Is There a Link Between Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Dementia?

In today’s article, we will discuss an important topic. It is called dementia.

More specifically, we will look at the number one vitamin deficiency that mimics dementia. You see, sometimes, you may think that you have dementia, or maybe someone told you that you’re beginning to forget too much. It could be nothing more than a simple vitamin deficiency.

Vitamin B12 is vital and highly required for various body processes, like energy production, DNA synthesis, and optimal functioning of the central nervous system (1).

Although it is found in many foods, vitamin B12 deficiency and insufficiency are common. This is often attributed to limited dietary intake, medical conditions, and malabsorption. However, it may also be caused by medications that deplete B12 (2, 3, 4).

Some studies suggest that no less than 20% of people in the US and UK over 60 are deficient in vitamin B12 (5).

For reference purposes, vitamin B12 levels are considered normal levels, over 300 pg/mL. On the other hand, 200–300 pg/mL are borderline, while levels below 200 pg/mL are deficient (2).

Since the ability to absorb this vitamin declines with age, the deficiency is more prevalent in adults. But that doesn’t mean that younger adults and children, including breastfeeding and pregnant women, can’t develop it (5, 6).

Unfortunately, many healthcare providers often overlook and misdiagnose vitamin B12 deficiency. Most times, the misdiagnosis is due to inadequate testing, or the symptoms aren’t specific to B12 deficiency (7).

If you think that you have a B12 deficiency, then visit your healthcare provider. Then, you can disclose your symptoms and undergo testing.

The main vitamin that mimics dementia

The primary vitamin that mimics dementia is vitamin B12.

B12 deficiency has a negative impact on the central nervous system. Because of this, low B12 levels may have difficulty completing tasks and concentrating. They may also feel foggy-headed (8).

The risk of dementia due to B12 deficiency is higher among older adults because vitamin absorption from natural sources decreases with age.

Many studies have shown that B12 deficiency worsens mental function in the geriatric population (9, 10).

But it isn’t all gloomy. Studies have shown that mental impairment due to B12 deficiency can improve with appropriate treatment.

For instance, a 2020 study gave B12 replacement therapy to 202 subjects with elevated homocysteine levels, low B12 levels, and mild mental impairment (11).

At the end of the treatment, 84 percent of the subjects experienced an improvement in their symptoms, like forgetfulness, memory decline, and poor focus (11).

Medication side effects that may mimic dementia

The American Geriatrics Society has recently released a list of medications that have the potential of mimicking dementia symptoms or worsening them. This list includes antihistamines, muscle relaxants, sleep aids, and anti-anxiety medicines.

Most of these drugs have anticholinergic effects, implying that they can interfere with or reduce neurotransmitter levels in the body. The most affected neurotransmitters are the ones that are essential for healthy nerve function. The interference can cause side effects that resemble dementia, including impaired thinking skills, drowsiness, and increased confusion.

The affected neurotransmitter is known as acetylcholine. It is involved in learning mechanisms and memory. In addition, acetylcholine stimulates the autonomic nerves, which regulate the airways, blood vessels, and digestive and cardiovascular systems.

Many medications have anticholinergic effects. Some of these medications include:

· Antidepressants

· Anti-Parkinson medication like trihexyphenidyl (Artane)

· Dicyclomine — the irritable bowel syndrome medication

· Muscle relaxants such as methocarbamol, cyclobenzaprine, and carisoprodol

· Bladder relaxants — tolterodine and oxybutynin

· Chlorpheniramine and diphenhydramine — both antihistamines

Other deficiencies that produce dementia symptoms

1. Vitamin B1 deficiency

Vitamin B1 deficiency is widespread, especially in the brain area involved with memory loss. This part of the brain is called the hippocampus. When your hippocampus shrinks and has neurodegeneration, then you get Alzheimer’s disease. So, a B1 deficiency can damage the hippocampus.

B1 is an essential cofactor in the metabolism of mitochondria that generates energy for the brain. So, without vitamin B1, the nerves cannot work, thus starving the fuel for the brain.

The primary cause of B1 deficiency is excessive consumption of sugar or carbohydrates. You see, the more carbohydrates you give the brain to run on, the more B1 you need. So high carb diets increase your body’s demand for vitamin B1. Usually, people don’t have so much B1, creating a deficiency. So you’re left with a situation where your hippocampus becomes stressed and starts to break down, resulting in memory problems, confusion, locating things, and creating solutions to problems.

2 . Zinc Deficiency

Zinc is another essential nutrient that is involved with the hippocampus. So if you have a zinc deficiency, there will be that tendency to develop amyloid plaguing in the brain. Amyloid plaguing is a common feature of Alzheimer’s disease.

Zinc deficiency is also caused by excess sugar consumption. Phytic acids also cause zinc deficiency. There are plenty of phytic acids in grains, bread, crackers, pasta, etc. Phytic acid blocks zinc, which can then cause dementia symptoms.

Photo by Milad Fakurian on Unsplash

3 . Vitamin D Deficiency

If you are deficient in vitamin D (which is prevalent), you can go from a mild form of dementia to a very severe form of dementia a lot faster. This is because vitamin slows the process of developing a damage in your brain.

Of course, the sun is the most reliable vitamin D. It is challenging to get it from food, but it is present in fatty fish, dairy, cod liver oil, and mushrooms.

Heres what to do for dementia symptoms

1. Start a keto dieting plan immediately. Do the healthy version of keto dieting with fasting because out of all the things you can do, fueling your brain on ketones would be most efficient because it will bypass the damage in the hippocampus and feed your neurons from a different pattern.

2. Eat plenty of fatty fish and seafood. Seafood is rich in omega-3 fatty acids (DHA), zinc, and vitamin D.

3. Eat red meat for B12.

4. Betaine hydrochloride. This is very helpful if you have weak stomach acids. You could take up to five of these before you have a meal. Betaine hydrochloride will gradually start to build the stomach acids and facilitate the absorption of B12.

Disclaimer: Dr. Berner does not diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical diseases or conditions; instead, he analyzes and corrects the structure of his patients with Foundational Correction to improve their overall quality of life. He works with their physicians, who regulate their medications. This blog post is not designed to provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment, or services to you or any other individual. The information provided in this post or through linkages to other sites is not a substitute for medical or professional care. You should not use the information in place of a visit, consultation, or the advice of your physician or another healthcare provider. Foundation Chiropractic and Dr. Brett Berner are not liable or responsible for any advice, the course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other information, services, or product you obtain through this article or others.