Is There a Link Between Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Dementia?

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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…