LOS ANGELES: A new study finds that a deficiency in vitamin B12 is associated with memory and thinking problems, as well as brain shrinkage.
Researchers did not prove that low vitamin B12 levels cause these cognitive abnormalities, but they did find a strong association with markers of deficiency, said the study.
The theory is that adequate levels of vitamin B12 is necessary for the brain’s myelin sheath, an insulating layer around nerves. When the sheath gets damaged, impulses between transmitted along nerve cells slow down.
Vitamin B12 is found in meats, fish, shellfish and dairy products, and some cereals are fortified with it. People over 65 in particular may need B12 supplements because older patients’ bodies have a harder time absorbing this vitamin…