Vitamin B does not affect memory

A new study published in the online issue of Neurology shows that Vitamin B has no effect to memory after all and that it does not reduce risk of memory loss even if you take it regularly.

2,919 people with an average age of were asked by researchers to take folic acid or Vitamin B for two years. The participants were given a memory test before and after the study. All of the participants have high level of homocysteine in their blood. High level of Homocysteine is linked to high risk of developing dementia.

According to Dr. Doug Brown, Director of Research at Alzheimer's quoted:

'There is conflicting evidence for whether vitamin B improves memory and thinking so it's good to see further clinical trials are being conducted in this area. We know levels of homocysteine, a protein linked to an increased risk of dementia, tend to increase with age. This might be because we are less able to absorb B vitamins from our diet as we get older. However, it is not a quick fix to take supplements.

'This trial adds to a growing weight of evidence that vitamin B levels do not improve memory and thinking. More trials are needed to determine if there is a benefit of these vitamins for people already with dementia, or for people without high levels of homocysteine, as no one in this trail had dementia or was known to develop it. The best way to reduce the risk of dementia is to take plenty of exercises, eat healthily, properly regulate other health conditions, stop smoking and don’t’drink over recommended limits.'

The study was published online yesterday, November 12, 2014.