Preventing Alzheimer's disease-related gray matter atrophy by B-vitamin treatment
Douaud G, Refsum H, de Jager CA, Jacoby R, Nichols TE, Smith SM, Smith AD
Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Methodology
Voxel-based MRI analysis within a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.
Key Findings
B-vitamin treatment reduced gray matter atrophy in Alzheimer-vulnerable brain regions by up to seven-fold, but only in participants with elevated baseline homocysteine.
Conclusions
Homocysteine-lowering B vitamins, including B12, may slow region-specific brain atrophy in people with raised homocysteine.
Limitations
Secondary imaging analysis of one trial; benefit confined to a high-homocysteine subgroup; combined B vitamins so B12-specific effect cannot be isolated.
Supplements Studied
B-vitamin treatment reduced by as much as seven fold the cerebral atrophy in grey matter regions specifically vulnerable to the Alzheimer's disease process, in subjects with elevated homocysteine.
Outcomes Measured
B-vitamin treatment reduced by as much as seven fold the cerebral atrophy in grey matter regions specifically vulnerable to the Alzheimer's disease process, in subjects with elevated homocysteine.
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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Disclosures
Funding
Charitable and academic funding (Oxford Project to Investigate Memory and Ageing)
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