Journal article
Homocysteine as a predictor of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease
- Abstract:
- Objective: Moderately elevated levels of plasma total homocysteine are associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. We have tested whether baseline concentrations of homocysteine relate to the subsequent rate of cognitive decline in patients with established Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: In 97 patients with AD, 73 patholigically-confirmed, we analysed the decline of global cognitive test scores (CAMCOG) over time from the first assessment for at least three 6-monthly visits up to a maximum of 9.5 years (in total 689 assessments). Non-linear mixed-effects statistical models were used. Results: Baseline homocysteine levels showed a concentration-response relationship with the subsequent rate of decline in CAMCOG scores: the higher the homocysteine, the faster the decline. The relationship was significant in patients aged < 75 years who had not suffered a prior stroke. For example, in patients aged 65 years with a baseline homocysteine of 14 μmol/L, the decline from a CAMCOG score of 88 to a score of 44 occurred 19.2 (95% CI 6.8, 31.6) months earlier than in patients with a baseline homocysteine of 10 μmol/L. Conclusions: Raised homocysteine concentrations within the normal range among the elderly strongly relate to the rate of global cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer disease. Plasma homocysteine can readily be lowered by B-vitamin treatment and trials should be carried out to see if such treatments can slow the rate of cognitive decline in relatively young patients with Alzheimer disease.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
Actions
- Publisher:
- John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Journal:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry More from this journal
- Volume:
- 25
- Issue:
- 1
- Pages:
- 82-90
- Publication date:
- 2010-01-01
- DOI:
- EISSN:
-
1099-1166
- Language:
-
English
- Keywords:
- Subjects:
- UUID:
-
uuid:f61f4b6c-b85a-425d-aa6e-2f3e78bc2dc4
- Local pid:
-
ora:4629
- Deposit date:
-
2010-12-15
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
- Copyright date:
- 2009
- Notes:
- Citation: Oulhaj, A. et al. (2010). 'Homocysteine as a predictor of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease', International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25(1), 82-90. [The definitive version of the article is available at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/gps.2303/abstract]. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The full-text of this article is not available in ORA, but you may be able to access the article via the publisher copy link on this record page.
If you are the owner of this record, you can report an update to it here: Report update to this record