There is a strong correlation between the incidence of Alzheimer’s Disease and a Vitamin B12 deficiency. This is the conclusion reached based on a study that was performed by Dr. Hui-Xin Wang and colleagues, and published in the Journal Neurology in 2001.
For purposes of this study, a random sample of 370 people living in Sweden was utilized. These 370 participants were aged 75 years or older and were mentally sound. These participants were not supplementing their diets with B12 or folate.
The researchers measured the blood levels of Vitamin 12 and folate of the 370 participants at the beginning of the study. These men and women were then followed for three years to see who would develop Alzheimer’s Disease and who would not.
The participants in the study who initially had either low blood levels of Vitamin B12 or folate were twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s Disease than those whose blood levels of these vitamins were found to be within the range of normal.
As a result of this study, Dr. Hui-Xin Wang and colleagues concluded that Vitamin B12 and folate levels should be monitored in the elderly population. Doing so will help prevent members of this population from developing Alzheimer’s Disease.