mild cognitive impairment affects nearly 16 percent of people over age 70. Symptoms include problems with language, memory loss, and impairment of mental function.

It is estimated that about 50 percent of people diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment will eventually develop severe Alzheimer’s disease within five years. There are very few treatments for Alzheimer’s and currently there is no cure for the disease, which affects 26 million people worldwide.

The study involved 168 people with MCI who were given either a vitamin pill containing very high doses of folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, or a placebo.

Results of the study suggest that a large daily dose of B vitamins can halve the rate of brain shrinkage in elderly people with memory problems. This means it may be possible to slow the progression toward dementia.

Researchers are now calling for full-scale clinical trials to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of B vitamins in the prevention of neurodegenerative conditions among elderly populations. –torrance stephens, ph.d.