B-vitamin Supplements Shown to Improve Memory and Prevent Brain Atrophy: Emerging Research

James Meschino DC, MS, ROHP

The findings from the OPTIMA study (2010) showed that the accelerated rate of brain atrophy in elderly with mild cognitive impairment can be slowed via supplementation with homocysteine-lowering B vitamins, which included folic acid, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6.

This is an important finding as 16% of individuals over 70 years old have mild cognitive impairment (MCI), of which 50% of MCI subjects realize further progression to Alzheimer’s disease. It is well documented that brain atrophy is a characteristic of subjects with mild cognitive impairment who progress to Alzheimer’s disease.

Aging studies reveal that the brain shows progressive atrophy after the age of 60. Some atrophy occurs even in cognitively healthy subjects, but to a lesser extent than patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. An intermediate rate of atrophy is found in people with MCI, and brain atrophy is more rapid in subjects with MCI who progress to Alzheimer’s disease. One cause of brain atrophy has been reported to be elevated concentrations of plasma total homocysteine (tHcy), as moderately elevated concentrations of tHcy have been associated with an increased risk of dementia, notably Alzheimer’s disease, in many cross-sectional and prospective studies. Elevated plasma total homocysteine is also associated with both regional and whole brain atrophy, both in Alzheimer’s disease and in healthy elderly individuals.The tissue and plasma concentrations of homocysteine are largely determined by the body’s status of certain B vitamins (folate, B6 and B12), which are cofactors or substrates for enzymes involved in homocysteine recycling to methionine (folic acid and B12) or serine (B6). As such, the discovery that supplementation with folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 can reduce tHcy and slow brain atrophy, has clinical significance in an aging population. (1)

Prior to the published results of the OPTIMA study, another B-vitamin supplementation study had shown improvement in memory function in a well-designed human clinical trial. In this study supplementation was provided to 211 healthy younger, middle-aged and older women who took either 750 mcg of folic acid, 15 mcg of vitamin B-12, 75 mg of vitamin B-6 or a placebo daily for 35 days.  As well, dietary intake of these vitamins and cognition and mood was also diarized. Usual dietary intake status was estimated using a retrospective, self-report, quantified food frequency questionnaire. Participants completed alternate forms of standardized tests of cognitive processing resources, memory, executive function, verbal ability and self-report mood measures before and after supplementation. The results showed that the group administered the B-vitamin supplementation protocol exhibited a significant positive effect on certain measures of memory performance. Dietary intake status of the same B-vitamins was associated with speed of processing, recall and recognition and verbal ability.(2)

Subsequent to the OPTIMA study, a large 2011 prospective study showed that lower vitamin B12 blood levels were associated with decreased brain volumes and cognitive scores. The study involved 121 older residents of the South side of Chicago who are participants in the Chicago Health and Aging Project (CHAP), which is a large, ongoing prospective study of 10,000 subjects over the age of 65. All participants had their blood tested to determine levels of vitamin B12 and B12-related markers that can indicate a B12 deficiency. The subjects also underwent tests measuring their memory and other cognitive skills.

After four-and-a-half years, on average, MRI scans of the participants’ brains were taken to measure total brain volume and look for other signs of brain damage. Results showed that having high levels of four of five markers for vitamin B12 deficiency was associated with lower scores on the cognitive tests and a smaller total brain volume. One of the markers for vitamin B12-related markers included total plasma homocysteine levels. Findings from this study showed that for each increase of one micromole per liter of homocysteine, the cognitive scores decreased by 0.03 standardized units or points, which the researchers indicated was a significant finding. (3)

Some Final Thoughts
In addition to keeping homocysteine in check, it should be noted that folic acid, B6 and B12 play important roles in the brain, as cofactors for the synthesis of various neurotransmitters required for normal cognition. Vitamin B12 deficiency is a common finding as people age, due to decreased absorption, and is secondary to declining stomach acid secretion. An acid environment enhances B12 absorption by up-regulating the secretion of intrinsic factor, which is necessary for vitamin B12 absorption in the small intestine. Compounding the problem is the fact that many older subjects take antacid drugs (over-the-counter or prescription) for digestive complaints, or to reduce the intestinal irritation from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used to manage arthritis and/or chronic pain. It is also noteworthy that in spite of the folic acid food fortification program implemented by the U.S. government in 1998, epidemiological studies have repeatedly shown that the average daily intake of folic acid from food is sub-optimal for certain sub-groups, and that ingestion of alcohol, having a poor diet and decreased stomach acidity can compromise folic acid absorption and folate nutritional status. Many older subjects exhibit some or all of these conditions, which may increase their propensity for sub-optimal folate status.

Given the emerging importance of these B-vitamins on the rate of brain atrophy after 60, memory, cognition, and risk of MCI and Alzheimer’s disease, health care practitioners should consider evaluating plasma folate (more ideally using the erythrocyte folate test) and plasma B12 levels and total plasma homocysteine levels in patients over 50, to identify those who wouldbest benefit from supplementation with these three B-vitamins. In these cases a low-dose of prevention may translate into many more years of normal cognitive function and preserved quality of life and dignity. (4,5)

References:

1. http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0012244
2. Bryan J, Calvaresi E, Hughes D. Short-term folate, vitamin B-12 or vitamin B-6 supplementation slightly affects memory performance but not mood in women of various ages. J Nutr, 2000; 132 (6): 1345-56
3. C. Tangney, N. T. Aggarwal, H. Li, R. S. Wilson, C. DeCarli, D. A. Evans, M. C. Morris.Vitamin B12, cognition, and brain MRI measures: A cross-sectional examination.Neurology, 2011; 77 (13):1276-82
4. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-HealthProfessional/#en3
5. http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/vitamin-b12-deficiency-can-be-sneaky-harmful-201301105780