B-12 deficiency is more common than many people think. However, because many of the early and moderate symptoms are things that many people take as a fact of living in the modern world, it can go undetected and become worse until severe action must be taken. The most common warning signs to look out for are tiredness, irritability, inability to concentrate or a reduction in mental abilities, and even depression. Many of these symptoms align with sleep deprivation to some degree and also with depression and bi-polar disorders. This means that it is very important to keep a close eye on your body.

As the deficiency goes on more and worse symptoms will likely be noticeable. Some of these include things such as sleep disturbances, true bi-polar disorder (which has been linked to deficiency through heredity), and even psychosis in extreme cases. Other physiological symptoms may occur but generally it is the psychological effects that are most noticeable because of the damage to nerve cells that a lack of B-12 can cause.

Alzheimer’s has also been linked to B-12 deficiency, but it may or may not be directly related. In order to accurately identify a deficiency, not only the B-12 levels must be checked, but other compounds in the body that work in tandem should be tested as well. The lasting symptoms of B-12 range from nothing at all to severe, irreversible, nerve damage and loss of memory or other psychological effects.