Not having enough vitamin B12 can cause problems with how your brain works and can lead to symptoms like depression, anxiety, confusion, and memory loss.
It’s important to check if you’re at risk of not getting enough B12, especially if you’re older or a vegetarian. Having enough B12 may help protect against Alzheimer’s disease, but if you already have it, not having enough B12 can make it worse. Other mental changes that can happen with B12 deficiency include not caring about things, being restless, not being able to focus, having strange thoughts or hearing and seeing things that aren’t there.
Doctors can check your blood for B12 levels and other substances that can show if you have a deficiency, and there are treatments that can help.
References:
Neuropsychiatric manifestations in vitamin B12 deficiency, Prashant Sahu 1, Harish Thippeswamy 2, Santosh K Chaturvedi 3 PMID: 35337631 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2022.01.001
