I was researching B12 for a friend in Berlin, Germany who has complained that she always feels tired. I googled several different ways, B12 for energy, B12 deficiency, B12 deficiency symptoms. On a number of sites it mentioned 1.) people who are deficient in B12 can develop Alzheimer's and/or dementia and 2) vitamin B12 deficiency can mimic Alzheimer's. Now that mimic thing really got my attention.
I wondered if anyone else has come across this, has it been previously discussed, and I am opening this to discussion.
I have not had time to read posts for a few days. I think I may be offered a job, emphasis on may, and I have been trying to squeeze things in before I MAY lose my freedom. I had lunch with a friend today, and am having dinner at another friend's house tonight. She is making a wonderful spinach/bacon quiche. On Saturday I took 4 pair of newly purchased pants to be hemmed since I MAY have a job & I've gone from a 6/8 to a 10/12. Grrrr. I also stopped by my previous employment & visited and got lots of much needed hugs. I could feel the love! Go on my THIRD interview Fri. & I'm wondering what else is there to talk about. Well, enough about me, back to the B12.
Kitty, I have always had an interest in B12 and I give my dh monthly shots, but I have not seen any improvement in his condition. I actually took a couple myself.
According to my husband's neuro, a B12 deficiency can cause a reversable form of dementia. My husband's blood tests showed at the beginning that he had a folate deficiency and he was placed on a B12 complex vitamin. It brought his level up but didn't do anything for his dementia (FTD), so we know it was not due to the B12 deficiency.
Hi Kitty, good luck with the job, I'm sure once you get working you will be back in 6/8 pants again. On the B12 topic, that is one of the things they try to eliminate as a possibility, the B12 deficiency that is, when they are doing the testing to reach a diagnosis. Also checking thyroid, blood sugar, ect. as there is not a definitive test to determine AD. I used to get a B12 shot when I was feeling run down and I don't know whether it was power of suggestion or really helped but I always felt better after the shot. Feeling really run down all the time could also be perhaps iron deficiency due to loss of blood somewhere. If you do have low iron one would have to ask why and do some tests.
I have heard various things about B12. DH's last blood work last spring showed his folic acid just below the high norm and B12 just about the low norm. This is the reverse one should expect to see from my research. In fact, high folic acid can hinder absorption of B12. I have him on 2500mcg of sublingual. As with taking any B vitamin, he has noticed more energy. It evidentally didn't help with the memory problem, but it can't hurt in the long run. It will be interesting to see the next time he has bloodwork done if it changes.
I was wondering if some of the people whose spouses had not been tested by a neurologist could get a test for vitamin B to see if that is the problem. If B12 deficiency shows the same symptoms as AD, perhaps some misdiagnoses?
Thanks all for the well wishes re my potential job.
My husband's B12 was low and he took medication to correct it, but I never noticed any improvement. There was just some momentary hope that it was all a bad dream and not really Alzheimer's!
That was one of the first test our doctor ordered for my husband, when his memory problems first began. We were all hoping it was something that was what was causing the problems. Unfortunately, that wasn't the problem.
DW has both Iron Deficiency Anemia and low B-12 levels. We were able to get her B-12 levels up using the sublingual tablets and a daily dose of B-12. They also gave her an Iron Infusion and she has been taking Procrit shots. These treatments have no doubt helped her immune system some but I haven't been able to tell much difference in her energy levels. She still spends a lot of time sleeping during the day and really doesn't have much energy.
I can't tell any difference in her VaD/AD as a result of these treatments. She is still cranky and easily agitated, her memory is getting worse and her daily living skills are continuing to deteriorate.
there are also other minerals and vitamin losses that reap havoc with AD. we know they can suffer metabolic changes with the AD and the loss of lbs is partly because of that. we are doing Complete blood count and workups twice/yr now to check all minerals/vitamins/blood work now as DH has had deficiency in magnesium, potassium, sodium, folic acid, at variant times of checks,and if any of these are not within range-(either more or less)_ they can cause lots of extra cause for concerns and new symptoms on top of AD. Divvi
The big reversible cause for dementia is undiagnosed low thyroid disease. I experienced "the fog" when I was being under-medicated about 10 years ago myself. There are a bunch of things they test for before they diagnose because they are so glad to find something they can actually treat.
Starling, it was only because of an earlier comment you made, several months ago, that it dawned on me I might be hypothyroid rather than having early symptoms of dementia myself. You were so right about "the fog." Your comment led me to do some online research and then talk to my doctor, who was persuaded to start me on a supplement. It's incredible the difference it has made. I apologize for straying off topic, but I owe Starling big time and wanted to say thank you. Starling, thank you!
Actually the very first test my Dh's Nero did was a vitamin deficiency followed by a Syphilis test. Once those were ruled out then it was on to an MRI, Pet Scan. Of course I asked why and he informed me that both vitamin deficiency and syphilis undetected can have the same memory issues. Rk
Sort of off topic..... I sold furniture for 4 years. It was way below any job I have ever had. Maybe that was a good thing. In the past I was in product development. So this is a job selling furniture, and usually that is straight commission, but this job has a base of 25K and lots of benefits, even Aflak. Quack. It is very high end and despite the economy, they seem to be doing well. I just hope my home life doesn't interfere with my own innate positive energy. I need to hold onto this job. It will be so good to be out of the house & have purpose in my life. :-)
I think any decent neurologist or pcp is going to initially do blood work/lab tests to rule out reversible/treatable causes of dementia-like symptoms. Our neurologist put DW on a B-12 supplement when she was found to be borderline low. It didn't do anything, but it was worth trying.
Hopefully, Kitty, the job will bolster your innate positive energy. Interacting with lots of interesting new people, feeling a bit more in control again, knowing you can bring in money of your own again, all good things. Just don't break any more bones for a while, okay? That would definitely interfere.
iggy, any decent doctor would do that, you're absolutely right. Unfortunately, not all doctors are decent when it comes to older patients with memory problems. I've seen far too many caregiver stories about doctors who administer the MMSE and hand over a prescription for aricept. It's appalling.
"I've seen far too many caregiver stories about doctors who administer the MMSE and hand over a prescription for aricept. It's appalling. "
Sunshyne, you are so right. This is what Claude's former PCP did altho he perscribed Exelon instead of Aricept. It wasn't until I raised holy h*** that he did do further testing. On her first visit, the home health RN asked if he had Parkinson's. I said no. I asked the doctor - he said no. When I pressed the point, he grudginly sent a referral to the neuro who diagnosed him with Parkinson's as well as AD. That was the straw that broke the camel's back - he now has a new PCP who is great.
When I got my husband to see his PCP after noticing changes, the first thing she did was order blood tests for everything that could possibly cause dementia-type symptoms. When those came back within normal ranges she immediately sent him to a neurologist.