A recent article in the NY Times shines the spotlight on vitamin B12 deficiency and its possible effect on brain functioning. The story highlights the case of 87 year-old Ilsa Katz. Two years ago her memory started declining and she became more confused and agitated. Her family had her tested and the memory clinic diagnosed Ilsa with Alzheimer's.
But there's more to the story. The clinic, in addition to prescribing Aricept for those symptoms of Alzheimer's, tested her vitamin B12 levels and discovered they were low. After several injections, which were administered on a weekly basis, Ilsa's memory and overall cognitive functioning dramatically improved. Today Ms. Katz still lives independently and has a full life. Her daughter is thrilled with the results and urges vitamin B12 testing for other older adults.
Vitamin B12 deficiency and its potential association with declining cognition have been studied for many years. But recent research published in the September 2011 journal of Neurology more clearly demonstrates this link. Researchers discovered that deficient vitamin B12 levels corresponded to both a decline in cognitive ability and a decrease in brain volume. Brain atrophy (a loss of cells that causes areas of the brain to actually become smaller) has been clearly identified as one of the physical effects of Alzheimer's disease.
The "take-away"? If you or your loved one is having more trouble with confusion or memory, seek an evaluation. In addition to mental status testing, this evaluation should include tests to rule out other (sometimes reversible) causes of confusion, including vitamin B12 levels.
