The Power of Vitamin B12 and the Brain

Vitamin B12 — also called cobalamin — plays a critical role in DNA synthesis, red blood cell formation, and neurological health, particularly the maintenance of myelin sheaths around nerves.

According to the WHO, dementia affects approximately 50 million people worldwide, with about 10 million new cases each year. A 2022 meta-analysis by Wang et al. associated low B12 levels with higher risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Vitamin B12 in nutrition

Animal sources include meat, fish, eggs, and dairy. For vegetarians and vegans, fortified foods (plant-based milks, cereals, nutritional yeast) are key sources. Older adults and people with gastrointestinal disorders may have impaired B12 absorption and require supplementation.

Older adults, individuals with gastrointestinal disorders, and strict vegetarians or vegans are at higher risk of deficiency and may require closer monitoring and supplementation.

Prevention is better than treatment.If you have memory concerns or risk factors for B12 deficiency, ask your doctor about a serum B12 level — it's a simple, inexpensive test that can identify a reversible contributor to memory problems. People with cognitive symptoms should also discuss screening for Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.