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Folic acid foils dementia
If you want to keep your brain sharp in old age, make sure you include plenty of folic acid (folate) in your diet. That's the message from a study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry
Scientists in Korea found that older people who didn’t get enough of the essential vitamin were three times more likely to develop dementia than those who did.
The researchers, based at Korea's Chonnam National University Medical School in Gwangju followed 518 people aged 65 and over for a two-year period. The volunteers were tested for signs of dementia before and after the study. Their blood was tested at various points to check for levels of folic acid and other nutrients.
The team found that those people who had low folic acid levels at the start of the study were almost 3.5 times more likely to develop dementia by the end.
This latest findings back up previous research that folic acid may keep the mind sharp as we get older. A study published last year in the Lancet found that taking folate supplements significantly improved the short-term memory, mental agility and verbal fluency of a group of 50-plus volunteers.
Folic acid is a key B vitamin, found in vegetables such as spinach, broccoli and turnips and can also be taken in supplement form. In fact, the government is so convinced of its public health benefits that it is currently deciding whether to add the vitamin to all UK bread and flour by law.
‘This latest study is one further example of why it is so crucial for people to lead a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet rich in B vitamins and antioxidants,’ says Clive Ballard, Director of Research at the Alzheimer’s Society. ‘The findings add weight to the growing evidence about the important role that dietary factors can play in preventing dementia, including the potential importance of Vitamin B12 and folate,’
However further research needs to be done before anyone can say for sure that folic acid helps prevent dementia. There is a possibility that the Korean results simply show that low levels of folic acid are an early warning sign of dementia, rather than the cause. The Korean team noted that: ‘changes in micronutrients could be linked with the other typical signs that precede dementia, including weight loss and low blood pressure.’
A spokesman for the Alzheimer’s Society said: ‘It is too early to advise people to start popping folate supplements. Until we see results from a rigorous clinical trial it is impossible to say whether low folate levels are a cause or effect of dementia. In the meantime we would recommend sticking to a healthy balanced diet rich in essential B vitamins and antioxidants.’
Top tips for keeping your brain sharp from the Alzheimer's Society
- Maintain a healthy diet
- Take regular exercise
- Don’t smoke
- Drink in moderation
- Visit your GP every 6 for a check up and blood pressure check
- Keep your brain active through social interaction
Useful articles
- Guide to folate
- Medical conditions factfinder: Alzheimer's disease
- Medical conditions factfinder: multi infarct dementia
- The dementia time bomb
- What's your risk of dementia?
- Stay active for an active mind
- Statin may halve Alzheimer's and Parkinson's risk
- Saga and MindFit: give your brain a workout
- Exercise to boost brain power
- Living with Alzheimer's disease - our warm, frank and touching carer's blog
Healthy recipes
- Stir-fried broccoli with chilli and ginger
- Penne with kale, roast onions and gorgonzola
- Creamy smoked haddock stew with spinach, shallots and saffron
Useful website
Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.