title: B vitamins and the aging brain.
abstract: Deficiencies of the vitamins folate, B(12) , and B(6) are associated with neurological and psychological dysfunction and with congenital defects. In the elderly, cognitive impairment and incident dementia may be related to the high prevalence of inadequate B vitamin status and to elevations of plasma homocysteine. Plausible mechanisms include homocysteine neurotoxicity, vasotoxicity, and impaired S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methylation reactions vital to central nervous system function. In light of this, it is imperative to find safe ways of improving vitamin B status in the elderly without exposing some individuals to undue risk.
authors.affiliation: Jean Mayer United States Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Jacob.selhub@tufts.edu
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Selhub
authors.forename: Aron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Troen
authors.forename: Irwin H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D009752:Nutritional Status; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000502:physiology; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000502:physiology; D026681:Vitamin B 6 Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D025101:Vitamin B 6; D014805:Vitamin B 12