Vitamin B-12 deficiency is a public health problem, especially among elderly people. This is a concern because vitamin B-12 is needed to maintain the health of the nervous system. Without B-12, your brain does not have the support to protect vital structures that are needed to perform memory-related cognitive tasks. As a result, a B-12 deficiency is related to both disease-related and non-disease-related memory loss.
Improves Cognitive Abilities
A study of 107 adults between the ages of 61 and 87 showed that vitamin B-12 levels are linked to cognitive function. This study was published in 2008 in the journal "Neurology." Researchers in this study measured cognitive function with a battery of tests that measured episodic, working and semantic memory. Episodic memory is the type of memory that involves events in a specific time and place that can be later recalled and verbalized. Working memory is the type of memory that is used to temporarily store items that are needed for more complicated cognitive tasks, such as reasoning and comprehension. Semantic memory is the ability to recall concept-based knowledge that is not tied to specific personal experiences, such as the memory of world events and other factual information.
Supports White Matter
The white matter of your brain is mostly comprised of neurons, or brain cells, that have white protective sheaths. Low B-12 levels are related to high homocysteine levels; homocysteine is linked to a higher prevalence of lesions in the white matter of the brain and associated cognitive decline and memory problems, according to a 2008 article in the "Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry." Based on the scientific evidence, researchers have concluded that B-12 works by supporting myelin integrity. Myelin is one type of protective sheath in the white matter of your brain and is responsible for insulating nerve cells and speeding up the electrochemical signaling between them.
Lowers Homocysteine Levels
Homocysteine is an amino acid, a protein building block, in your body that is produced usually as a result of meat consumption. Too much homocysteine may lead to hardening of the arteries. As a result, your brain receives less oxygen, which may lead to stroke. An elevated homocysteine level is linked to a smaller hippocampus, according to the 2008 "Neurology" study article. The hippocampus is an area of your brain that is highly involved with long-term memory. Elevated homocysteine levels are often linked to Alzheimer's disease and the associated memory-related cognitive decline. Sufficient levels of vitamin B-12 in your body help to ensure the health of your hippocampus and aid in the lowering of harmful, elevated homocysteine levels that negatively impact memory.
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