Niedobór witaminy B12 jako czynnik rozwoju procesu otępiennego

*Marzena Zboch¹, Bernadetta Gwizdak-Siwkowska¹, Jarosław Serafin¹, Krzysztof Śmigórski¹, Paweł Tyfel¹, Jerzy Leszek²

Summary
Introduction:There are numerous reports available which show that vitamin B12 may be a factor of conversion of mild cognitive impairment into Alzheimer's Disease, of progression of Vascular Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease through a similar pathomechanism of brain blood vessels damage. The role of cyanocobalamine deficit in progression of potentially reversible dementia with prevalence of subcortical characteristics is commonly recognized. The untreated disease leads to irreversible dementia though.
Methods: The article presents a review of literature on vitamin B12 characteristics and its pathophysiology considered as a factor conducive to dementive process progression.
Results: B12 vitamin, its methabolic cycle altogether with causes and consequences of its disorders are described. Attention is paid to somatic, neurological, psychiatric manifestations of vitamin B12 deficit and diagnostic techniques enabling its identification. Discussion on the possibilities of the therapy of vitamin B12 deficit is also included.
Conclusions: B12 deficiency is an underestimated problem in clinical practice, while in fact it may be a significant cause of neurologic and psychiatric disorders, especially in geriatric populations. Emphasis put on the role of B12 deficiency and its consequences should make general practitioners more sensitive to a need of early detection of this hypovitaminosis and systematic supplementation.

To jest tylko fragment artykułu. Aby przeczytać całość, przejdź do Czytelni medycznej.