The geriatric clinic set up in BYL Nair hospital is specifically screening for vitamin B12 deficiency and taking this approach to cure the dementia.
Sundar Rajan (name changed), a retired bank clerk, handled thefinances of his entire family. However, he had lost his ability to calculate. He would go to a bank, draw money and later have a fight with them accusing them of theft.
When his relatives got him to BYL Nair hospital, the doctors diagnosed that he had vitamin B12 deficiency. After about two months treatment, he is not as forgetful. He still does not know how to calculate as well as he used to.
Pumping in vitamin B 12 in dementia patients has helped “reverse” the progressive illness, say doctors. The geriatric clinic set up in BYL Nair hospital is specifically screening for vitamin B12 deficiency and taking this approach to cure the dementia. They have screened 10-12 dementia patients with this nutritional deficiency of the 100 odd dementia patients they have seen so far.
“Dementia is not seen as reversible. However, we are seeing a lot of patients with vitamin B 12 deficiencies since we set up the geriatric clinic about six months ago, particularly from the lower economic rung of society. We are keeping records of their progress and will analyse the data later,” said Dr Deoraj Sinha, assistant professor in the Psychiatry department at Nair hospital.
Dementia involves memory loss and cognitive impairment due to gradual degeneration of the brain. Vitamin B12 is a nutrient for the nerves and plays a role in neuro-transmission. Dr Sinha added that as part of protocol, they get investigations for vitamin B12 serum, homocystine levels, and MRI of the brain to get a gross picture.
Dr Sanjay Kumavat, the medical superintendent of Thane Mental hospital said that it’s a common protocol to give vitamin B12 to dementia and schizophrenia patients, though specific tests may not be ordered. “Such patients neglect health which is bound to affect vitamin B12 levels. I also give a course of vitamin E to patients sometimes.”
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