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Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
Published on: April 23, 2021
Plasma homocysteine, brain imaging and cognition in older patients with mental illness
Karin Nilsson1, Lars Gustafson, Björn Hultberg
1Department of Psychogeriatrics, Clinical Science, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
Insights
Elevated total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) is linked to lower cognitive function in older adults with mental illness. This association is not explained by cerebrovascular disease shown on CT scans.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Elevated total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) is common in older adults with mental illness and vascular disease.
- Plasma tHcy levels are associated with cognitive function, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between plasma tHcy, brain imaging findings (CT), and cognitive performance (MMSE) in older patients with mental illness.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 395 older patients with mental illness.
- Assessed plasma tHcy levels, cognitive function using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and cerebrovascular disease via CT scans.
Main Results:
- Age and plasma tHcy concentration were significant predictors of MMSE scores.
- Pathological CT findings, indicative of cerebrovascular disease, did not predict MMSE scores.
Conclusions:
- The association between plasma tHcy and cognitive function in this cohort is not mediated by cerebrovascular disease as detected by CT scans.
Background:
Total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) concentration is elevated in older patients with mental illness, and patients with vascular disease have higher plasma tHcy concentration than patients without vascular disease. Plasma tHcy has been reported to be associated with cognitive functions. The mechanism by which plasma tHcy may influence cognitive functions is not clear.
Method:
We have investigated the relation between plasma tHcy, brain imaging findings (computer tomography scan [CT]) and cognition, measured as Mini mental state examination (MMSE), in 395 consecutively enrolled older patients with mental illness.
Results:
Age and plasma tHcy were significant predictors of MMSE score, whereas pathological CT findings, indicating cerebrovascular disease, showed no prediction of MMSE score.
Conclusion:
The relation between plasma tHcy and cognition is not mediated by cerebrovascular disease as evaluated by pathological CT findings.
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