Association between vitamin B 12 levels and cognitive impairment in older adults

• Published in: Gaceta médica de México Vol. 159; no. 1; p. 32
• Main Authors: Aguilar-Navarro, Sara G, Carbajal-Silva, Juan C, Palacios-Hernández, María G I, Gutiérrez-Gutierrez, Lidia A, Ávila-Funes, José A, Mimenza-Alvarado, Alberto J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Mexico 2023
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cognition; Cognition Disorders; Cognitive Dysfunction - epidemiology; Cognitive Dysfunction - etiology; Dementia - epidemiology; Dementia - etiology; Female; Humans; Male; Vitamin B 12; Vitamins; Deterioro cognitivo leve; Mild cognitive impairment; Vitamin B; Adulto mayor; Vitamina B; Older adults; Demencia; Dementia
• ISSN: 0016-3813

Whether vitamin B deficiency is associated with cognitive impairment remains controversial. To determine the association between vitamin B serum levels and cognitive performance. Two-hundred and forty-one adults aged ≥ 60 years who had serum vitamin B serum levels measurement were included. Physical and cognitive evaluation was carried out, and three groups were formed: normal cognition (NC), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Vitamin B levels were classified as sufficiency (> 400 pg/mL), subclinical deficiency (201-400 pg/mL), and absolute deficiency (≤ 200 pg/mL). Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between cognitive function and vitamin B levels after controlling for confounding variables. Mean age was 81.4 ± 8.0 years; 68% were females; 17.8 % and 39.8% had absolute and subclinical vitamin B deficiency, respectively; 80 individuals (33%) met the criteria for MCI, and 70 (29%), for dementia. Those with MCI and dementia had lower vitamin B levels in comparison with those with NC after adjusting for age, gender and educational level (p = 0.019). A statistically significant association was observed between global cognitive performance and levels of vitamin B .