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Cognitive impairment is associated with elevated serum homocysteine levels among older adults

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to examine the associations between the risk of cognitive impairment and the serum levels of folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine (Hcy).

Methods

Subjects were persons aged 60–79 years who participated in the Yangpyeong Cohort study between 2011 and 2012. Cognitive impairment and normal subjects consisted of 100 pairs of old adults matched by age, sex, and education levels. Cognitive function was evaluated with the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination for Dementia Screening (MMSE-DS). Pearson’s partial correlation coefficients and conditional multiple logistic regression analysis were applied to determine the associations between cognitive function and the serum levels of folate, vitamin B12, and Hcy.

Results

Compared with the matched normal group, the cognitive impairment group had higher proportions of folate deficiency (< 3 ng/mL) and hyperhomocysteinemia (≥ 15 µmol/L). Serum Hcy concentrations were inversely associated with serum folate (r = − 0.234, p = 0.001) and MMSE-DS score (r = − 0.150, p = 0.037) after adjusting for age, sex, and education. The high Hcy group showed a higher prevalence of cognitive impairment (4th vs. 1st quartile, OR 3.30, 95% CI 1.12–9.72, p for trend = 0.014) after adjusting for exercise.

Conclusions

The present findings suggest a putative protective role of high serum folate and normal Hcy against cognitive impairment among older adults.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (2012R1A1A1041792).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Nutrition, Graduated School of Health Sciences, Dongduk Women’s University, 60, Hwarang-ro 13-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02748, Republic of Korea

    Sunghee Kim

  2. Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, 222, Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea

    Bo Youl Choi & Mi Kyung Kim

  3. Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, 222, Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea

    Jung Hyun Nam

  4. Seulha Mental Health Clinic, 2, Nohyeong 8-gil 4F, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, 63083, Republic of Korea

    Dong Hoon Oh

  5. Institute for Health and Society, Hanyang University, 222, Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea

    Dong Hoon Oh

  6. Department of Foods and Nutrition, College of Natural Sciences, Dongduk Women’s University, 60, Hwarang-ro 13-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02748, Republic of Korea

    Yoon Jung Yang

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  1. Sunghee Kim
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Correspondence to Yoon Jung Yang.

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Kim, S., Choi, B.Y., Nam, J.H. et al. Cognitive impairment is associated with elevated serum homocysteine levels among older adults. Eur J Nutr 58, 399–408 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-017-1604-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-017-1604-y

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