Skip to content
aging — Chronic-diseases — Medical-conditions — health-and-wellness — Fitness-and-exercise — Mental-health — Science — Nutrition

Elevated B12 concentrations may lead to cognitive impairment and increased risk of strokes.

Unchecked Brain Lesions Tied to Stroke, Cognitive Decline: Are Expert-Set Vitamin Levels Accurate? Doubts Arise due to Link Between Normal B12 Levels and High Lesion Volume

,   and  Administrator
3 min read
High B12 levels associated with brain lesions, strokes, and cognitive decline, estimations in...
High B12 levels associated with brain lesions, strokes, and cognitive decline, estimations in question

Elevated B12 concentrations may lead to cognitive impairment and increased risk of strokes.

Vitamin B12: A Crucial Nutrient for Seniors' Brain Health

If you're in your golden years, keep an eye on your vitamin B12 intake. Undeniably, a B12 shortage is often linked to anemia, which can cause complications in senior citizens due to reduced absorption. Moreover, vegetarians and vegans can also be at risk.

A deficiency in B12 for older adults can lead to a higher risk of cognitive decline and brain lesions that might induce dementia or stroke. The daunting statistics show that the number of people experiencing age-related macular degeneration and cataracts could almost double by 2050 [

The Importance of Adequate B12 Intake for Older Adults

While your doctor might advise taking a vitamin B12 supplement, recent evidence suggests that the current recommended intake might underestimate the amount needed to prevent neurological decline [

Research from UC San Francisco revealed that older adults with lower active B12 levels exhibited neurological and cognitive impairments, even though their B12 levels fell within the "normal" range [2]. Cognitive testing showed that individuals with low B12 levels had slower processing speed, more pronounced in older adults [2].

Furthermore, slow visual processing speeds and reduced brain connectivity were observed, as indicated by the delayed responses to visual stimuli [2]. MRI scans of the same subjects showed a higher volume of lesions in their white matter, which is commonly associated with cognitive decline and increased risk for dementia and stroke [2].

Revising the B12 Recommendations

"The studies examining healthy B12 levels may have overlooked subtle functional manifestations affecting people without overt symptoms," explains senior author Dr. Ari Green from UCSF's Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology [2]. "Revisiting the definition of B12 deficiency to incorporate functional biomarkers could lead to earlier intervention and prevention of cognitive decline."

Hopefully, the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) at the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) will take note and update the current recommendations for B12 [2]. In the meantime, if you're an older adult, you may want to discuss your B12 levels with your doctor and consider supplementation.

While vitamin B12 has a low potential for toxicity, it's essential to consult with a healthcare provider for personalized advice on supplementation dosage. As a water-soluble vitamin, B12 is generally considered safe, even at large doses, as the body does not store excess amounts [4]. To prevent potential issues, follow recommendations made on the bottle of your supplement brand or consult with your doctor.

It's also helpful to include foods rich in B12, like fish, red meat, poultry, eggs, milk and milk products, and fortified breakfast cereals, in your diet [4].

```markdown

Sources

  1. Low-Normal B12 Levels Linked to Slower Brain Processing - Neuroscience News
  2. Vitamin B12 Levels Association with Functional and Structural Biomarkers of Central Nervous System Injury in Older Adults - Annals of Neurology
  3. Are You Getting Enough Vitamin B12? What You Need to Know - Yale Medicine
  4. Vitamin B12 - National Institutes of Health```

Click here for Hushed Up Natural Heart Cures and Common Misconceptions of Popular Heart Treatments

  1. Science has emphasized the significance of adequate vitamin B12 intake, particularly for older adults, as deficiencies can exacerbate medical-conditions such as cognitive decline and brain lesions, potentially leading to dementia or stroke.
  2. Chronic diseases like age-related macular degeneration and cataracts could almost double by 2050, making health-and-wellness, including fitness-and-exercise and mental-health, crucial for seniors.
  3. Studies suggest that the current recommended intake of vitamin B12 might underestimate the amount needed to prevent neurological decline, highlighting the need for revisiting B12 deficiency definitions and potential supplementation for older adults.
  4. As individuals age, maintaining optimal nutrition through foods rich in B12, such as fish, red meat, poultry, eggs, milk, milk products, and fortified breakfast cereals, may help mitigate the risks associated with chronic-diseases and cognitive decline.

Read also:

    Related

    Latest