Folic acid for Alzheimer: does it improve mental health?

Why Folic Acid help reduce Alzheimer:

Supplying the body with proper amounts of folic acid can help increase the count of healthy neuronal cells in the brain and limit their loss. As a result, cognitive and behavioral skills remain unharmed, hence decreasing the chances of dementia.

Moreover, folic acid regulates the level of homocysteine in the plasma limiting neuronal damage and implications on the hippocampus. This reduces the risk of dementia.

Additionally, folic acid aids in the reduction of inflammation which limits the death of healthy neuronal cells. By doing that, cognitive functions are regulated, and the risk of dementia is decreased.

How Folic Acid works for Alzheimer:

Folic acid is converted into folate by the body and then transformed into tetrahydrofolic acid (THF). The latter is important for the synthesis of DNA, hence allowing the development and maturation of healthy neuronal cells in the brain. This limits the neuronal cell loss and the rise of dementia symptoms.

In addition, vitamin B9 functions to breakdown the homocysteine amino acid into useful chemicals that are utilized by the body. This lowers the amino acid’s levels in the plasma, reducing neuronal damage and regulating functions of the hippocampus, such as thinking and memory. Thus, the chances of dementia decrease.

Folic acid also reduces inflammation by decreasing concentrations of C-reactive proteins and peripheral inflammatory cytokines, which are proteins that increase inflammation. This allows cognitive performance to function properly thus decreasing chances of dementia.

Folic Acid Dosage for Alzheimer’s or Dementia:

Folic acid is mostly available in capsules or tablets. However, it can also be present in liquid form. It can be administered either intravenously through the vein, or through the muscle or skin based on what the doctor suggests.

However, the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) recommends that men and women older than 19 years old should take an oral dose of at least 400mcg on a daily basis. In addition, the injectable dose of liquid folic acid is set at 5mg/ml daily.

Dosages should always be consulted by the doctor in order to revise each person’s personal case according to age and medical condition, if any.

Folic Acid for Alzheimer’s or Dementia: precautions

1.  People with certain medical conditions:

People with the following conditions should be careful and always check before taking folic acid:

• Allergies: It is possible to have a reaction to folic acid which might lead to skin rash, itching, difficulty breathing, redness. 
• Alcoholism: you need to avoid drinking alcohol as it could interfere with the absorption of folic acid in the body. Alcohol increases the rate of breakdown of the vitamin allowing it to be discharged faster from the body.
• Digestive disorders: people with digestive disorders such as celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease, should pay attention when they consume folic acid because their conditions could interfere with the absorption of folic acid and decrease it.
• Genetic variants: people who acquire genetic mutations can impact folate transport into the cell and brain.

2.  Interaction with different Medications

Folic acid may interact with different medications and exacerbate certain conditions. Consult your doctor or healthcare provider before taking folic acid supplements if you take the following medication: 

• Anticonvulsants medication: such as cerebyx, phenytoin, and primidone- could decrease the concentration of the supplement in your blood.
• Barbiturates, methotrexate, and pyrimethamine medications: could decrease the drug’s effectiveness.

Folic Acid for Alzheimer: side effects

If you take folic acid, some side effects can take place such as nausea, loss of appetite, irritability, and bad breath.