The homocysteine connection

Higher blood levels of homocysteine, a toxic byproduct of an amino acid, is one risk factor for brain atrophy and Alzheimer’s disease. B vitamins are needed to break down homocysteine, so it’s been suggested that if they help lower homocysteine levels, they might also be able to slow the rate of brain atrophy.

The study, which was published in the journal, PLoS ONE, involved 168 people over 70 years old with mild cognitive impairment. The participants were given 0.8 mg folic acid, 0.5 mg vitamin B12, and 20 mg vitamin B6 or placebo every day for 24 months. At the beginning of the study and after two years, MRIs of their brains assessed changes in brain mass.

Blood levels of homocysteine dropped by 23% in the people taking B vitamins, and the rate of brain atrophy per year was almost 30% lower in the B-vitamin group than in the placebo group at the end of the study.

“It is tempting to suggest that this finding is consistent with the view that raised homocysteine is a direct cause of atrophy,” the authors commented. “However, it does not exclude that homocysteine is only a marker for low-normal levels of the vitamins, which are themselves the causal factors.”

Tips for top brain function

Try these tips to keep your brain going strong.

• Use it or lose it. Studies have shown that staying mentally active is vital to keeping brain synapses healthy. Try learning a new instrument or craft, and branch out with different kinds of brain-teaser games.
• Move your body. Physical exercise is just as important as the mental kind when it comes to preserving healthy brain function. Aim for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. Intense exercise is best, but you’ll still reap benefits just from walking.
• Eat your way there. Blueberries, wild salmon, and nuts and seeds all provide essential nutrients that have been shown to help preserve healthy brain function. Keeping your heart healthy with foods like whole grains, legumes, olive oil, and avocados has the added benefit of improving circulation to the brain.
• Take a multivitamin. Many comprehensive multivitamins contain B vitamins in the dosages used in the study. Always talk to your doctor before starting a new medication or supplement.

(PLoS ONE 2010;5:e12244)