Researchers from University of Adelaide have developed a world’s first optical sensor that can detect vitamin B12 in diluted human blood – a novel step towards developing a low-cost and portable deficiency test. Vitamin B12 deficiency is associated with an increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Such a device would enable the tracking of vitamin B12 levels in high-risk patients and early intervention can help overcome the limitations of current testing methods which are time-consuming and costly.
“Vitamin B12 deficiency has been shown to be a potential modifiable risk factor for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and is associated with cognitive decline,” said Dr Georgios Tsiminis, Research Fellow at University of Adelaide. Older adults are particularly at risk of B12 deficiency due to age-related reduction in absorbing vitamin B12 received through their diet. “Our sensor is an early step towards a point-of-care solution for