Brain shrinkage, or atrophy, is a natural part of ageing although it is accelerated in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) which is a kind of memory loss and forgetfulness, and Alzheimer’s disease.
The brain naturally begins to shrink as we age and by the age of 60, by as much as ½ percent every year.
In cases of MCI, brain shrinkage accelerates to 1 percent a year and in Alzheimer’s disease, 2 ½ percent each year. Both accompanied by accelerated memory problems, slower thoughts and confusion.
A Unique Connection
The researchers set out in a new direction in this study, knowing that a people with higher levels of homocysteine, an amino acid found in the blood, is associated with accelerated brain shrinking as well as an accurate marker for heart disease.
And knowing that higher than RDA doses of Vitamins B6, B12 and Folic acid can be very effective in lowering homocysteine levels, they conducted their study around this possibly simple and cheap solution.
Over a two year period, half of the participants were given a daily tablet containing high doses of Vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid. The other half received placebos.
At the end of the trial, the effects of the vitamin supplemented group showed dramatic results; brain atrophy was slowed on average by 30 percent and in many cases as high as 53 percent.
Professor David Smith, a pharmacologist who co-authored the study, said the results were “immensely promising”, and “It’s a very simple solution: you give someone some vitamins and you protect the brain.”
For Quality B6, B12 and Folic Acid, Longevity League Recommends
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