Folic Acid and Cognition in the Older Adults

Folic acid is a member of the water-soluble B vitamin group. Isolated in 1946 from spinach leaves, its name comes from folium, the Latin word for leaf. In the body, folic acid is converted to a more biologically active form. Folic acid occurs in a wide variety of foods. Best sources include dark green leafy vegetables, brewer's yeast, liver, and eggs. Other good sources are beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, orange juice, cabbage, cauliflower, cantaloupe, kidney and lima beans, wheat germ, and whole grain cereals and breads. The body's "friendly" intestinal bacteria also produce folic acid.

Studies have shown cognitive skills such as knowing, thinking, learning, and judging can be impaired in older adults with low levels of certain B vitamins. Supplementation with folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6 has been effective in enhancing cognitive performance in older adults. In fact, studies in older adults noted that subjects with low levels of vitamin B12 or folate had more of a risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

A study recently published in the journal The Lancet examined the role of folic acid treatment and cognition in the older adults. These participants were part of a study called FACIT which investigated the role of folate and atherosclerosis in men and women aged 50 to 70 years. This study was conducted in the Netherlands and researchers examined participants’ cognition over a 3-year span. A total of 818 participants were randomly assigned to 800 IU of folic acid or placebo during this time period. Researchers also collected data for memory, word fluency, and information processing speed among others during this study. The results showed that those taking the folic acid had better scores in information processing and sensorimotor speed than those taking placebo.

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