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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Vitamin B12 Deficiency And A High Level Of Ammonia?

my dad is 67 years old. for last year we ve noticed personlaity changes in him. getting aggravated with things that never bothered him, paranoid about my mom, feeling she leaves him out, general forgetfulness and just change in general. he is type 2 diabetic, has kidney failure occuring and refuses to exercise or eat right. he has seen a neurologist and MRI was negative, EEG was negative and eval by therapist was normal just revealed slowness which hes always been slow at things like eating, processing his thoughts, etc... his blood test revealed a low B12 level and a high ammonia level. any thoughts? we had thought maybe dementia beginning, and he has a brother who has been diagnosed with this a few years older than him and another older brother who has alzhemiers. supposedly those both ruled out and neuro referred him back to regular doctor
Wed, 2 Sep 2015
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello.
I have gone through your question and understand your concern. Mental problems like depression, memory loss, or behavioral changes and nerve problems like muscle weakness can be due to severe vitamin B 12 deficiency. Fatigue and muscle weakness can be due to elevated levels of ammonia in blood caused due to kidney damage. Both require prompt medical care to treat symptoms and further damage to body. Treatment aims to improve patient condition, vitamin B 12 supplementation will resolve most problems but any nerve damage happened due to deficiency could be permanent. Medication or dialysis to improve kidney function thereby, reducing the blood ammonia levels. Good luck. Hope your concern is answered. Thank You.
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What Causes Vitamin B12 Deficiency And A High Level Of Ammonia?

Hello. I have gone through your question and understand your concern. Mental problems like depression, memory loss, or behavioral changes and nerve problems like muscle weakness can be due to severe vitamin B 12 deficiency. Fatigue and muscle weakness can be due to elevated levels of ammonia in blood caused due to kidney damage. Both require prompt medical care to treat symptoms and further damage to body. Treatment aims to improve patient condition, vitamin B 12 supplementation will resolve most problems but any nerve damage happened due to deficiency could be permanent. Medication or dialysis to improve kidney function thereby, reducing the blood ammonia levels. Good luck. Hope your concern is answered. Thank You.