Homocysteine Balance for Brain Health
In this lecture, Functional & Metabolic Psychiatry expert Dr. James Greenblatt explores the contributions of high HCy to various neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders, and how repletion of Vitamin B12 and/or Folate – informed by objective lab testing – offers both long-term neuroprotection and powerful therapeutic benefits to combat depression, anxiety, and more. The talk will begin with an in-depth look at HCy’s roles in the body and how imbalances or depletions in B Vitamins can contribute to toxic HCy accumulations. Next, the research: a look at recent studies conclusively implicating hyperhomocysteinemia as a risk factor for neurodegenerative illness.
Dr. Greenblatt will then discuss Vitamin B12 and folate – their roles in supporting metabolism, neurotransmitter synthesis, and brain health; their associations with depression and other psychiatric illnesses; and common factors contributing to their depletion. Recommendations for objective assessment – simple and widely-accessible blood tests – will be detailed, along with evidence-based strategies for B Vitamin supplementation to lower HCy and optimize brain health.
By the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to:
List two or more common contributors to hyperhomocysteinemia (high HCy)
Discuss research establishing hyperhomocysteinemia as a modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s/dementia
Identify two or more functions of Vitamin B12 as pertain to brain function / neurologic health
Explain why “normal” Vitamin B12 levels may or may not be “optimal”
Understand what blood tests may be utilized to accurately assess Vitamin B12 status
Explain the distinctions between folic acid, folate, and L-methylfolate
Understand the mechanisms through which folate supports brain function
Identify two or more common risk factors for folate deficiency
Understand how to assess folate levels via testing and initiate folate supplementation to support mental health