title: Vitamin B1 (thiamine) and dementia.
abstract: The earliest and perhaps best example of an interaction between nutrition and dementia is related to thiamine (vitamin B1). Throughout the last century, research showed that thiamine deficiency is associated with neurological problems, including cognitive deficits and encephalopathy. Multiple similarities exist between classical thiamine deficiency and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in that both are associated with cognitive deficits and reductions in brain glucose metabolism. Thiamine-dependent enzymes are critical components of glucose metabolism that are reduced in the brains of AD patients and by thiamine decline, and a decrease in their levels could account for the reduction in glucose metabolism. In preclinical models, reduced thiamine can drive AD-like abnormalities, including memory deficits, neuritic plaques, and hyperphosphorylation of tau. Furthermore, excess thiamine diminishes AD-like pathologies. In addition to dietary deficits, drugs or other manipulations that interfere with thiamine absorption can cause thiamine deficiency. Elucidating the reasons why the brains of AD patients are functionally thiamine deficient and determining the effects of thiamine restoration may provide critical information to help treat patients with AD.
authors.affiliation: Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, and Burke Medical Research Institute, White Plains, New York.
authors.forename: Gary E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.affiliation: Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, White Plains, New York.
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.affiliation: Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, White Plains, New York.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fonzetti
authors.affiliation: Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, White Plains, New York.
authors.forename: Barry D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.affiliation: Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, White Plains, New York.
authors.forename: Rosanna T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Cirio
authors.affiliation: Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, and Burke Medical Research Institute, White Plains, New York.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elder
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D013831:Thiamine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013832:Thiamine Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005947:Glucose; D013831:Thiamine
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; glucose metabolism; mitochondria; thiamine; vitamin B1