Associations between serum homocysteine, holotranscobalamin, folate and cognition in the elderly : a longitudinal study

• Objectives:  To examine the associations of serum homocysteine (tHcy), Holotranscobalamin (holoTC), the biologically active fraction of vitamin B12, and folate with cognitive functioning in a longitudinal population-based study of Finnish elderly. Subjects and design:  tHcy, holoTC, and folate were measured at baseline in 274 dementia-free subjects aged 65-79 years derived from the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE) study. Subjects were re-investigated 7 years later and global cognition, episodic memory, executive functioning, verbal expression, and psychomotor speed were assessed. Results:  Higher baseline tHcy values were associated with poorer performance on global cognition: relative difference (95% confidence interval) was: 0.90 (0.81 - 0.99); episodic memory: 0.87 (0.77 - 0.99); executive functions: 0.86 (0.75 - 0.98), and verbal expression: 0.89 (0.81 - 0.97) at follow-up. Increased holoTC levels were related to better performance on global cognition: 1.09 (1.00 - 1.19), executive functions: 1.11 (1.01 - 1.21), and psychomotor speed: 1.13 (1.01 - 1.26). After excluding 20 incident dementia cases, increased tHcy remained associated with poorer performance in episodic memory, execution functions, and verbal expression. Higher holoTC values tended to relate to better performance in executive functions and psychomotor speed while elevated serum folate concentrations were significantly related to higher scores in global cognition and verbal expression tests. Conclusions:  tHcy, holoTC, and folate measured 7 years earlier are related to cognitive performance even in non-demented elderly. Randomized trials are needed to determine the impact of vitamin B12 and folate supplementations on preventing cognitive decline in the elderly.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Sociologi -- Socialt arbete (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Sociology -- Social Work (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Annan medicin och hälsovetenskap -- Gerontologi, medicinsk/hälsovetenskaplig inriktning (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Other Medical and Health Sciences -- Gerontology, specialising in Medical and Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

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

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

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