A new study out of Oxford University says Vitamin B Alzheimer's prevention is "first and only disease-modifying treatment" that's worked. Vitamin B supplements reduce brain shrinkage associated with Alzheimer's by "up to 90%."

Professor Emeritus of pharmacology at Oxford University in England and senior author of the research study, Dr. A. DAvid Smith, said "we have proved the concept you can modify the disease," reported Bloomberg yesterday.

His research team was composed of the Oxford Project to investigate Memory and Aging (Optima) and was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The results of the study by Professor Smith on Vitamin B Alzheimer's prevention surprised even the author of the study himself, and has led to a most cost-effective approach for those looking to prevent the onset of Alzheimer's.

"A cheap regimen of vitamins in use for decades is seen by scientists as a way to delay the start of Alzheimer's disease and dementia, a goal that prescription drugs have failed to achieve."

The study showed Vitamin B Alzheimer's prevention through Vitamin B6 and B12 combined with folic acid slowing atrophy in brain matter of the areas most effected by Alzheimer's in the brain. That shrinkage of those areas of the brain is what often leads to dementia. 

Half of the volunteers in the study for Vitamin B Alzheimer's prevention ate a placebo pill and the other half ate a tablet containing levels of the B vitamins folate, B6 and B12 well above the recommended daily amount.

All of the participants had shown signs of cognitive dementia like mild memory losses and some language problems and were due to factors outside of aging.

"The average brain shrinks at a rate of 0.5% a year after the age of 60. The brains of those with mild cognitive impairment shrink twice as fast. Alzheimer's patients have brain shrinkage of 2.5% a year."

After taking the placebo or Vitamin B tablets for two years, the rates at which the patients brains had shrunk were measured.

The Optima research team discovered those taking the vitamin supplements brain shrinkage slowed by 30% and some even slowed by 50%.

Said Professor Smith about the findings: "These vitamins are doing something to the brain structure - they're protecting it, and that's very important because we need to protect the brain to prevent Alzheimer's."

Also, the normal medications for Alzheimer's are not as cost effective as the Vitamin B Alzheimer's prevention noted in the study, so older patients don't have to afford the high cost of developing drugs in the area.

They simply need to implement more Vitamin B in their diet, after consulting with a doctor. The Vitamin B Alzheimer's prevention could revolutionize the way the brain atrophies as people age and could prevent severe loss of mental faculty.