My Mum developed it (aged 64) as a result of pernicious anaemia and Crohns disease. B12 injections made a huge difference.

Thanks for this, Jabba. We know it's not Crohn's. I'll look up pernicious anaemia.

Do you have any idea what caused the pernicious anaemia and the Crohn's?

I don't think she ever knew. She had a number problems, mostly related to the gut, which may have been exacerbated by being 11 years old when WW2 broke out!

I don't think she ever knew. She had a number problems, mostly related to the gut, which may have been exacerbated by being 11 years old when WW2 broke out!

Ah, the same age as my dad!

Hi Crown, Thankfully I might be able to help there. I've had B12 Deficiency for quite a long while until the signs got worse and I was eventually diagnosed. My sign was dandruff and intermittent vibrational feet. Low blood pressure. So, what I'm trying to arrive at is avoid the medications. Th best way to overcome any bodily deficiency is to switch to a healthy diet. EAT BANANAS. FISH. And other B12 rich foods. I promise they'll help you overcome the deficiency. You may take the ready-made pharmaceutical supplements, even injections. But they'll only make you to get used to of them. Such that you'll want them on permanent basis. Lose one dosage, and you're back to day one. It is, therefore, best for maintaining healthy via dietary patterns. I only know about bananas and fishes as they were recommended to me by my aunt. Also avoid foods/drinks that cause B12 deficiency such as caffeine/tea. They're a major factor. So, on the whole, if you avoid diuretic foods, take B12 rich foods. You're swimming in B12 haha! I wish you best of health!

Hi Crown, Thankfully I might be able to help there. I've had B12 Deficiency for quite a long while until the signs got worse and I was eventually diagnosed. My sign was dandruff and intermittent vibrational feet. Low blood pressure. So, what I'm trying to arrive at is avoid the medications. Th best way to overcome any bodily deficiency is to switch to a healthy diet. EAT BANANAS. FISH. And other B12 rich foods. I promise they'll help you overcome the deficiency. You may take the ready-made pharmaceutical supplements, even injections. But they'll only make you to get used to of them. Such that you'll want them on permanent basis. Lose one dosage, and you're back to day one. It is, therefore, best for maintaining healthy via dietary patterns. I only know about bananas and fishes as they were recommended to me by my aunt. Also avoid foods/drinks that cause B12 deficiency such as caffeine/tea. They're a major factor. So, on the whole, if you avoid diuretic foods, take B12 rich foods. You're swimming in B12 haha! I wish you best of health!

There's no lack of B12 in her diet (we eat keto so no bananas - but there's no B12 in bananas anyway.) The problem is with absorption, so supplements wouldn't help - hence the injections.
I've been looking into possible causes. She was vegetarian for about 5 years in her early 20s, followed by nearly a decade of veganism, so that could well be the cause. Another idea is that she was affected by general anaesthetics.
I did discover that pernicious anaemia is a result of B12 deficiency, rather than a cause. People can die from this.