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Serum folate and risk of disabling dementia: a community-based nested case-control study
Rie Kishida1, Kazumasa Yamagishi1,2, Ai Ikeda3
1Department of Public Health Medicine, Institute of Medicine, and Health Services Research and Development Center, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
Nutritional Neuroscience
|June 14, 2023
Summary
Low serum folate levels are linked to a higher risk of disabling dementia in Japanese adults. Maintaining adequate folate may be crucial for cognitive health and preventing dementia.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Dementia poses a significant public health challenge, particularly in aging populations.
- Serum folate is a critical B vitamin involved in numerous physiological processes, including neurological function.
- Understanding modifiable risk factors like nutrient status is essential for dementia prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between serum folate levels and the risk of developing disabling dementia.
- To determine if lower folate concentrations correlate with an increased incidence of dementia requiring long-term care.
Main Methods:
- A nested case-control study was conducted within the Circulatory Risk in Communities Study cohort in Japan.
- Serum folate levels were measured in individuals diagnosed with disabling dementia and matched controls.
- Conditional logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios for dementia across serum folate quintiles.
Main Results:
- A significant inverse association was observed between serum folate levels and the risk of disabling dementia over a 20.8-year follow-up.
- Individuals in the highest quintiles of serum folate exhibited a reduced risk of disabling dementia compared to those in the lowest quintile.
- The association remained consistent even when considering dementia with or without stroke.
Conclusions:
- Low serum folate levels are associated with an increased risk of disabling dementia in the Japanese population.
- These findings highlight the potential role of folate status in dementia pathogenesis.
- Maintaining adequate serum folate may be a modifiable factor for reducing dementia risk.
Keywords:
Low serum folatedementiaepidemiologyfollow-uppopulationcognitive dysfunctionfolic acidnested case-control studyMore Related Videos
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