Depression is increased when individuals lack adequate amounts of vitamin B12. This deficiency can be due to a variety of reasons.
One potential cause is a lack of stomach acid, which is essential for vitamin B12 absorption. Other potential culprits include digestive diseases like Crohn’s or celiac disease, as well as certain medications.
1. Mood Disorders
Depression is a widespread mental health condition that impacts millions of people around the world, causing significant distress, diminished productivity and even suicidal thoughts. Fortunately, there are various treatments for mood disorders available; cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) being one of them.
Mood disorder symptoms vary from person to person, but typically include feelings of sadness, hopelessness and worthlessness. The two most prevalent mood disorders are bipolar disorder and depressive disorder.
It is essential to remember that mood disorders don’t have to rule your life; you can live a full life even with one. Usually, therapy and self-care will help manage symptoms.
Some mood disorders may not have an identifiable cause, but they may be due to chemical imbalances in the brain. Stressful life events and traumas may also contribute to these difficulties.
Other factors, such as genetics, can also contribute to mood disorders. Studies have demonstrated that people who have a parent with a mood disorder are more likely to develop one themselves.
Additionally, certain personality traits or some personality disorders like borderline personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder can increase the likelihood of developing depression later in life. Early childhood adversity such as child abuse also seems to contribute to this increased vulnerability to mood disorders.
Depressive disorders may present with symptoms such as sadness, hopelessness, guilt, difficulty sleeping, low energy levels, loss of interest in pleasurable activities and eating habits, and recurrent suicidal thoughts or attempts. A doctor diagnoses depression based on these signs and a medical history.
Major depressive disorder is diagnosed when five or more of the following symptoms are present: sadness, lack of pleasure in most things, low energy level, weight gain/loss, decreased concentration and memory, sleep disturbances and thoughts of suicide. These must persist for at least two weeks.
Once confirmed that you have depression, your doctor will administer either the HAM-D or MADRS questionnaires and discuss treatment options with you.
Some of the most effective mood disorder treatments include CBT and medication. If you or someone close to you is struggling with depression, it’s essential that they reach out for professional assistance. There are plenty of helpful resources available, and many people who live with a mood disorder lead happy and fulfilling lives.
2. Anemia
Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to fatigue and anemia; it also has been known to impact memory and cognition.
Your doctor can determine if you have a vitamin B12 deficiency by checking the level of this B vitamin in your bloodstream. If necessary, they’ll also test folate, another B vitamin.
Maintain a balanced diet that includes plenty of foods rich in vitamins, such as meat, fish, eggs and dairy products. You can get vitamin B12 from fortified foods or by taking supplements.
Elderly individuals, vegetarians and those with digestive diseases like Crohn’s disease or celiac disease are particularly at risk for vitamin B12 deficiencies. Other factors like taking certain medicines or consuming too much alcohol may make it harder for your body to absorb this essential nutrient as well.
Diagnosing vitamin B12 deficiency is typically done through a blood test. The test looks at the levels of this vitamin and another B vitamin called folic acid, which are necessary for producing red blood cells.
Some individuals with low vitamin B12 and folate levels may suffer from pernicious anemia, an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks stomach cells producing intrinsic factor, which helps absorb vitamin B12.
Other conditions that could cause a vitamin B12 deficiency include:
Gastritis: Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining that can interfere with vitamin absorption. Signs include a sore or red tongue and bleeding gums. Your doctor may suggest taking medication to prevent this condition, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).
Antibiotics: Be wary of antibiotics which may interfere with vitamin B12 absorption. They can destroy the beneficial bacteria in your small intestine that aid in this process.
Your doctor can administer a special test to detect whether you have an autoimmune condition that causes your immune system to attack cells in the stomach that manufacture intrinsic factor. As part of treatment, taking a supplement with this condition will increase absorption of this vitamin.
3. Dementia
Dementia is a neurological disorder in which your brain gradually loses the capacity to remember or process information. While this condition cannot be prevented or treated with age alone, lifestyle changes and medications can help. Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent form of dementia, affecting nearly one out of every 10 adults over 65.
Other types of dementia exist, such as vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. These conditions are caused by abnormal clumps of protein that damage nerve cells in the brain and lead to movement or balance issues, slowed thinking skills and visual hallucinations or delusions.
About 10% of dementias are caused by problems with blood flow to the brain. These could be caused by high blood pressure or diabetes, or by stroke or mini-strokes that take place inside the brain. The symptoms are similar to Alzheimer’s disease but progress more gradually.
If you are at risk for dementia, make sure you get enough vitamin B12. You can purchase a supplement or take a daily multivitamin; the recommended dose is 2.4 mg of Vitamin B12 for men and women aged 65 or older.
A study of community-dwelling Korean adults revealed that those with low vitamin B12 levels were more likely to experience cognitive decline. The researchers used data from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study (KFACS).
Results revealed that participants with low vitamin B12 levels performed worse on cognitive tests than those with normal levels. Furthermore, researchers observed that cognitive function declined more quickly when B12 concentrations fell below 350 pg/mL.
This finding could be related to B12 supplements, which can help keep your immune system strong. If you have any health concerns or a family history of dementia, it is wise to speak with your doctor about taking B12 supplements.
4. Brain Damage
Brain damage is any injury to the brain that causes cells to die or become damaged. It can be caused by trauma, stroke or tumor and may lead to issues with memory, behavior and learning.
Often, the first indication that someone has brain damage is a shift in how they feel. They may begin to exhibit irritability and an absence of interest in many areas of life. Furthermore, they may feel depressed and have low self-esteem.
People who have suffered a head or brain injury may need special medical treatment and rehabilitation to help them recover. Depending on how severe the injury, it could take weeks or even months for someone to return to normal functioning.
Traumatic brain injuries are the most common type of permanent brain damage and can be caused by falls, car accidents and violent assaults such as gunshot wounds or suicide attempts. These injuries present with a variety of symptoms which may not be immediately obvious at first glance.
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that aids the body in creating red blood cells and maintaining nerve cell health. It plays an essential role in metabolism of homocysteine, an amino acid present in certain meats that if left unchecked can build up in one’s bloodstream leading to damage to both brain and nervous system. If someone lacks this essential nutrient they may experience brain or nerve cell damage as a result.
Older adults are especially vulnerable to developing a vitamin B12 deficiency due to age-related changes in their metabolism. This deficiency may lead to anemia, when your red blood cells are too few for oxygen transport within your body.
B12 deficiency can cause fatigue, shortness of breath and muscle weakness. Other signs that you may be lacking this vital vitamin include glossitis – a swollen tongue which may be painful or uncomfortable to touch.
Researchers from Trinity College in Ireland have discovered that older people who had low levels of vitamin B12 were significantly more likely to experience depressive symptoms over four years than those with high levels of the vitamin. They based their findings on data from the Irish Longitudininal Study on Ageing, a national population-based study of community-dwelling older adults.
