I stumbled upon a reference to a study published in the Nov. 1, 2007 edition of American Journal of Clinical Nutrition titled, "Low vitamin B-12 status and risk of cognitive decline in older adults." I've seen
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Vitamin
ninamarczynski
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 11:12 AMre: Vitamin
Carol Bradley Bursack
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 11:46 AMHi 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.
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B-12 and Alzheimer's
SunHiker
Monday, June 23, 2008 at 11:26 AMMy 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.
replyre: B-12 and Alzheimer's
Carol Bradley Bursack
Monday, June 23, 2008 at 12:04 PMSublingual , 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
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B-12 and Alzheimer's
SunHiker
Monday, June 23, 2008 at 12:20 PMMy 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.
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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
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