Oxford study suggests vitamin B can help prevent dementia

Vitamin B supplements for people living with dementia can halve the rate at which the brain shrinks, it has been claimed.

A new scientific study from the University of Oxford made the discovery, after a two-year clinical trial.

Of the 169 volunteers observed during this time, brain shrinkage occurred at a rate of 0.76 per cent a year for those who were taken vitamin B tablets, while those who were taking placebos had a shrinkage rate of 1.08 per cent.

Rebecca Wood, the chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust which co-funded the research, said the results were very important showing that that vitamin B could protect older people from Alzheimer's disease.

"The strong findings must inspire an expanded trial to follow people expected to develop Alzheimer's, and we hope for further success," she said.

Reacting to the news, Alzheimer's Society director of research Clive Ballard agreed that the findings were promising, but studies into vitamin B and dementia before have proved disappointing.

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