(NaturalHealth365)  Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, currently affects about 60-70% of the nearly 55 million people diagnosed worldwide – while heart disease and stroke continue to claim too many lives, every year.  As a possible way to help solve this health crisis, scientists are learning that high homocysteine levels can contribute to these life-threatening diseases.

For instance, a recent study found that elevated homocysteine is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.  Homocysteine is an amino acid, and high levels in the body, often due to deficiencies in vitamin B12 and folate, can lead to cognitive decline.  Another study at Temple University highlighted the vital role of B-complex vitamins in controlling homocysteine.  With vitamin B deficiencies currently widespread in the United States – and Alzheimer’s disease on the rise – the need for maintaining healthy levels of these essential nutrients has never been more apparent.

How vitamin deficiencies and other factors contribute to Alzheimer’s disease

In a recent review published in Disease-a-Month, researchers examined how vitamin deficiencies and other factors could be linked to Alzheimer’s disease in humans.  They found that low levels of vitamin B12 and folate, along with elevated homocysteine levels, are associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s.  These imbalances can contribute to cognitive decline and neurodegeneration, similar to what’s seen in other studies on dementia.

The review also highlighted how oral bacteria, specifically those linked to dental infections like periodontitis, may play a role in Alzheimer’s.  These bacteria can trigger inflammation in the nervous system, adding to the damage in the brain.  Another key finding is that Alzheimer’s might be related to insulin resistance in the brain, sometimes referred to as “type 3 diabetes,” which disrupts glucose metabolism and worsens brain function.

Diet-induced elevations in homocysteine damage the brain

Researchers have also uncovered more about how tau tangles form.  They found that elevated homocysteine levels trigger an increase in 5-lipoxygenase (5LO), a pro-inflammatory chemical responsible for the formation of tau tangles.

The next step is to determine whether blocking the production of 5LO can prevent – or even reverse – the brain damage caused by high homocysteine, which had already been linked to amyloid beta plaques, another hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.

Until now, however, the connection between homocysteine and tau tangles has been unclear.

The statistics on elevated homocysteine are alarming

Homocysteine, classified as a non-protein amino acid, exists naturally in the human body. It is produced as a byproduct of the metabolism of the amino acid methionine.

High homocysteine levels, known as hyperhomocysteinemia, can have a genetic component.

But they can also be caused by stress, improper diet – such as eating too many processed foods – and B vitamins and folic acid deficiencies.  In addition, although coffee has received high marks lately from researchers for its association with lowered risk of degenerative disease, some experts believe that coffee consumption raises homocysteine levels.

Research has shown that high homocysteine levels disrupt fragile arterial linings, promote inflammation and oxidative stress, and reduce blood flow to the heart and brain.  All of these destructive processes can “prime the pump” for atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease – to such an extent that blood levels of homocysteine can accurately predict the risk of heart disease.

Studies have shown that high homocysteine is associated with a 42 percent increase in the risk of narrowing of the carotid arteries.  In addition, people with elevated homocysteine who have had a heart attack are at a 30 percent higher risk of experiencing another adverse event – for example, a second heart attack, stroke, or even death.

Finally, high homocysteine doubles the odds of developing dementia (as compared to people with normal levels).

Your doctor can check your homocysteine levels with a simple blood test.  Levels under 10 umol/L are considered desirable, with 7 umol/L to 8 umol/L considered optimal.

How do I avoid vitamin B deficiencies and fight high homocysteine?

Unfortunately, vitamin B deficiencies are common, particularly in elderly people.  One study showed that 40 percent of heart disease patients aged 80 and over are deficient in vitamin B12.

As vitamin B12 is found only in animal products, vegans and vegetarians may be at risk, too.

You can boost your intake of B-complex vitamins by eating healthy amounts of organic spinach, wheat germ, beets, and avocados.  Wild-caught salmon, 100% grass-fed beef, and organic dairy products are particularly rich in vitamin B12.

However, supplementation with B-complex vitamins may be the best approach – especially if you have hyperhomocysteinemia.  Naturally, you should consult your holistic doctor before starting a supplement routine.

For lowering high homocysteine, natural health experts often recommend taking 25 to 100 mg of vitamin B2 a day – along with 100 to 200 mg a day of vitamin B6, 1,000 to 10,000 mcg a day of vitamin B9 (folate), and 300 to 1,000 mcg of vitamin B12, or methylcobalamin.

These B-complex vitamins, which all work together to detoxify homocysteine, should be taken along with the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA found in fish oil.

One more bit of encouraging news: In one study, combining B vitamins and omega-3s reduced brain shrinkage by 40 percent!

High levels of homocysteine can put you at risk for potentially life-threatening diseases.  However, a safe, inexpensive B-complex vitamin routine can help you lower your levels.  When preserving the health of your heart and brain, these “B” vitamins are the “A” team.

Sources for this article include:

NIH.gov
ALZ.org
Medicalxpress.com
Europepmc.org