PLoS One September 2010 PMID 20838622

Homocysteine-lowering by B vitamins slows the rate of accelerated brain atrophy in mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial.

A David Smith, Stephen M Smith, Celeste A de Jager, Philippa Whitbread, Carole Johnston, Grzegorz Agacinski, Abderrahim Oulhaj, Kevin M Bradley, Robin Jacoby, Helga Refsum

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Mentions

205
Peak: 15 in Jul 2023
across 5 sources since Feb 2019

Extended reach

219,297
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1,862

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Feb 2019 – Nov 2025

Where it's discussed

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AI synopsis

What people are saying

Overall, the discussions express strong support for the research findings, with participants referencing examples like the role of eggs as a source of B vitamins and debating critiques, which demonstrates both interest and moderate engagement, while tone and citations suggest the potential for a positive influence on health awareness.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions support the findings that B vitamins can slow brain decline, citing the study and emphasizing the importance of nutrition.

InterestHigh interest

Posts show strong interest by referencing additional sources, highlighting the benefits of B vitamins, and sharing related health tips.

EngagementModerate engagement

Post author details and participants analyze the study, question critiques, and share personal insights, indicating moderate engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions suggest that the publication may influence health perceptions and dietary choices, though the impact remains moderate as some debates continue.

Abstract in brief

  • Supplementation with high-dose B vitamins (folic acid, B6, and B12) significantly slows the rate of brain atrophy in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, especially in those with elevated homocysteine levels.
  • The study found that participants receiving B vitamin treatment exhibited a 29% lower annual rate of brain volume loss compared to placebo, with the most notable effects in individuals with higher baseline homocysteine.
  • Lower brain atrophy rates were associated with better cognitive test scores, and B vitamin supplementation did not increase serious adverse events, suggesting it as a safe strategy to potentially slow neurodegeneration in at-risk populations.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Agingdoc
@agingdoc1 · X

Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial (2010) Background /Methods:

Jul 19, 2023 · 49 likes · 16 shares · 41,323 followers View post →
Agingdoc
@agingdoc1 · X

Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial (2010) https://t.co/v6LaqpgZAu

Jun 27, 2022 · 13 likes · 4 shares · 41,323 followers View post →
ぽん
@yasu0804 · X

軽度の認知症の人にビタミンB群を2年間飲んでもらったら 脳の萎縮率が30%改善したって報告 ビタミンBレベルが正常になるとホモシステインが減るからと考えられている (糖の代謝もB群飲んで改善してるってのもありそうだけどどうなんだろうか) https://t.co/PkWZLEVIdR

Jul 9, 2021 · 12 likes · 1 share · 4,464 followers View post →
Vitamins Improve Memory
@VitaminsMemory · X

~vitamin B-6 ~vitamin B-12 ~folic acid A research suggests that these vitamins may prevent #brain shrinkage and delay cognitive decline. https://t.co/v3bW9Qy6b1 Egg is a good source of all of them. #HealthyEating #brain #brainhealth #HealthyNation #HealthyFood #healthy https://t.co/qoj4e9Zxlu

May 24, 2021 · 9 likes · 3 shares · 3,797 followers View post →
Mario
@Beteljuice · X

Another reason you should be taking a *methylated* B complex regularly. "Homocysteine-lowering by B vitamins slows the rate of accelerated brain atrophy in mild cognitive impairment" https://t.co/pMOxlJeAMC

Sep 22, 2024 · 8 likes · 2,003 followers View post →
paengineer
@paengineer · X

@thelucyjohnston @Foods4thebrain https://t.co/nRbbFpCRdy

Mar 27, 2023 · 3 likes · 2,566 followers View post →

All mentions

Rivka Freeman RPh aka Nutrition Pharmacist
@rivkafreeman · X

RT @agingdoc1: Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized C…

Mar 3, 2025 · 16 shares · 1,929 followers View post →
Mario
@Beteljuice · X

Another reason you should be taking a *methylated* B complex regularly. "Homocysteine-lowering by B vitamins slows the rate of accelerated brain atrophy in mild cognitive impairment" https://t.co/pMOxlJeAMC

Sep 22, 2024 · 8 likes · 2,003 followers View post →
rkartha
@rkartha · X

RT @iamkawawong: @astupple Great post. Something worth elaborating on is nutrition: there are plenty of studies on how nutrients like B vit…

Mar 17, 2024 · 2 shares · 2,393 followers View post →
Kawa
@iamnotkawa · X

@astupple Great post. Something worth elaborating on is nutrition: there are plenty of studies on how nutrients like B vitamins and omega-3s might slow down cognitive ageing. E.g. https://t.co/KKWSgzZY6U https://t.co/t58By8GZ9j

Mar 16, 2024 · 3 likes · 2 shares · 295 followers View post →
Javi Ciborro
@papayaykware · X

https://t.co/HWESt6MYbt La reducción de la homocisteína mediante vitaminas B ralentiza el ritmo de atrofia cerebral acelerada en el deterioro cognitivo leve: Un ensayo controlado aleatorizado

Nov 13, 2023 · 8,040 followers View post →
Javi Ciborro
@papayaykware · X

https://t.co/o8mMkDxS6N El ritmo acelerado de atrofia cerebral en ancianos con deterioro cognitivo leve puede ralentizarse mediante un tratamiento con vitaminas del grupo B que reduzcan la homocisteína. El 16% de los mayores de 70 años padecen deterioro cognitivo leve y la mitad

Sep 3, 2023 · 8,040 followers View post →
Joe B
@JBianco215 · X

Remember all those talking heads who said that vitamins are just 'expensive urine'? Except, they actually protect your brain from atrophying. Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment https://t.co/O2ORLTthJW https://t.co/nwnlaT9mFv

Aug 18, 2023 · 1 like · 4,595 followers View post →
Javi Ciborro
@papayaykware · X

https://t.co/Yzc449p6SK La tasa acelerada de atrofia cerebral en ancianos con deterioro cognitivo leve puede ralentizarse mediante el tratamiento con vitaminas B que reducen la homocisteína.

Aug 3, 2023 · 8,040 followers View post →
De La Faye Designer
@DesignerFaye · X

RT @agingdoc1: Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized C…

Jul 25, 2023 · 16 shares · 555 followers View post →
Abu Shoyeb, MD
@abushoyeb · X

RT @agingdoc1: Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized C…

Jul 23, 2023 · 16 shares · 707 followers View post →
MANJU MISHRA
@MMISHRA999 · X

RT @agingdoc1: Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized C…

Jul 22, 2023 · 16 shares · 1 followers View post →
Fay
@fay90028966 · X

RT @agingdoc1: Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized C…

Jul 20, 2023 · 16 shares · 145 followers View post →
NateLF
@NateLF4 · X

RT @agingdoc1: Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized C…

Jul 20, 2023 · 16 shares · 654 followers View post →
Wilhelm Beermann
@WilhelmBeermann · X

RT @agingdoc1: Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized C…

Jul 20, 2023 · 16 shares · 125 followers View post →
Javed Alam
@jalam1001 · X

RT @agingdoc1: Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized C…

Jul 19, 2023 · 16 shares · 1,006 followers View post →
BillOckham
@BillOccham0 · X

RT @agingdoc1: Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized C…

Jul 19, 2023 · 16 shares · 586 followers View post →
No Horizons
@1stmousecheese · X

RT @agingdoc1: Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized C…

Jul 19, 2023 · 16 shares · 1,429 followers View post →
John Greene
@Greene_Thoughts · X

RT @agingdoc1: Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized C…

Jul 19, 2023 · 16 shares · 1,668 followers View post →
Mitzi Zamora
@mitzizamoraf · X

RT @agingdoc1: Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized C…

Jul 19, 2023 · 16 shares · 167 followers View post →
Kate
@katehigloo · X

RT @agingdoc1: Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized C…

Jul 19, 2023 · 16 shares · 456 followers View post →
Jason Heard
@jmheard15 · X

RT @agingdoc1: Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized C…

Jul 19, 2023 · 16 shares · 843 followers View post →
Agingdoc
@agingdoc1 · X

Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial (2010) Background /Methods:

Jul 19, 2023 · 49 likes · 16 shares · 41,323 followers View post →
Austin Dudzinski, PharmD, BCACP
@DudzLightLime · X

On this note…

Jul 19, 2023 · 1 like · 865 followers View post →
PediatricB12Awareness
@AwarenessB12 · X

https://t.co/Xb3JUofRHw

Apr 3, 2023 · 690 followers View post →
paengineer
@paengineer · X

@thelucyjohnston @Foods4thebrain https://t.co/nRbbFpCRdy

Mar 27, 2023 · 3 likes · 2,566 followers View post →
Radio Cobalamin
@nob12deficiency · X

RT @tokatti_: 30%も改善した https://t.co/kBsN6LTm3g 日本人はビタミンB12はギリギリでビタミンB6が足りない人が多い感じ https://t.co/IQvu0pZdTE #自分用メモ

Jan 24, 2023 · 1 share · 2,561 followers View post →
tokatti
@tokatti_ · X

30%も改善した https://t.co/kBsN6LTm3g 日本人はビタミンB12はギリギリでビタミンB6が足りない人が多い感じ https://t.co/IQvu0pZdTE #自分用メモ

Jan 18, 2023 · 2 likes · 1 share · 179 followers View post →
احمد بن حسين الشريف
@ahmed_aboosamah · X

يمكن إبطاء المعدل المتسارع لضمور الدماغ لدى كبار السن الذين يعانون من ضعف إدراكي خفيف عن طريق العلاج بفيتامينات ب التي تخفض الهوموسيستين. 16٪ ممن تزيد أعمارهم عن 70 عامًا و العلاج سيؤخر تطور مرض الزهايمر. https://t.co/TeiA8tsHGA

Nov 15, 2022 · 887 followers View post →
Supernaturals ⚡️
@Supernaturalsio · X

6. Eggs

Sep 16, 2022 · 1 like · 309 followers View post →
The Phoenix Lab
@The_Phoenix_Lab · X

RT @agingdoc1: Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized C…

Jun 27, 2022 · 4 shares · 211 followers View post →
Mike Lustgarten, PhD
@mike_lustgarten · X

RT @agingdoc1: Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized C…

Jun 27, 2022 · 4 shares · 9,721 followers View post →
Yurii
@Yurii08720681 · X

RT @agingdoc1: Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized C…

Jun 27, 2022 · 4 shares · 34 followers View post →
Agingdoc
@agingdoc1 · X

Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial (2010) https://t.co/v6LaqpgZAu

Jun 27, 2022 · 13 likes · 4 shares · 41,323 followers View post →
Ekoloji-Ekonomi
@EkolojiE · X

https://t.co/gif6BOzB8t https://t.co/AcFOvWdSiv

Dec 27, 2021 · 1 like · 1,892 followers View post →
HeartfulEarthCuisine
@HeartfulCuisine · X

RT @DrLoBisco: Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized C…

Jul 27, 2021 · 1 share · 1,426 followers View post →
Dr. LoBisco
@DrLoBisco · X

Homocysteine-Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial- giving B vitamins (B6, B12, folate) spared brain structure decline https://t.co/3R5qXGnHyt

Jul 27, 2021 · 2 likes · 1 share · 964 followers View post →
Grizlo
@grisl22 · X

RT @VitaminsMemory: ~vitamin B-6 ~vitamin B-12 ~folic acid A research suggests that these vitamins may prevent #brain shrinkage and delay…

Jul 20, 2021 · 1 share · 568 followers View post →
Vitamins Improve Memory
@VitaminsMemory · X

~vitamin B-6 ~vitamin B-12 ~folic acid A research suggests that these vitamins may prevent #brain shrinkage and delay cognitive decline. https://t.co/v3bW9Qy6b1 Egg is a good source of all of them. #HealthyEating #brain #brainhealth #HealthyNation #HealthyFood #healthy https://t.co/vJxaElNQM3

Jul 19, 2021 · 2 likes · 1 share · 3,797 followers View post →
苫小牧おにく2
@tomakomaioniku2 · X

RT @yasu0804: 軽度の認知症の人にビタミンB群を2年間飲んでもらったら 脳の萎縮率が30%改善したって報告 ビタミンBレベルが正常になるとホモシステインが減るからと考えられている (糖の代謝もB群飲んで改善してるってのもありそうだけどどうなんだろうか) http…

Jul 10, 2021 · 1 share · 4 followers View post →
ぽん
@yasu0804 · X

軽度の認知症の人にビタミンB群を2年間飲んでもらったら 脳の萎縮率が30%改善したって報告 ビタミンBレベルが正常になるとホモシステインが減るからと考えられている (糖の代謝もB群飲んで改善してるってのもありそうだけどどうなんだろうか) https://t.co/PkWZLEVIdR

Jul 9, 2021 · 12 likes · 1 share · 4,464 followers View post →
Memory Health
@memory_health · X

RT @VitaminsMemory: ~vitamin B-6 ~vitamin B-12 ~folic acid A research suggests that these vitamins may prevent #brain shrinkage and delay…

May 24, 2021 · 3 shares · 1,693 followers View post →
Vitamins Improve Memory
@VitaminsMemory · X

~vitamin B-6 ~vitamin B-12 ~folic acid A research suggests that these vitamins may prevent #brain shrinkage and delay cognitive decline. https://t.co/v3bW9Qy6b1 Egg is a good source of all of them. #HealthyEating #brain #brainhealth #HealthyNation #HealthyFood #healthy https://t.co/qoj4e9Zxlu

May 24, 2021 · 9 likes · 3 shares · 3,797 followers View post →
Neurocognitive Therapeutics, LLC
@drjseitz · X

@boston_process @RenegadeSynapse I think you’re criticizing a study but that wasn’t the Vitacog study. https://t.co/haPUdots8Z

Feb 28, 2021 · 898 followers View post →
Nenos Damerchie, DC
@docnenos · X

Homocysteine-lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Ran… https://t.co/DvoURrmcM9

Jun 23, 2020 · 418 followers View post →
Dr. LoBisco
@DrLoBisco · X

vitamins and the aging brain: https://t.co/IpOfb5XMNI Note this reference: https://t.co/rTpXdw0kly

Feb 9, 2019 · 964 followers View post →