Low Levels of Folate and Vitamin B12 Linked to Cognitive Decline

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Low Levels of Folate and Vitamin B12 Linked to Cognitive Decline

http://www.vitasearch.com/CP/weeklyupdates/

Reference: " Raised homocysteine and low folate and vitamin B-12

concentrations predict cognitive decline in community-dwelling older

Japanese adults, " Koike T, Kuzuya M, et al, Clin Nutr, 2008 Oct 1; [Epub

ahead of print]. (Address: Department of Geriatricas, Nagoya University

Graduate School of Medicine, Japan; Research Center of Health, Physical

Fitness, and Sports, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine,

Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan. E-mail: Terahiko

Koike, tekoike@... ).

Summary: In a study involving 96 elderly subjects (71 women, 28 men,

mean age: 75 years), reduced levels of folate and vitamin B12 were found

to be independently associated with cognitive decline. According to

multiple regression analysis, homocysteine concentrations were predicted

by concentrations of folate, vitamin B12, creatinine, and age. Scores on

the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) - a tool used to assess global

cognitive function - were associated with concentrations of

homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folate; the associations with folate and

vitamin B12 remained significant after adjusting for homocysteine.

Folate concentration was significantly associated with serum albumin

concentration, while vitamin B12 was not. The authors state, " The

correlation between folate and albumin concentrations may imply that the

reduction of folate in the Japanese older population is due to

nutritional deficiency. " These results suggest that maintaining op timum

levels of folate and vitamin B12 may help offset the development of

cognitive decline in the elderly.

--

ne Holden, MS, RD

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