Mild cases of Lyme disease can cause flu-like symptoms. If left untreated, Lyme disease can spread throughout the body and infect the heart, joints and brain. When Lyme disease infects the brain, it can cause confusion and infectious dementia. Vitamin B-12 is used to treat certain types of dementia.
B-12
Vitamin B-12 occurs naturally in foods such as fish, meat and dairy products. When administered as a supplement, B-12 is usually created in a laboratory. Its primary medical use is in treating B-12 deficiency and pernicious anemia. Its secondary uses include treatments for Alzheimer's disease, mood disorders and boosting immune function. Folk remedies recommend B-12 as a treatment for a wide variety of ailments, including inflammatory bowel disease, asthma and allergies. B-12 deficiency can cause toxic-metabolic dementia, with symptoms common to most forms of dementia, including memory loss and disorientation.
B-12 Treatments
B-12 is most commonly administered orally, but can also be given as a gel that is spread inside the nose. When used to treat skin ailments such as eczema or psoriasis, it may be mixed with avocado oil and spread directly on the affected area. Vitamin B-12 supplements are available over the counter, both as stand alone supplements and in combination with other B complex vitamins. Most multivitamins contain B-12.
Lyme Disease and Dementia
In severe cases, Lyme disease can cause neurological symptoms such as speech problems and abnormal behaviors. In these cases, infectious dementia can occur, especially in elderly patients. Symptoms of infectious dementia caused by Lyme disease include forgetfulness, disorientation, personality changes and decreased decision-making skills.
Should You Take B-12 For Lyme Disease?
Vitamin B-12 is highly effective in treating dementia caused by B-12 deficiency, but more research is needed to determine whether the use of vitamin B-12 is effective in the treatment of dementia caused by Lyme disease, according to the National Institutes of Health. The risks of taking B-12 are generally low except in very specific circumstances. For most people with Lyme disease, taking a B-12 supplement alone or as part of a multivitamin is not harmful. If you have Leber's disease or an allergy or sensitivity to cobalt or cobalamin, do not take B-12. If you have concerns about B-12, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking the supplement.
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