B vitamins, homocysteine, and neurocognitive function in the elderly

Evidence of the importance of the B vitamins folic acid, vitamin B-12, and vitamin B-6 for the well-being and normal function of the brain derives from data showing neurologic and psychologic dysfunction in vitamin deficiency states and in cases of congenital defects of one-carbon metabolism. The st...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 71; no. 2; p. 614S
Main Authors: Selhub, J, Bagley, L C, Miller, J, Rosenberg, I H
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States 01.02.2000
Subjects:
Aging - blood
Aging - physiology
Animals
Brain - metabolism
Brain - physiopathology
Cognition Disorders - etiology
Cognition Disorders - metabolism
Homocysteine - blood
Humans
Methionine - metabolism
Tetrahydrofolates - metabolism
Vitamin B Deficiency - blood
Vitamin B Deficiency - complications
Vitamin B Deficiency - physiopathology
ISSN:0002-9165
Online Access:Get more information
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Summary:Evidence of the importance of the B vitamins folic acid, vitamin B-12, and vitamin B-6 for the well-being and normal function of the brain derives from data showing neurologic and psychologic dysfunction in vitamin deficiency states and in cases of congenital defects of one-carbon metabolism. The status of these vitamins is frequently inadequate in the elderly and recent studies have shown associations between loss of cognitive function or Alzheimer disease and inadequate B vitamin status. The question that arises is whether these B vitamin inadequacies contribute to such brain malfunctions or result from aging and disease. From a theoretical standpoint, these inadequacies could give rise to impairment of methylation reactions that are crucial to the health of brain tissue. In addition or perhaps instead, these inadequacies could result in hyperhomocysteinemia, a recently identified risk factor for occlusive vascular disease, stroke, and thrombosis, any of which may result in brain ischemia. Advances in the understanding of this putative relation between inadequate vitamin status and loss of cognitive function in the elderly are likely to be slow and may depend on the outcomes of both prospective studies and longitudinal studies in which nutritional intervention is provided before cognitive decline occurs.
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ISSN:0002-9165
DOI:10.1093/ajcn/71.2.614s