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Serum homocysteine levels and cognitive functioning in euthymic bipolar patients
Vasco Videira Dias1, Sofia Brissos, Carlos Cardoso
1University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain.
Journal of Affective Disorders
|June 27, 2008
Summary
Elevated homocysteine (Hcy) levels in bipolar disorder (BD) patients correlate with poorer neurocognitive function, particularly in older individuals or those with later illness onset. This suggests Hcy may contribute to cognitive deficits in BD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels are associated with bipolar disorder (BD).
- Serum Hcy levels and their relation to cognitive and psychosocial functioning in euthymic BD patients require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum Hcy levels in euthymic BD patients.
- To explore the relationship between Hcy levels and cognitive and psychosocial functioning in BD.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-five euthymic BD type I patients and 49 healthy controls were assessed.
- Neuropsychological testing and serum Hcy level measurement (HPLC with fluorescence detection) were performed.
Main Results:
- Mean Hcy levels did not differ between BD patients and controls, but males had higher Hcy than females.
- Elevated Hcy levels were associated with worse performance on neurocognitive tests and specific deficits in set-shifting and planning tasks.
- Older age, later illness onset, and polypharmacy correlated with higher Hcy levels, but Hcy did not significantly predict neurocognitive performance.
Conclusions:
- Increased homocysteinemia may contribute to neurocognitive deficits in bipolar disorder.
- The impact of Hcy on cognition appears greater in older BD patients or those with delayed illness onset.
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