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Elderly people with low blood levels
of vitamin B-12 and folate may face an increased
risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
Vitamin B-12 plays an important role
in maintaining nerve cells,
and some research has linked low blood levels of the vitamin
to Alzheimer's and mental decline. Few studies have looked
at whether there is such a connection between Alzheimer's
and folate, a B vitamin key to the production and maintenance
of body cells.
In a study of 370 men and women aged
75 and older, investigators found that those
with low levels of either vitamin were twice as likely as
those with normal levels to develop Alzheimer's
over a 3-year period. Surprisingly, the link was even stronger
among study participants who performed well on mental tests
at the start of the study.
The reason for the link is unclear,
but low blood levels of B-12 and folate can lead to elevations
in the amino acid homocysteine, which may in turn damage
nerve cells, the authors note.
Vitamin B-12 is found in animal products,
including
Vegetarians
are frequently deficient in vitamin B-12.
Folate occurs naturally in foods such
as
-
leafy
green vegetables
-
dried
beans and peas
-
citrus
fruits
many cereals are fortified with folic
acid, the synthetic form of folate.
Alzheimer's is the most common form
of dementia, affecting an estimated 4 million Americans.
The exact cause remains elusive, but scientists believe
genetics and environmental factors conspire to trigger the
onset of the disease.
Neurology
May 8, 2001;56:1188-1194
Ten Warning Signs
Of Alzheimer's Disease
Early recognition
and diagnosis of
Alzheimer's disease is becoming increasingly important
given an "explosion of information" of the memory-robbing
disorder in recent years.
About 95%
of patients with Alzheimer's disease can be accurately
diagnosed with the disease while they're living. This is
important as treatments are becoming available that seem
to impact disease as far as cognitive function, standard
of living and behavioral function go.
And while the disease is incurable,
there are treatment options.
The group issued a list of early warning signs of the disease,
including:
| memory loss that affects
job skills |
language problems |
| difficulty performing
familiar tasks |
misplacing objects |
| changes
in mood and behavior |
poor judgment |
| disoriented as to time
and place |
personality changes |
| problems with abstract
thinking |
loss of initiative |
To better rule out other causes of memory
loss or dementia, brain imaging, whether it is computed
tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is
now recommended, according to the group. Genetic testing,
however, has not been found to be particularly useful and
is not recommended. Some genes have been found to increase
the risk of the disorder.
Annual Meeting
of the American Academy of Neurology May 8, 2001 Philadelphia,
PA
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