Study: Low Levels Of B12 May Be Linked To Dementia, Autism

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Lower levels of vitamin B12 may be linked to neurological diseases like dementia, autism and schizophrenia, according to recently published study.

The study, published in PLOS ONE, says the link is not only with the elderly but also with younger people too, according to Live Science.

The study - led by Richard Deth, a professor of pharmacology at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale -  examined the brains of more than 60 deceased people ranging from a fetus to 80-years old.

What they found was that the blood levels of B12 don't always mirror levels of the vitamin in the brain. They also found levels of the vitamin decrease more in the brain than in the blood the older we get.

The results imply certain neurological diseases could be related to poor uptake of B12 from the blood to the brain.

The vitamin plays a crucial role in blood formation and supporting a healthy nervous system. It's found in foods like red meat, cheese, eggs, and fish among others.

According to Deth, this is the first study that compares the levels of vitamin B12 in the brain throughout the human lifetime.