Diagnosis and management of vitamin B12 deficiency among elderly patients

Abstract EN

Vitamin B 12 deficiency is a multifaceted, multisystem disorder that became more common with advancing age.

insufficient absorption seems to be the pathology mechanism underlying most cases of B12 deficiency in the elderly.

It is associated with an increased morbidity if it goes undetected as often happens.

Its diagnosis can be enhanced if the clinician recognizes the nonspecific symptoms, glossitis, dermatological and neuropsychiatry abnormalities.

It is highly important to realize the nature of Vit BI 2 deficiency in the elderly.

It is a continuum from negative BI2 balance to frank deficiency, which can be detected by low serum B 12 levels long before changes occur in hemoglobin levels.

Since, signs and symptoms of this complaint can be ill defined, the clinician should be concerned about occult B12 deficiency in older subjects with baffling weakness, fatigue, unusual neurology findings or cognitive dysfunction.

A greatly discussed issue is the relationship between B 12 deficiency and dementia.

Many investigators think that is has not been established as a cause of reversible dementia current findings in the literature propose that treatment may prevent significant neurologic and/or hematologic disease