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B Vitamins Influence Vascular Cognitive Impairment

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Preventive Nutrition

Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

Abstract

As the number of elderly continues to increase worldwide, age-related neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, are a growing concern. In some cases, vascular dementia and cognitive decline in aging are associated with nutritional status and elevated homocysteine, suggesting that improving nutritional status can play a meaningful role in the prevention of cognitive impairment. The research described in this chapter represents current understanding on the relationships of folate and vitamin B12 nutritional status with cognitive function and dementia in adults and elderly. Low B vitamin status is associated with increased homocysteine levels and there is evidence that insufficient B vitamin intake is associated with lower cognitive scores in comparison to adequate intake. However, higher rates of cognitive decline have been reported with high levels of folate and folic acid intake in adults, and memory performance may be impaired with high folate intake in individuals with low vitamin B12 status. Overall, studies reported lower folate blood levels and a higher prevalence of deficiency among subjects with dementia. In general, vitamin B12 serum levels were lower in patients with dementia relative to nondemented individuals; however, this relationship was not as consistent as that for folate. Subsequent to mandatory folic acid fortification, stroke mortality has decreased at a greater rate in the USA and Canada, suggesting a positive effect of fortification on cerebrovascular health. Interventions with folic acid and with combinations of B vitamins were able to improve cognitive function or prevent decline, especially in subjects with low nutrient status. As with the data for blood nutrient levels, evidence that vitamin B12 treatment improves cognitive function is conflicting and less positive.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, 02111, USA

    Tammy M. Scott Ph.D. & Irwin H. Rosenberg M.D.

  2. Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02111, USA

    Tammy M. Scott Ph.D.

  3. Department of Psychology, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA

    Kristen E. D’Anci Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Tammy M. Scott Ph.D.
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  2. Kristen E. D’Anci Ph.D.
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  3. Irwin H. Rosenberg M.D.
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Correspondence to Irwin H. Rosenberg M.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Consultants in Consumer Healthcare, Morristown, New Jersey, USA

    Adrianne Bendich

  2. Columbia University Inst. Human Nutrition, New York, New York, USA

    Richard J. Deckelbaum

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Scott, T.M., D’Anci, K.E., Rosenberg, I.H. (2015). B Vitamins Influence Vascular Cognitive Impairment. In: Bendich, A., Deckelbaum, R. (eds) Preventive Nutrition. Nutrition and Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22431-2_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22431-2_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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