Vitamin B12 and folate levels in progression of Alzheimer’s disease – a short report

Abstract

Background: The status of vitamin B12 and folate has been implicated in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Methods: The study explored this issue through a retrospective case-control study design, with follow up of the case group for 18 months. The case group (n = 136) comprised patients 65 years or older diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and having a Mini-mental State Examination score (MMSE) of ≤ 27. The control group comprised healthy adults 65 years or older (n = 338) with a MMSE score of >27.

Results: Vitamin B12 and folate levels were not found to differ between case and control groups. B12 and folate status at baseline was not predictive of disease progression in the case group.

Discussion: This lack of association differs from other studies which have shown a protective effect of vitamin B12 and folate on cognitive decline.

KEY POINTS

• The findings of this study do not confirm evidence suggesting an effect of vitamin B12 and folate levels on development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

• Folate and B12 levels were similar in the Alzheimer’s group to those of healthy controls.

• Folate and B12 levels at initial assessment were not predictive of disease progression.

Keywords:

• B12
• folate
• Alzheimer’s
• dementia

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Tracy Stuart and the staff of the Memory Service North, Sheffield for their help during the course of the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The control data came from a study funded by the Foods Standards Agency: Urinary MMA revisited: a functional biomarker of B12 status applicable to large-scale surveys? Margo Barker was a co-applicant on the grant and Professor Hilary Powers was the Principal Investigator. No specific grant or funding was received for the Memory Clinic part of the study.