Vitamin B may help fend off Alzheimer’s in elderly by reducing brain shrinkage

Elderly people could stave off Alzheimer’s disease by taking supplements of B vitamins, after they were found to reduce the brain shrinkage associated with the disease by up to 90%, an Oxford University study has suggested.

For fending off Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline, ditch the supplements and pick up a puzzle: Toronto study

Keeping the brain healthy while one ages is a great challenge as medical science has extended lifespans and learned to manage chronic illnesses in the Western world. Some say exercise is best, others vouch for supplements. But it turns out that mental acuity might be best maintained by sharpening a pencil — and your problem-solving skills.
Many Canadians purchase supplements infused with omega-3 fatty acids and B-vitamins for their purported ability to fight free radicals, improve cranial cell structure and increase concentration, memory and awareness. But researchers at the University of Toronto and St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto have found evidence proving otherwise.

Vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid can lower levels of homocysteine, an amino acid linked to shrinkage of the brain in conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. Previous studies had shown that patients with mild cognitive impairment suffered 50% less brain shrinkage overall if they took B vitamins.
However, the new study of 156 patients by researchers at Oxford University, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that shrinkage was reduced by 90% in areas of the brain most vulnerable in Alzheimer’s patients.
Dr David Smith said: “Our work shows that a key part of the disease process that leads to Alzheimer’s disease, the atrophy of specific brain regions, might be modified by a safe and simple intervention.”
Experts cautioned against drawing any firm conclusions from the “early” results and said a balanced diet and exercise “can help to keep our brains healthy as we get older.”

Nick Collins, The Daily Telegraph, National Post Wire Services