Andoni I. Asencor

Severe vitamin B12 deficiency can present with cognitive and balance impairments, anxiety, demyelination, and dementia-like symptoms. While it is well-established that vitamin B12 is necessary for the health of the nervous system, little is known about how severe vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to such profound deficits in neurological function. Through a novel model of vitamin B12 deficiency, we are now able to dissect how vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to balance problems in adulthood.

Severe vitamin B12 deficiency in the brain can present as cognitive and balance impairments, anxiety, demyelination, and even dementia-like symptoms in the elderly. While it is well-established that vitamin B12 is necessary for the health of the nervous system, little is known about how severe vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to such profound deficits in neurological function. Through a combination of novel genetic tools, we have created a mouse with vitamin B12 deficiency exclusively in the neurons of the brain, which has helped us to uncover how severe vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to balance problems in adulthood. This mouse is a first-of-its-kind tool in dissecting the role of vitamin B12 deficiency in neurons and understanding how it relates to adult brain health, signaling, and maintenance. By investigating the relationship between vitamin B12 and brain metabolism, this research is poised to expand our fundamental knowledge of how the nervous system relies on nutritional availability for healthy function.