Key Vitamin Deficiency CAUSES Dementia?!
How it increases the risk of dementia and death
It’s fairly common to experience nutrient deficiencies as you get older. After all, your body often doesn’t absorb nutrients from food as well as it did when you were younger.
Of course, if you’re not eating a nutrient-rich diet, you’re only adding insult to injury.
One deficiency in particular could explain vague symptoms like fatigue, muscle weakness, and confusion.
And as a recent study showed, it can also increase your risk of dementia.
All B vitamins are important for a wide range of body functions. But today I’m focusing on vitamin B9, more commonly called folate.
Folate helps make red blood cells. It helps maintain healthy hair, skin, nails, and eyes. It is even critical for healthy brain function. And it can impact your mental and emotional health.
So, when researchers identified a link between folate levels and dementia, I wasn’t all that surprised.
This study included data from 27,000 seniors (ages 60-75) who did not have dementia at the start of the study.
At the end, the researchers determined that those deficient in folate had a
- 1.68-fold increased risk of dementia, and a
- 2.98-fold increased risk of dying during that time period.
This could be because a deficiency in folate actually causes your brain to shrink. It specifically impacts your hippocampus, which can contribute to dementia and memory loss.
How do you know if you’re deficient in folate?
For starters, your body will likely be telling you with symptoms like fatigue, lack of energy, pins and needles sensations, a sore tongue, mouth ulcers, muscle weakness, and psychological problems like confusion and depression.
But the most reliable way to know if you’re deficient is to get a blood test.
Whether you suspect you’re deficient or not, it’s a good idea to eat foods that are rich in folate. These include dark leafy greens, eggs, avocado, liver, shellfish, and legumes.
