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Homocysteine and cognitive function in the elderly: the Rotterdam Scan Study
N D Prins1, T Den Heijer, A Hofman
1Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Neurology
|November 13, 2002
Summary
High homocysteine levels are linked to poorer cognitive function in older adults, especially impacting psychomotor speed. This association is independent of brain structure changes seen on MRI scans.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) is linked to Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.
- The relationship between tHcy and cognitive function in non-demented elderly individuals remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between tHcy levels and cognitive function in the elderly.
- To determine if structural brain changes on MRI mediate this relationship.
Main Methods:
- The Rotterdam Scan Study included 1,077 non-demented elderly participants.
- Cognitive performance was assessed for psychomotor speed, memory, and global function.
- Cerebral infarcts, white matter lesions, and brain atrophy were quantified using MRI; multiple regression analyzed tHcy and cognitive scores.
Main Results:
- Higher tHcy levels correlated with lower scores in psychomotor speed, memory, and global cognitive function.
- The strongest association was observed in the upper tHcy quintile (>14 micro mol/L).
- These associations were not explained by structural brain changes detected by MRI.
Conclusions:
- Elevated tHcy is associated with reduced cognitive performance in non-demented elderly individuals.
- Psychomotor speed showed the most significant decline with increasing tHcy.
- The observed cognitive decline was independent of measurable structural brain changes.