Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
07:30

Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions

Published on: April 23, 2021

[Does an association between increased homocystein levels and cognitive dysfunction also exist in multimorbid

S Hengstermann1, A Hanemann, R Nieczaj

  • 1Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Forschungsgruppe Geriatrie am Evangelischen Geriatriezentrum Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

Zeitschrift Fur Gerontologie Und Geriatrie
|June 7, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Elevated homocysteine (Hcys) and low folate were studied in multimorbid elderly patients with cognitive dysfunction (CD). Results indicate Hcys and folate are not significant biological risk factors for CD in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Nutritional Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry

Context:

  • Cognitive dysfunction (CD) is a growing concern in aging populations, particularly among multimorbid elderly patients.
  • Previous research on homocysteine (Hcys) and folate in relation to CD has primarily focused on healthy individuals.
  • The role of these biomarkers in multimorbid elderly individuals with cognitive decline remains less understood.

Purpose:

  • To investigate the association between total blood homocysteine (Hcys) and folate levels and cognitive dysfunction (CD) in multimorbid elderly patients.
  • To determine if Hcys and folate are adequate biological markers for identifying CD in this specific demographic.
  • To explore potential correlations between nutritional status, biochemical parameters, and cognitive function.

Summary:

  • A cross-sectional study assessed 189 multimorbid elderly patients using the Short Performance Cognitive Test (SKT) for CD.
  • Biochemical parameters (Hcys, folate, vitamin B12), nutritional status, and daily intake were analyzed.
  • Elevated plasma Hcys was observed independently of CD, while dietary folate intake was significantly reduced. No significant differences in biochemical markers or nutritional status were found between cognitive function groups.

Impact:

  • This study suggests that plasma Hcys and serum folate are not significant biological risk factors for cognitive dysfunction in multimorbid elderly patients.
  • Findings highlight the need for further research into other potential contributors to CD in this vulnerable population.
  • Results may inform future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for cognitive decline in the elderly, emphasizing a broader scope beyond Hcys and folate levels.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans08:29

Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans

Published on: December 18, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients01:15

Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients

Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction01:29

Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction

Alzheimer disease is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia in older adults. It leads to gradual neuronal loss, causing cognitive decline, behavioral changes, and loss of functional independence.Risk Factors and EtiologyThe disease is multifactorial. Age is the strongest risk factor, with prevalence doubling every 5 years after age 65. Genetic factors include mutations in genes such as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, which are associated...
Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age01:27

Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age

Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology01:23

Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology

Alzheimer disease involves structural changes in the brain that begin long before symptoms appear. The most distinctive features are extracellular neuritic plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles.Neuritic plaques form in the cerebral cortex and around blood vessels. These plaques contain a dense core of beta-amyloid (Aβ)—a toxic protein fragment that clumps outside neurons. The core is surrounded by damaged neuronal extensions, as well as reactive astrocytes and microglia. Abnormal...
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism01:18

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism

Geriatric patients show significant variation in how their bodies process medications, which can change how effective and safe treatments are. The liver is the primary organ where drug metabolism occurs, involving two main types of chemical reactions: phase I and II. Phase I metabolism is driven by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, which includes key types such as CYP3A, CYP2D6, and CYP2C9. Research indicates that while aging doesn't notably alter the levels or activity of these enzymes, it...
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview01:26

Alzheimer's Disease: Overview

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...