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Could folic acid help the elderly stave off dementia?
Last updated at 10:37am on 05.02.08
The elderly may be encouraged to take folic acid supplements after a study suggested they could help fight dementia
The elderly could be encouraged to take folic acid supplements after a study suggested they could help fight dementia.
Doctors found those with low levels of folate - a B vitamin - in their blood faced triple the risk of developing Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
Those with the highest levels were least likely to suffer mental deterioration.
The findings suggest eating more folate-rich fruit and vegetables could help reduce the risk of dementia.
Taking folic acid supplements, which contain the vitamin in synthetic form, could also help. The findings may also strengthen the case for adding extra folic acid to flour and bread. This is already being considered to help prevent certain birth defects.
Other research suggests higher blood folate levels may ward off heart disease and strokes.
They have also been shown to reduce levels of homocysteine, an amino acid found in the blood. High levels of this are linked with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers, whose findings are published today in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, tracked the development of dementia in 518 elderly people over two years from 2001 to 2003.
All were over 65 and living in two rural and urban areas in Korea. They were tested at the start and end of the study to establish whether they had any form of dementia.
The researchers also examined levels of folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine in their blood. Those who started out deficient in folate were almost three and a half times more likely to develop dementia.
This was even more likely in those whose folate levels then fell further over the two years, while their homocysteine levels rose.
By the end of the study, 45 had developed dementia. Of these, 34 had Alzheimer's disease, seven had vascular dementia and four had other types of dementia.
Dr Clive Ballard, director of research at the Alzheimer's Society charity, said: "The findings add weight to growing evidence about the important role that dietary factors can play in preventing dementia, including the potential importance of Vitamin B12 and folate."
Folate is found in such foods as oranges and strawberries, dark green leafy vegetables and beans.
Dr Robert Stewart, an epidemiologist, said the elderly should be encouraged to eat more folate-rich food or take folic acid supplements.
The recommended daily dose of folic acid is 200 micrograms, with a safe upper level of 1,000 micrograms.
Dr Stewart said: "Older people should be taking the recommended amount, we're not advocating mega-doses.
"It would be sensible for Britons to ensure they are eating the right amount of folate-rich foods or taking supplements to get up to recommended levels."
