Scientists have found that consuming vegetarian, meat-free diet leads
to brain shrinkage.

According to researchers, vegans and vegetarians are the most likely
to be deficient because the best sources of the vitamin are meat,
particularly liver, milk and fish.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause anaemia and inflammation of the
nervous system.

Yeast extracts are one of the few vegetarian foods which provide good
levels of the vitamin, reports Courier Mail.

The finding was made by Oxford University scientists who used memory
tests, physical checks and brain scans to examine 107 people between
the ages of 61 and 87.

When the volunteers were retested five years later the medics found
those with the lowest levels of vitamin B12 were also the most likely
to have brain shrinkage.

It confirms earlier research showing a link between brain atrophy and
low levels of B12.

Also, in a new study it was found that drinking too much alcohol can
lead to brain shrinkage.

Brain scans of more than 1,800 people found that people who downed 14
drinks or more a week had 1.6 per cent more brain shrinkage than
teetotallers.

Women in their seventies were the most at risk.

http://www.medindia.net/news/Study-S...ge-41809-1.htm