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Brain scans of older adults taking vitamin B supplements showed slower reduction of brain size than those who do not, a British study says.

Vitamin B, also known as B vitamins or vitamin B complex, is a group of water-soluble vitamins that contributes in some functions in the body and metabolism in cellular level. It enhances the body’s mechanism against infection and promotes cell regeneration and growth. It also reinforces nerve tissues and functions in the nervous system. Furthermore, some studies suggest that it helps in the prevention of certain type of cancers.

Anatomically, as the human aged, there is gradual reduction in the size of the brain. Experts associate the loss of brain mass with occurrence of dementia and memory impairments. Nevertheless, there were no stronger evidences to support such claims.

Memory impairments and cognitive alterations affect most of the older population. Statistical studies suggest that about 20% of the older adults developed mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is characterized by gradual decrease in cognitive function.

Experts claim that MCI is the transitory phase between normal memory loss due to aging and occurrence dementia. Furthermore, MCI may develop to a more mind-severing condition known as Alzheimer’s disease.

In the study, British researchers in Oxford University compared the brain scans of older adult people who took dosage of vitamin B and people who were under placebo. The course of the study took two years before completion. Researchers submit the population to initial brain scans that served as base line data. They repeated brain scans after two years.

According to the result, the scans show that adults who took the vitamin B dosages have reduced brain size by 0.76% over the year. The population who took placebo shows brain size reduction by 1.08%. Moreover, cognitive tests of people who have lowest rate of brain shrinkage suggest better results than with people who have larger reduction in the size of their brain.