My 84-year-old husband has Alzheimer's, early-to-middle stage. He was depressed and very negative a year and a half ago. I started him on megadoses of sublingual methylcobalamin (supposed to be the most absorbable form of B-12), 20,000 mcg at first, now down to 5,000 mcg a day. It took a few weeks, but he came out of the depression and has been cheerful ever since, and his blood level of B-12 is way up. The alternative to sublingual B-12 is injections, but the sublingual worked so well we didn't have to consider that. I don't know if the B-12 has affected his progression of Alzheimer's (quite slow so far), but at least he's a happy camper.
Sublingual , injectible, or liquie formulated for instant absorption (molecules smaller than the blood cell opening) are the best ways for Vitamn B12 to be absorbed. Elders (and often younger people) don't absorb B12 well, and many memory and mental, as well as physical problems can develop. Thanks so much for the information. I hope we see more B12 testing for elders before a diagnosis.
Carol
My 84-year-old husband has Alzheimer's, early-to-middle stage. He was depressed and very negative a year and a half ago. I started him on megadoses of sublingual methylcobalamin (supposed to be the most absorbable form of B-12), 20,000 mcg at first, now down to 5,000 mcg a day. It took a few weeks, but he came out of the depression and has been cheerful ever since, and his blood level of B-12 is way up. The alternative to sublingual B-12 is injections, but the sublingual worked so well we didn't have to consider that. I don't know if the B-12 has affected his progression of Alzheimer's (quite slow so far), but at least he's a happy camper.
Hi Carol,
My Mother suffers from both of these diseases .. I too researched this - I have no medical background. But, we have successfully removed her from her seizure medicine as well. She is given Prevagen, Heaven Sent B-12, along with Native Remedies Epi-Still for her seizures, Triple Brain Tonic & Pure Calm. She also takes Cod Liver Oil & CO Q10 and Source Natural Gaba Calm. She is in the late stages - however, she can still walk, talk, enjoy TV, feed herself, count & she still tells me she loves me.
With research on the internet you can shop for the best prices as well.
Since, we took her home from the nursing home 3 years ago - she only needed to go to the doctors once for a cold. She is very cooperative with her caregiver and pleasant to be around. Which is totally the opposite when taken prescription drugs.
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Carol, Thanks for the article. I did not know that B12 is good for ALzheimer's prevention. I know that vitamin E helps.
Nina
Hi Nina,
B12 can get hard to absorb as we age, which is one of the problems. And, according to the research I've read, many blood tests aren't sensitive enough to see if it's just in the blood stream or being absorbed by the body cells. The author of the book is passionate about it, and is doing a study in a nursing home that is showing fully 25% of the people could be helped with B12. I'll be watching her.