6/6/2023 0 Comments Vitamins for memoryAnd as I mentioned, 33% of patients had a deficiency of that vitamin. Vitamin D is found in the central nervous system also, and some folks believe that healthy brain cells require vitamin D. For example, if you don't have to B6, you're not going to synthesize the neurotransmitters that are important for memory such as acetylcholine. Well, it turns out that B6 in particular is very important for neurotransmitter or neurologic function. So then you might've asked, well, what's the big deal about these vitamins being deficient besides the fact that we need them for general nutrition. ![]() ![]() Whereas the B6 that we seldom test for if ever had a 37% prevalence of a deficiency. So besides the vitamin D and B6 findings, we found that the B12, which is most commonly tested for, only there was only a 16% prevalence of that deficiency. For all the labs that we do, all the blood tests that we do, to have even a 5% incidence of an abnormality is pretty unusual, and here we're talking up to 40% of these folks having deficiencies. So that's very high incidence, if you think about it. And again, it was B1, B6, vitamin D or B12, and 20% of those folks actually had two vitamins that were deficient. What we found was that the patients - about 40% of those patients presenting as new memory patients to our clinic - were deficient in one of the vitamins that we checked for. And for the study, we actually did all but the folate, and looked at the incidence or prevalence of those deficiencies. We specifically look for vitamins B1, B6, B12, folate, and vitamin D. Przybelski: We found a surprising number of patients that were deficient or insufficient in a number of vitamins. And you look specifically at vitamin levels of those being tested. Even if their underlying condition is treatable.Ĭhin: You looked at 200 patients during their first visits to our UW Geriatric Memory Clinic program. Patients are going to continue to decline for nutritional and metabolic reasons. If we try to correct memory problems, such as treating Alzheimer's disease or some of the other conditions, but have a vitamin deficiency, the treatments are not going to work. And it turns out that vitamin deficiencies, or nutritional deficiencies in general, occur in about 50% of our geriatric patients. Przybelski: It's important to look for anything that will affect memory and especially in our geriatric patients. Now, why is it important to look for vitamin deficiencies during a memory evaluation? I'm really honored to be on the show and tell you about some very interesting work that we did.Ĭhin: So let's get right to it. Przybelski to join us so we can discuss the recent study he conducted on vitamin deficiencies in patients being evaluated in the UW Geriatric Memory Clinic. He has master's degrees in biology and systems management, a fellowship in memory research, and was the medical director for the Army's Neuroscience Laboratory. P is the director of the geriatric memory program as well as a falls specialist. He provides memory care for older adults and has done so for the past three decades. P, as he is known at UW, is a geriatrician with UW Health. Robert Przybelski, associate professor in the Department of Medicine. Nathaniel Chin: Welcome back to Dementia Matters. Our goal is to educate listeners on the latest news in Alzheimer's Disease research and caregiver strategies. Dementia Matters is a production of the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Nathaniel Chin, and you're listening to Dementia Matters, a podcast about Alzheimer's Disease. ![]() Przybelski's research on vitamin deficiency, which he and his study team presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) 2020. Subscribe to this podcast through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, or Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Why does your research look at general patients rather than participants? 8:41 What diet do you think promotes brain health? 8:06 Is there a difference between normal vitamin levels and optimal levels? 6:40 What do you focus on during a memory evaluation? 5:13 Why is it important to look for vitamin deficiencies during a memory evaluation? 1:19 Robert Przybelski joins the podcast to discuss his study, the influence of vitamin deficiency on brain health, and the potential consequences of vitamin deficiency when treating a patient for a memory condition. Guest: Robert Przybelski, MD, associate professor, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Vitamins tested in this study included B1, B6, B12, and D, all of which play an important role in brain health. Dr. A study from the University of Wisconsin found 40% of geriatric memory patients were deficient in at least one vitamin linked to brain health.
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