Vitamin B12 May Protect Against Alzheimer's Disease

US Pharm. 2010;35(11):8. 

Stockholm, Sweden—New research published in Neurology indicates that vitamin B₁₂ may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In a 7-year study led by Babak Hooshmand, MD, of the Karolinska Institute, periodic blood samples were taken from 271 elderly subjects without AD at baseline and tested for homocysteine and holotranscobalamin, the active portion of the vitamin. Vitamin B₁₂ can lower homocysteine, which has been linked to a risk of AD. Subjects with the highest B₁₂ levels were least likely to develop AD. Each micromolar increase in homocysteine concentration increased risk of AD by 16%, whereas each picomolar increase in holotranscobalamin reduced risk by 2%. “More research is needed…before vitamin B₁₂ should be used solely as a supplement to help protect memory,” said Dr. Hooshmand.