Elderly people are most at risk of brain diseases such as dementia

Scientists from the University of Oxford have discovered that taking three B vitamins a day can slow the brain’s shrinkage, which occurs with age and can lead to dementia problems, such as memory loss.

The two-year trial, conducted in collaboration with colleagues from Norway, involved 168 people who struggled with their memory, language or other mental functions known as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). 

Half of those who participated were given daily doses of vitamin B12, B6 and folic acid (B9). After two years the results were clear that those who were taking B vitamins incurred less brain shrinkage (by 0.76 per cent a year) when compared to the other half of the group who were given placebo (1.08 per cent a year) – a significant 31 per cent difference.

There are currently around 26m people in the world affected by MCI: around 1.5m people in the UK, 14m in Europe, and 5m in the US.

Professor David Smith of the Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford and co-leader of the trial said, ‘These are immensely promising results but we do need to do more trials to conclude whether these particular B vitamins can slow or prevent development of Alzheimer’s. So I wouldn’t yet recommend that anyone getting a bit older and beginning to be worried about memory lapses should rush out and buy vitamin B supplements without seeing a doctor.’

By James Massoud