Getting older is a fact of life, even if we don’t necessarily like it. It doesn’t need to be a bad thing either, especially if we know there are things we can do to slow it’s progress and maintain a higher quality of life in the process. Mounting evidence is revealing that vitamin B12 actually slows the shrinking of the brain that commonly occurs after the age of 60. This is truly exciting news!

Brain shrinkage, also know as atrophy, results in a higher incidence of cognitive impairment. It is this mental decline that sets the stage for an increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The evidence is revealing that if we can prevent brain atrophy, then perhaps we can also prevent this cognitive decline, too. A study published by JAMA Psychiatry in June of 2016 focused solely on B12. The results of this study indicated that “high blood levels of vitamin B12 can slow the shrinking of the brain” which is very common once a person reaches the age of 60.

Vitamin B12 provides another benefit, as well. It also lowers a chemical found in the blood called homocysteine. Homocysteine is found in high levels in individuals who eat a lot of animal protein with little fruits and vegetables. This chemical is thought to contribute to heart disease, brain atrophy and Alzheimer’s. The higher levels of vitamin B12 is overwhelmingly positive. It is the only supplementation that is able to slow brain shrinking, or atrophy, in human clinical trials. And, to date, there have been no drugs that have been able to do this at the same level. That feat is truly amazing.