Study of Serum Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 levels in Patients of Vascular Dementia

Background Dementia is a major health problem worldwide and the number of people affected is expected to rise considerably, especially in developing countries. Vascular dementia is a degenerative cerebrovascular disorder that results from ischemic or haemorrhagic brain damage. Vitamin B12 and folate represent modifiable risk factors for dementia. They may increase the risk of vascular dementia as their deficiency can increase the homocysteine (vascular risk factor). Hence, it is important to explore the status of serum vitamin B12, folate in vascular dementia to evolve the treatment strategies for the same. Objectives To determine the levels of serum folic acid and vitamin B12 in cases of vascular dementia and to compare these with age and sex matched controls. Methodology In this case control study, 30 vascular dementia cases and 30 age and sex matched controls were selected. Serum levels of Folic acid and vitamin B12 were estimated by chemiluminescence method. Results The vitamin B12 levels in vegetarians and mixed diet patients showed p value of 0.079 suggestive of significance. In Pearson correlation between MMSE score and vitamin B 12, r = 0.463 and p = 0.010 showing significant positive correlation indicating that cases with low vitamin B12 levels had more cognitive deficit. Conclusion Vitamin B12 represents the modifiable risk factor for vascular dementia, hence B vitamin supplementation should be considered as preventive and therapeutic intervention. Vascular dementia, folic acid, vitamin B12, chemiluminescence method, MMSE score.