
Tiny Molecule, Big Aging Impact: Vitamin B12 and Elder Health
Vitamin B12 is needed in trace amounts but deficiency is common, especially among older adults. Aging can reduce stomach acid and intrinsic factor, impairing B12 absorption from animal foods and causing fatigue, numbness, balance or memory problems. Testing and guidance are advised for those at risk; injections treat confirmed deficiency but don’t boost energy in people with normal B12. Recent research links B12 to mitochondrial energy in muscle and aging, but it does not reverse aging.













