Mild Vitamin B12 Deficiency Linked with Cognitive Decline in Older Adults

Even mild vitamin B-12 deficiency can be a risk factor for cognitive decline among older adults, according to a new study.

Vitamin B-12 is required for red blood cell formation, neurological function and even DNA synthesis. The vitamin is water soluble and can be found in clams, liver and fortified cereals.

Older people are advised to eat B-12 fortified food or take its supplements as their bodies can't absorb the vitamin from other food sources, according to USDA's 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans

The study was conducted by researchers at the Tufts University, who used data from the Framingham Heart Study. They looked at health records of 549 men and women who were 75 years old at the time of the study.

Researchers divided the participants based on their vitamin B12 levels. The study showed that people with vitamin B12 deficiency had the highest risk of developing cognitive disabilities. The assessment was made using data from cognitive tests given by the participants over a period of 8 years.

Most of the participants were Caucasians and had at least a high school diploma. Researchers said that future studies might include a larger, more diverse population.

"While we emphasize our study does not show causation, our associations raise the concern that some cognitive decline may be the result of inadequate vitamin B-12 in older adults, for whom maintaining normal blood levels can be a challenge," said Professor Paul Jacques, the study's senior author and director of the HNRCA Nutrition Epidemiology Program.

The study is published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Taking part in everyday activities too can act as a buffer in cognitive decline. People with high intellectual ability remain mentally healthy till very old age, a study in American Psychological Association had earlier found.