THE TELEGRAPH: Vitamin B tablets could slow and even halt the devastating march of Alzheimer's Disease in the elderly, a breakthrough British study suggests.
The research showed that large doses of the supplement could halve the rate of brain shrinkage – a physical symptom associated [with] memory loss and dementia in the elderly.
The effects were so dramatic that the scientists behind the work believe it could revolutionise the treatment of the disease.
Brain shrinkage or atrophy is a natural part of ageing but it is known to be accelerated in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) – a kind of memory loss and forgetfulness – and Alzheimer's.
Scientists at the University of Oxford conducted a trial on 168 people and found that taking high doses of three vitamin B supplements every day reduced brain shrinkage associated with dementia by up to 53 per cent.
They said the results were so strong that it should open up a debate as to whether the tablets should be prescribed to everyone with MCI – half of whom develop Alzheimer's disease.
MCI affects 16 per cent of people over 70 – 1.5 million people in the UK.
Professor David Smith, a pharmacologist who co-authored the study, said the results were "immensely promising".
"It is a very simple solution: you give someone some vitamins and you protect the brain," he said. >>> Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent | Thursday, September 09, 2010
