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Research shows Vitamin B could reduce the rate of brain shrinkage and prevent Alzheimers disease

Vitamin B tablets could slow and even halt the devastating march of Alzheimer's Disease in the elderly, a groundbreaking British study suggests.

Brain shrinkage or atrophy is a natural part of ageing but it is known to be accelerated in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's.

Scientists at the University of Oxford conducted a trial on 168 people and found that taking high doses of three vitamin B supplements every day reduced brain shrinkage associated with dementia by up to 53 per cent.

The research, published in the online journal Public Library of Science ONE, suggests that you can treat dementia by swallowing a food supplement rather than by taking complicated medicines and these are available very cheaply in health food stores, supermarkets and online.
The researchers behind the study said it offered a ‘glimmer of hope' in the battle to find a cure for Alzheimer's.

Others agree, Paul Matthews, Professor of Clinical Neurology, Imperial College, London said: “This well-conducted study adds substantial new data to previous information suggesting that dietary B vitamins could have beneficial effects on neurodegeneration with ageing."

Chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, Rebecca Wood said: "These are very important results, with B vitamins now showing a prospect of protecting some people from Alzheimer's in old age”.

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Last updated: 09-09-2010