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Updated: Jun 27, 2025
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Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
Published on: April 23, 2021
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Elevated Blood Homocysteine Increases the Risk of Incident Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome: A Two-Cohort Study
Kelly Cotton1, Emmeline Ayers1, Ying Jin2
1Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA.
Summary
Elevated homocysteine levels are linked to a higher risk of developing Motoric Cognitive Risk (MCR) syndrome in older adults. This association is particularly pronounced in men with existing vascular disease or risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Motoric Cognitive Risk (MCR) syndrome, a predementia condition, may stem from vascular issues.
- Elevated homocysteine, a vascular risk factor, is linked to cognitive decline, but its MCR association is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between homocysteine levels and the risk of developing MCR.
Main Methods:
- Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze baseline homocysteine levels and incident MCR in 1826 older adults from two cohorts.
- Analyses were stratified by sex and vascular disease/risk factors.
Main Results:
- Higher homocysteine levels (>14 µmol/L) were significantly associated with increased MCR risk in the NuAge cohort (HR 1.41, 95% CI: 1.01-1.97).
- Stratified analyses revealed this association was significant only in men with vascular disease or risk factors.
Conclusions:
- Elevated blood homocysteine is associated with a greater risk of MCR in older adults.
- The risk is notably higher in men with vascular disease or risk factors.
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