In this latest study, the research team took into account 107 people, aged 61 to 87 and without any incidences of memory or thinking disorders. 54% of the participants were women and the average age of the volunteers in the research worked out to be 73.
The researchers collected the blood samples of the participants to analyze the levels of vitamin B12. The participants then went through brain scans on an annual basis wherein techniques like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI
define), memory testing and physical exams were employed. The analysis showed that none of them had vitamin B12 deficiency.
When the results were compared, the researchers deduced that people with higher levels of vitamin B12 were six times less prone to experiencing brain shrinkage than those with lower levels of the same vitamin in their blood.
However, the researchers were not able to determine if lower levels of vitamin B12 could result in cognitive impairment by influencing the size of the brain.
Vitamin B12 is basically necessary for the normal functioning of the brain and the nervous system. It is also needed in the formation of blood. It affects DNA synthesis and regulation, fatty acid synthesis and energy production.
Anna Vogiatzoglou, M.Sc. with the University of Oxford, and the study author said, “Many factors that affect brain health are thought to be out of our control, but this study suggests that simply adjusting our diets to get more vitamin B12 through eating meat, fish, fortified cereals, or milk may be something we can easily accomplish to prevent brain shrinkage and so perhaps save our memory.”
Since the researchers did not take into account the affect of taking vitamin B12 supplements, it remains unclear if they could make any difference in elderly people at risk for brain shrinkage.
Vogiatzoglou said, “Without carrying out a clinical trial, we acknowledge that it is still not known whether B12 supplementation would actually make a difference in elderly persons at risk for brain shrinkage.”
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