Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Neurological Disorders of Older Adults: Etiology, Diagnostics, Treatment

Abstract

One of the common problems associated with aging is vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency. According to some reports, it is present in every third person over the age of 60. Cobalamin is involved in numerous biologically important reactions, and its deficiency manifests itself in a range of disorders, including hematological and gastrointestinal symptoms, as well as pathology in various parts of the nervous system. The article discusses clinical variants of neurological disorders related to vitamin B12 deficiency, such as damage to both the peripheral and the central nervous systems. The relationship between cobalamin deficiency and the development of cognitive and other neuropsychiatric disorders in older individuals is discussed. Data on specific causes of vitamin B12 deficiencies in older individuals, including iatrogenic factors, are presented. Modern approaches to the diagnosis and correction of cobalamin deficiency are outlined, taking into account the characteristics of the geriatric population.