It was found, through a new research conducted by the Research Centre for Alzheimer’s and aging at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm in Sweden and published on JAMA Psychiatry in April, that individuals who have an increase in circulating homocysteine ​​levels have the faster levels of brain changes associated with aging than other people, while the higher levels of vitamin B12 are associated with slower rates cerebral aging. I researchers found that the total volume of the brain mass loss was more lower in subjects with the highest levels of vitamin B12, compared to those who had an increase in homocysteine ​​levels.

According to this research the levels of vitamin B12 and total homocysteine ​​may be listed as brain aging markers in elderly individuals without dementia.

The researchers examined data on 501 participants over the age of 60 years by the National Institute on Ageing Swedish. All participants were free of dementia at baseline. Of these patients, 299 were subjected to repeated structural brain rmn between 2001 and 2009.

At baseline and at each follow-up, participants underwent a clinical examination, an interview and an assessment.

Data on socio-demographic characteristics, medical history, drug use, and cognitive function were collected.

Venous blood samples were collected at baseline, including the circulating levels of vitamin B12, folate and sulfur amino acids. These data were correlated with changes in brain tissue volume and total white matter hyper intensities (WMH) over 6 years.

The ideal is to have a brain that is about three times more in over six years, but the best situation is to have the dosage of Vitamin B12 three times as much in six years, explain the experts.

However it is believed that the finding of an association between levels of vitamin B12 and the loss of brain volume suggests that a randomized controlled trial of vitamin B12 supplementation is warranted to determine if it could prevent brain aging.

The study also notes that not everyone will benefit from supplementation, but those who have low levels of these vitamins and those who have clinical signs of vitamin B12 deficiency.

It is also noted in the study that supplementation of vitamin B12 has a positive effect patients over age 70 who had mild cognitive impairment in the state.