VITAMIN B12 deficiency can cause a range of neuropsychiatric problems, some of which can impact your ability to perform basic tasks and interact with others. Speech problems can signal low B12 levels – here’s what to look for.
Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that plays a pivotal role in the body, from keeping the body’s nerve and blood cells healthy to helping to make DNA – the genetic material in all cells. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), vitamin B12 also helps prevent a type of anaemia called megaloblastic anaemia that makes people tired and weak. Given B12’s contribution, the diverse range of symptoms that accompany B12 deficiency is hardly surprising.
Psychosis (also called a ‘psychotic experience’ or ‘psychotic episode’) is when you perceive or interpret reality in a very different way from people around you.
Psychosis can lead to tangential or incoherent speech, notes the article.
Other psychosis symptoms include:
- Suspiciousness
- Persecutory or religious delusions
- Auditory and visual hallucinations.
General symptoms include:
- Extreme tiredness
- A lack of energy
- Pins and needles (paraesthesia)
- A sore and red tongue
- Mouth ulcers
- Muscle weakness
- Disturbed vision.
When to seek help
According to the NHS, you should see a GP if you think you may have a vitamin B12 deficiency.
“These conditions can often be diagnosed based on your symptoms and the results of a blood test,” explains the health body.