Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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October 17, 2008

Study Finds B Vitamins Do Not Slow Alzheimer's Disease
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1EC7315:A6F02AD83191E1603C098EADDCB3AC143CF5CDEF8FC051DA&
 
But researchers say they may increase depression in Alzheimer patients 
Researchers have been looking for ways to slow the progression of
Alzheimer's disease, which is affecting more and more people worldwide.
VOA's Carol Pearson reports on the latest research aimed at slowing the
progression of the disease. Gary and Mary Paun Life for Gary and Mary
Paun changed profoundly three years ago when Mary began experiencing
symptoms of Alzheimer's disease."It just disrupts mostly what we thought
was normal life," Gary recalls. "But it's also brought us a lot closer
together."The World Health Organization says the number of Alzheimer
cases doubles every five years for people between the ages of 65 and 85.
But, if the onset could be delayed by five years, the number of cases
worldwide would be cut in half. Doctors had hoped high doses of vitamin
B could reduce the rate of brain cell death and slow the progression of
the disease. But a new study shows the supplements were not effective
and, instead, seemed to increase depression in patients taking them. Dr.
Paul Aisen was one of the researchers. "Unfortunately the results were
disappointing in the sense that this intervention," Dr. Aisen said. "The
high-dose vitamins - did not have a favorable effect on the
disease."Patients with Alzheimer's have elevated levels of a chemical
compound called homocysteine. Alzheimer brain scan, normal vs dementia B
vitamins break down homocysteine in the bloodstream, so doctors tested
whether high doses of vitamin B given to Alzheimer's patients would slow
their rate of memory loss. 240 patients received daily B vitamins while
the other 170 patients received a placebo. The vitamin supplements
lowered homocysteine levels by about 25 percent. 

However, both groups had the same rate of memory loss. The study appears
in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Some video courtesy
of Journal of the American Medical Association


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