Vegetarians at higher risk of dementiaRSS Feed

Vegetarians are at a higher risk of disorders of the brain such as dementia and Alzheimer's due to a vitamin B12 deficiency, according to new findings.

Foods that vegetarians and vegans often do not eat such as fish, meat, eggs and milk are essential for vitamin B12 intake.

The study by scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden took blood samples from 271 Finnish people between the ages of 65-79, who did not have dementia at the beginning of the study.

It was found that high levels of homocysteine, which is linked to B12, had negative effects on the brain. High levels of B12 have been shown to lower levels of homocysteine.

Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, the UK's leading dementia research charity, said that it was too early to start stocking up on vitamins just yet.

"The strongest evidence we have for reducing dementia risk is to eat a healthy balanced diet, take moderate exercise, and keep cholesterol and blood pressure in check, particularly in mid life," she said.

These findings have been backed by doctors in India who say that their largely vegetarian population is more prone to Alzheimer's.

News brought to you by Serious Law specialists in traumatic brain injury

Posted by Timothy Walters
 

Small area of brain 'could be key to traumatic brain injury'

28 October 2010

A small area of the brain which has been linked to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) could help patients with traumatic brain injury, an expert has said.Researchers from Minneapolis VA Medical Center...

Read More...

Heavy smoking 'increases risk of dementia'

27 October 2010

People who smoke 40-a-day face a much higher risk of dementia in later life, according to new findings.The risk of developing Alzheimer's disease more than doubled in people who had consumed more than...

Read More...

Olfactory cells to further stem cell brain research

27 October 2010

A new model which will investigate diseases of the brain has been developed by researchers at Griffith University.In the new model, stem cells are collected from the olfactory organ that provides the sense...

Read More...