The danger of B12 deficiency in the elderly.
Vitamin B12 deficiency damages nerve cells and aggravates nervous system disorders even in the absence of evidence of anaemia. Prevalence of B12 deficiency increases with age especially over 65 and is frequently associated with Alzheimer's disease. Recent American surveys record a higher prevalence of B12 deficiency and of undiagnosed and untreated pernicious anaemia in the elderly than reported earlier. B12 deficiency is also reported to be a risk factor for heart disease, stroke and accelerated ageing.
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D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000209:etiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*