B12 deficiency - dementia

[Alfabeta]

Hi All

I notice that dementia is stated as a possible outcome of b12 deficiency. How does this occur?

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Several ways it could lead to dementia - there has been more research since this article but pasting the summary here

Pathophysiology

Historical reports describe perivascular degeneration and foci of myelin degeneration in the brains of patient with pernicious anemia.6,22 MRI images of patients with vitamin B12 deficiency sometimes show signs of disseminated demyelination similar to those found in multiple sclerosis.23 A number of animal models provide additional evidence for the detrimental effect of vitamin B12 deficiency on the integrity of myelin,24,25 which is aggravated under the oxidizing influence of N2O.26,27 The exact mechanism of the myelin damage following cobalamin deficiency, however, is still unknown.28,29

Several important functions have been attributed to vitamin B12 as a coenzyme.10,29,30 Both cobalamin and folate are needed for the methylation of homocysteine to methionine and in the synthesis of S- adenosylmethionine, a major methyl donor in the CNS. S-adenosylmethionine participates in various methylation steps involving proteins, phospholipids, DNA, and neurotransmitter metabolism. A defect in methylation processes is thought to play a central role in the biochemical basis of the neuropsychiatry of these vitamin deficiencies.30

Additionally, hyperhomocysteinemia, which is a metabolic consequence of vitamin B12 deficiency, is an independent vascular risk factor associated with cerebral microvascular disease.31 Cerebral microangiopathy is considered to be the basis for vascular dementia. High homocysteine (HY) levels may also lead to an excessive production of homocysteic acid and cysteine sulphinic acid, which act as endogenous agonists of N-methyl-Daspartatate receptors and may impair cognitive functions by excitotoxic mechanisms (see review32).

neuro.psychiatryonline.org/...

[Alfabeta in reply to Gambit62]

Thank you very much for this and the help you have given me and others. I don’t believe I have the beginnings of dementia but my recurring symptoms are mostly brain related. I can’t get my doctor or any other doctor for that matter to take my symptoms seriously

B12 deficiency is a lonely place and this site and its administrators are a island of comfort

Good luck and good health

[cleoandpetra in reply to Alfabeta]

this site is amazing - I don't feel so alone I felt now I was going nuts and so despondent but it is encouraging. keep well

[fbirder]

Prof David Smith at Oxford has done some research into B12 and Alzheimer's. He gave a talk at the PAS conference in 2013 about how B12 helped patients who showed high levels of homocysteine in their blood.

youtu.be/n7aMPF5P9AY?t=209(Not working as expected?)

[busterboy]

I have seen a very sad case of this - an old lady was totally out of her mind, screaming night and day, no medication given by mental health people helped and they tried everything, her psychiatrist was a well known professor and he not only did home visits, he fought with the higher ups to get her into his ward, they obstructed him at every turn but he won in the end, sadly she ended up with a stroke and slowly deteriorated till the inevitable happened.

It was only after she died that her daughter informed me she had been on injections for PA. before she became ill. I could have cried. She was fully compos Mentos till she developed an infection, fragile yes but alert and able to do simple household things - she had bad osteoarthritis.

She was medicated up to her eyes for the infection, got very weak, appetite almost zero during this time, the rest as I have described. I am convinced it was lack of proper treatment for her PA. - maybe I am wrong but I saw her and if you think of a scene from bedlam - that would sum it up.

My 2 pennyworth.

[cleoandpetra in reply to busterboy]

so sorry to hear this story - I have osteoarthritis - but have fused fingers and ankle - so that took care of the pain but have it elsewhere - you need someone in life to fight your corner these days I was told by one doctor once "well you just have to pout up with it" - I told her I wont put up with it - why should I - persistence persistence all the way. kind regards

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

Some blog posts about dementia and B12 deficiency

martynhooper.com/2016/01/22...

martynhooper.com/2017/01/22...

b12deficiency.info/blog/201...

b12deficiency.info/blog/201...

Dementia is mentioned in these books about B12 deficiency

"What You Need to Know About Pernicious Anaemia and B12 Deficiency" by Martyn Hooper

Martyn Hooper is the chair of PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society).

"Living with Pernicious Anaemia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency" by Martyn Hooper

Has several case studies.

"Could it Be B12?: An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses" by Sally Pacholok and JJ. Stuart (USA authors)

Very comprehensive with lots of case studies. There is also a paediatric version of this book "Could It Be B12? Paediatric Edition: What Every Parent Needs to Know".

[Cherylclaire Forum Support]

Regarding busterboy 's awful story: possible to have lost B12 because of other medication (which you mentioned re. infection) depleting resources - Nitrous Oxide (anaesthetic), Omeprazole and similar, certain antibiotics etc.

Worth checking before being prescribed something/ having operation/ dental extraction. GPs, dentists etc not always aware of extent of this list/ damage that can be done.