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Published on: January 24, 2020
Homocysteine and cognitive function in very elderly nondemented subjects
Rebecca K West1, Michal Schnaider Beeri, James Schmeidler
1Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. rebecca.west@mssm.edu
Summary
High homocysteine levels are linked to worse executive-language skills in very elderly individuals. This association with cognitive function was observed in nondemented community dwellers, but not with memory.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Nutritional Psychiatry
Background:
- Elevated homocysteine levels are a potential risk factor for cognitive decline.
- Understanding the specific cognitive domains affected by homocysteine is crucial for early intervention in aging populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between homocysteine levels and cognitive performance in individuals aged 80 and above.
- To determine if homocysteine impacts executive-language functions or memory specifically.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 228 nondemented, community-dwelling elderly individuals (≥80 years) underwent comprehensive neuropsychological testing.
- Blood samples were analyzed for homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folate levels, alongside APOE genotyping.
Main Results:
- Higher homocysteine concentrations were significantly associated with poorer executive-language functioning scores (r = -0.311).
- This association remained significant even after controlling for serum vitamin B12 and folate levels (r = -0.308).
- No significant association was found between homocysteine levels and memory performance (r = 0.120).
Conclusions:
- In very elderly, nondemented individuals, elevated homocysteine is linked to diminished executive-language abilities.
- Homocysteine does not appear to affect memory function in this population.
- The findings suggest homocysteine may selectively impact specific neural mechanisms supporting executive functioning.
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