Sleep disorders and B12 deficiency linked to fatigue in new research

Scientists combined results from 57 brain‑imaging studies of people with sleep disorders such as insomnia, difficulty staying asleep and parasomnias (e.g., sleepwalking, nightmares). They found that individuals with parasomnias show structural changes most often in the posterior cingulate cortex, a region involved in emotion, motivation and decision‑making. Both parasomnia and dyssomnia patients also exhibited reduced activity in the thalamus, which may impair attention, cognition and increase injury risk, especially among older adults. Matthew Sutherland, a cognitive neurobiologist at Florida International University, said the work provides a clearer picture of how sleep problems affect brain networks.

In a separate study of 602 healthy Japanese adults, researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University measured vitamin B12, folate, and homocysteine levels. Higher homocysteine concentrations were associated with lower B12 and folate. The analysis revealed gender‑specific links: in men, elevated homocysteine correlated with greater physical fatigue, while in women it was tied to reduced motivation and willingness to act. The authors cautioned that the findings show correlation, not causation, and do not prove that supplementing B12 or folate will automatically restore energy.