Dementia And Autistic People Have This In Common

Did you know that people over the age of 65 have something in common with people who have autism and schizophrenia? This shared trait could give you a great way to beat age-related dementia. Obviously, dementia patients, along with autistic and schizophrenic patients, have some brain dysfunction.

Common Factor Explains Why

Nova Southeastern University recently discovered that elderly people and people with autism or schizophrenia have  lower levels of vitamin B12 in their brains compared to healthy or younger brains. What the researchers found particularly interesting was that blood levels of B12 seemed stable across these populations. Decreases of B12 showed up only in their brains. These deficits could contribute to the neurological and neuro-psychiatric symptoms associated with autism, schizophrenia, and conditions like dementia.

Some decreases in vitamin B12 in the brain could simply be a normal part of the aging process to help the brain metabolism adjust. However, dramatic decreases disrupt memory. Recognize that vitamin B12 deficits may effect of something else that’s contributing to dementia, rather than a direct cause. For example, researchers speculate that oxidative stress is contributing to both dementia and decreased B12 levels.

Until We Know More…

It’s important to tackle both issues, particularly for those over 65. Those of you living in a long-term care facility should know… Applied Physiology, Nutrition & Metabolism, published research showing vitamin B12 deficiency affects up to 43% of residents. We should all be taking steps to reduce oxidative stress on our bodies, as this is a major contributor to aging. By consuming antioxidant-rich foods, like pomegranate, supplements such zinc and milk thistle (sold here) and avoiding toxins like mercury, found in many vaccines.

Second, if you or a loved one is in a long-term care facility I suggest an inject able vitamin B12 in the form of methylcobalamin (the active form of B12) . Sadly, many doctors will not give these patients a trial of inject able B12 because their blood levels often appear normal. Yet this study clearly shows blood levels do not always predict brain levels. Here’s what I recommend: Take 2 mg of intramuscular methylcobalamin twice a week for four weeks. If that doesn’t reverse the dementia, then the cause is something else. What about oral B12?

The problem with oral B12 is that most of these patients cannot absorb it. So, the best thing to do is to use the injections at first. If they work, you might be able to substitute an oral form.

Yours for better health,

Dr. Jack Belitz

B12 is one of the vitamins that is not absorbed very well unless it its injected. To prevent the excess loss of B12, it is important that your body have the nervous system working at full potential. This will allow the body to grab as much B12 as it can from the foods you eat and keep the B12 that you have. If you are not sure if your nervous system is working well, stop by and get a scan.