Another reason to increase your vitamin intake

A recent study has found that large doses of B vitamins could help to reduce the rate of brain shrinkage in older people exhibiting symptoms of Alzhemier’s disease.

Researchers are hopeful that this could be a step towards delaying the onset of the debilitating disease but agree that more evidence and research is needed.

Though it is unknown why B vitamins have such a positive effect it is thought to have something to do with a substance known as homocysteine. Homocysteine is associated with brain shrinkage and Alzheimer’s and B vitamins such as folic acid, vitamin B and vitamin B12, have the ability to control homocysteine levels in the blood, thus helping to slow the rate of shrinkage.

Professor David Smith who authored the study has said the results were far more significant than anyone could have predicted.

“These vitamins are doing something to the brain structure – they’re protecting it, and that’s very important because we need to protect the brain to prevent Alzheimer’s.”

B vitamins are found naturally in many foods such as meat, fish, eggs and green veggies and experts are now advising us to take higher than the recommend levels in light of the new findings.

Original article