May Promote Brain Health and Reduce Alzheimer’s Risk

Although there is contradictory evidence, vitamin B6 may help with brain health and Alzheimer's disease prevention. On the one hand, B6 can lower high blood levels of homocysteine, which may raise the risk of Alzheimer's. One research demonstrated that taking high doses of B6, B12, and folate (B9) lowered homocysteine and reduced wasting in specific parts of the brain that are prone to Alzheimer's disease in 156 persons with high homocysteine levels and mild cognitive impairment. It's not clear, though, whether a drop in homocysteine corresponds to better brain health or a slower pace of cognitive decline.

High dosages of vitamins B6, B12, and folate were shown to lower homocysteine levels but had no effect on the pace of loss in brain function when compared to a placebo in a randomized controlled study including more than 400 persons with mild to severe Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, a review of 19 research found no evidence that taking supplements of B6, B12, and folate separately or together reduced the chance of developing Alzheimer's disease or improved cognitive performance. To fully comprehend the role of vitamin B6 in enhancing brain health, further study on the impact of this vitamin on homocysteine levels and cognitive performance is required.