A Way to Stop Your Brain from Shrinking ... Really

Due to a study conducted by Oxford University on the elderly, researchers are saying that higher levels of vitamin B12 may make the difference between a brain that loses volume (shrinks) and a brain that maintains its volume (doesn't shrink). In 107 people, with the median age being 73, blood samples showed that participants who had higher levels of vitamin B12 were "six times less likely to experience brain shrinkage" than those who had lower B12 levels. Vitamin B12 can be obtained from fish, eggs and meat and is used by the body, among other things, for maintaining the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. Some of you may be evoking some sci-fi movies right now with the idea of a shrinking brain, but what really happens when your brain shrinks? Well, according to the U.S. News and World Report article "Keeping Your Brain Fit", a shrinking brain translates in to memory loss and difficulty problem solving and understanding and responding to questions. Last time I checked, these skills were pretty important. If you still think a shrinking brain is mere myth, consider that in Alzheimer's patients, "brains with Alzheimer's shrink about twice as fast," according to the "Keeping Fit" article. Therefore inform your parents and loved ones (this includes you!) about the significance of vitamin B12. After all, knowledge is brain power.