Higher Mid- to Late-Life Vitamin B12 Levels Linked to Slower Cognitive Decline: Study
Findings from the Framingham Heart Study, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia , evealed that individuals with higher vitamin B12 levels during midlife and later years showed slower rates of cognitive decline as they aged. The longitudinal research examined how vitamin B12 status influences brain health over decades and highlighted that maintaining adequate levels could support cognitive resilience.
The study adds to growing evidence that certain nutritional factors, including B vitamins, may help delay or reduce the progression of age-related cognitive decline.
Researchers noted that participants with consistently higher circulating vitamin B12 levels performed better on long-term memory and executive function tests. The findings suggest that B12 plays a role in maintaining brain integrity through its involvement in myelin synthesis and neuronal metabolism. While the study did not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, it pointed to a strong association between sustained B12 sufficiency and reduced risk of accelerated cognitive aging.
The authors emphasized the importance of early and ongoing nutritional monitoring, particularly since vitamin B12 deficiency is common among older adults due to reduced absorption with age.
The results underline the potential for incorporating nutritional strategies, such as maintaining healthy dietary patterns or supplement use, to preserve cognitive health in aging populations. The researchers called for further trials to clarify the mechanisms behind B12’s neuroprotective effects and to determine whether targeted supplementation could help slow cognitive decline in those at risk. Their work reinforces that brain health is influenced by multiple modifiable lifestyle and nutritional factors across the lifespan.
Reference:
O’Donnell, A., McGrath, E. R., Beiser, A., Himali, J. J., Pase, M. P., Satizabal, C. L., Seshadri, S., & Jacques, P. F. (2025). Long-term trajectories of plasma vitamin B12 and cognitive decline in the Framingham Heart Study. *Alzheimer’s & Dementia*. [https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70864](https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70864)
