Taking supplements containing vitamin B12 may slow the development of Alzheimer’s disease, according to findings published in the journal Neurology.

Over the course of seven years, blood samples were taken from a total of 271 individuals aged 65 to 79 years who showed no signs of memory complications at the start of the study.

The researchers monitored the levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that is linked to vitamin B12, and holotranscobalamin, an active nutrient found in the vitamin, in each sample. The team followed the concentration of this amino acid because unhealthy levels can lead to brain complications and stroke.

The results showed that unhealthy levels of homocysteine increased one’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 16 percent, but also found the active form of vitamin B12 slowed the brain’s aging process by 2 percent.

According to researchers, these findings “show the need for further research on the role of vitamin B12 as a marker for identifying people who are at increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.” They added that “low levels of vitamin B12 are surprisingly common in the elderly, however, the few studies that have investigated the usefulness of vitamin B12 supplements to reduce the risk of memory loss have had mixed results.”

Individuals who are interested in increasing their vitamin B12 intake can benefit from eating eggs, fish, poultry and shellfish.