Low Brain Levels of Vitamin B12 in Schizophrenia, Autism Patients

That is the title of this blog I am writing about today. "While brain levels of Vitamin B12 decrease naturally with age, individuals with schizophrenia and autism tend to experience a premature decrease, showing far lower brain levels of B12 than healthy people of similar age, according to a new study.  For example, compared to non-autistic children under age 10, kids with autism were found to have three times lower brain levels of Vitamin B12; a level more comparable to healthy adults in their 50s.  'These are particularly significant findings because the differences we found in brain B12 with aging, autism, and schizophrenia are not seen in the blood, which is where B12 levels are usually measured,' said lead researcher Richard Deth, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology at Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) College of Pharmacy." I took B12 before and I took to much and could not sleep.  I have not taken it since. They are saying though measuring in the blood is not the same as measuring in the brain where they say people with schizophrenia and Autism don't have as much.
The article goes on to say: "The large deficits of brain B12 from individuals with autism and schizophrenia could help explain why patients suffering from these disorders experience neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms.'  For the study, an international research team analyzed and compared brain tissue from otherwise healthy deceased donors and donors with autism or schizophrenia. They found that healthy elderly people in the age range of 61-80 have about three times lower levels of total brain B12 than younger age groups, which is a result of normal aging. This decrease may help adjust brain metabolism to sustain its function across the lifespan.  An active form of B12 called methylcobalamin, or methyl B12, supports normal brain development by managing a process known as epigenetic regulation of gene expression."  Why do people with Schizophrenia and Autism have lower levels in the brain?  You do not want people taking extra B12 without knowing why.
The article ends: "Significantly, the brain level of methyl B12 was found to be more than 10 times lower in healthy elderly people than in healthy younger people. A lower than normal level of methyl B12 in the brain could negatively alter neurodevelopment in younger years and could disrupt learning and memory later in life. Both autism and schizophrenia are linked to oxidative stress, also found to be a significant contributor in the aging process. The researchers believe that oxidative stress may underlie the lowered brain B12 levels observed in this study. The findings suggest the need for further research to determine if the use of supplemental methyl B12 and antioxidants like glutathione could help prevent oxidative stress and potentially be used as a treatment for these conditions." Well they are on the way to finding treatment with further research. It seems it does not matter in later life but in younger adults with or with Schizophrenia and Autism it could be problem for all.