Plasma homocysteine, brain imaging and cognition in older patients with mental illness.

• 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. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Geriatrik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Geriatrics (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Psykiatri (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Psychiatry (hsv//eng)

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