TY - JOUR
T1 - Homocysteine and cognitive function in very elderly nondemented subjects
AU - West, Rebecca K.
AU - Beeri, Michal Schnaider
AU - Schmeidler, James
AU - Mitchell, Dara B.
AU - Carlisle, Katherine R.
AU - Angelo, Gary
AU - Mavris, Rizalina
AU - Langhoff, Erik
AU - Rosendorff, Clive
AU - Silverman, Jeremy M.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by National Institutes of Health (AG002219 [to JMS] and AG023515 [to MSB]) and United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Berkman Charitable Trust (to Vahram Haroutunian).
PY - 2011/7
Y1 - 2011/7
N2 - OBJECTIVES:: To examine the association of homocysteine with cognitive functioning in very elderly community-dwelling individuals (80 years or older). Methods: Two hundred twenty-eight nondemented community-dwelling individuals were assessed with a broad neuropsychological battery. Bloods were drawn to measure homocysteine, serum vitamin B12, and folate levels and APOE genotype. Results: Higher homocysteine levels were associated with poorer executive-language functioning scores (r =-0.311). The association persisted when serum B12 and folate levels were controlled for (r =-0.308). Homocysteine levels were not associated with memory score (r = 0.120). Conclusions: In very elderly, nondemented community dwellers, high homocysteine levels are associated with poorer executive-language functioning but not with memory. This possible differential effect of homocysteine on cognitive functions suggests that it may affect only specific brain regions or mechanisms underlying healthy executive functioning.
AB - OBJECTIVES:: To examine the association of homocysteine with cognitive functioning in very elderly community-dwelling individuals (80 years or older). Methods: Two hundred twenty-eight nondemented community-dwelling individuals were assessed with a broad neuropsychological battery. Bloods were drawn to measure homocysteine, serum vitamin B12, and folate levels and APOE genotype. Results: Higher homocysteine levels were associated with poorer executive-language functioning scores (r =-0.311). The association persisted when serum B12 and folate levels were controlled for (r =-0.308). Homocysteine levels were not associated with memory score (r = 0.120). Conclusions: In very elderly, nondemented community dwellers, high homocysteine levels are associated with poorer executive-language functioning but not with memory. This possible differential effect of homocysteine on cognitive functions suggests that it may affect only specific brain regions or mechanisms underlying healthy executive functioning.
KW - Cognitive performance
KW - dementia
KW - homocysteine
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79960239891&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/JGP.0b013e3181faee37
DO - 10.1097/JGP.0b013e3181faee37
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79960239891
SN - 1064-7481
VL - 19
SP - 673
EP - 677
JO - American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
JF - American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
IS - 7
ER -