10.01.10
Nutraceutical(s): B vitamins
Indication: Mild cognitive impairment
Source: Public Library of Science (PLoS) One journal, September 2010:Epub ahead of print.
Research: During a 2-year trial, 271 individuals with mild cognitive impairment were enrolled and asked to take either a combination of high-dose folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 or a placebo. A subset (187) volunteered to have cranial MRI scans at the start and finish of the study. The researchers were looking to evaluate the change in the rate of brain atrophy over the period.
Results: Researchers found that the accelerated rate of brain atrophy in elderly subjects with mild cognitive impairment could be slowed by treatment with homocysteine-lowering B vitamins. Since accelerated brain atrophy is a characteristic of subjects with mild cognitive impairment who convert to Alzheimer’s disease, they believe trials are needed to see if the same treatment will delay the development of Alzheimer’s disease.