Very low oral doses of vitamin B-12 increase serum concentrations in elderly subjects with food-bound vitamin B-12 malabsorption.

The BOSSANOVA study, a randomized double-blind trial, was designed to test the ability of very low oral doses of vitamin B-12 to increase the serum vitamin B-12 concentration in elderly subjects with food-bound vitamin B-12 malabsorption, and to determine whether there was a dose response. We also aimed to quantitatively assess the most efficient dose to be added to flour in addition to folic acid (flour cofortification with vitamin B-12 and folic acid). Sixty-seven patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 6 groups receiving various daily oral doses of vitamin B-12 (i.

The angiotensin I converting enzyme gene as a susceptibility factor for dementia.

The frequency of a genetic susceptibility vascular factor, the deletion (D) allele of the angiotensin I converting enzyme gene (ACE), coding for a key enzyme of the renin angiotensin system, was characterized in two independent case--control studies. The results of the current study suggest that bearing at least one ACE D allele is a risk factor to develop dementia for subjects older than 74 years. This observation reinforces the hypothesis of a major implication of vascular risk factors in the occurrence of all types of dementia.

[Geriatrics and rehabiliation: role of the hospital in healthcare networks?].

Objective: There is no accepted definition of geriatric post-acute or rehabilitation care. The exact role within the healthcare network and the function of units providing such care remain to be clarified. We describe the activity of geriatric post-acute or rehabilitation care units in four French hospitals to identify common features and provide elements of practical interest concerning their role in the healthcare network.

VLDL receptor polymorphism, cognitive impairment, and dementia.

Objective: Clinical, epidemiologic, and pathologic observations suggest that vascular risk factors are associated with impaired cognition. Previous studies supported an association between cognitive decline and APOE. Although the underlying mechanism is not clear, it might involve apoE receptors, such as the very low density lipoprotein receptor.