Skip to main content

A Cross-sectional Study of Homocysteine-, NO-levels, and CT-findings in Alzheimer Dementia, Vascular Dementia and Controls

Biogerontology volume 6, pages 255–260 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Repetitive measurement with neuroimaging techniques could be useful instruments permitting to differentiate between Alzheimer disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD). The major genetic risk factor for the development of late-onset AD is the allele ε4 of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE). Moreover nitric oxide (NO) and homocysteine (Hcy) seems to be correlated with the degree of cognitive impairment in demented subjects. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum NO and Hcy levels, global brain atrophy and brain vascular lesion in AD and VD patients. We report that high plasma levels of homocysteine resulted associated with AD and VD, suggesting that in AD elevated plasma Hcy might be a consequence of concomitant vascular dementia. Otherwise, plasma NO levels were not significantly different in any of the groups. Moreover, neuroimaging measures of vascular lesion level could be of usefulness to differentiate between AD and VD.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Abbreviations

AD:

Alzheimer disease

ApoE:

apolipoprotein E

CAT:

computer axial tomography

CDRS:

clinical demetia rating scale

Hcy:

homocysteine

MMSE:

mini mental state examination

MR:

magnetic resonance

NINCDS-ADRDA:

National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association

NINDS-AIREN:

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke-Association Internationale pour la Recherche et l’Enseignement en Neurosciences

NO:

nitric oxide

VD:

vascular dementia

References

  • AK Adiloglu A Gurakur-Osborne PE Prete (1998) ArticleTitleStandardized determination of apolipoprotein E phenotypes by simplified focusing/immunoblotting in plasma and synovial fluid Clin Chim Acta 273 99–102 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXjsFKju7k%3D Occurrence Handle9620475

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • G Benthin I Bjorkhem O Breuer A Sakinis A Wennmalm (1997) ArticleTitleTransformation of subcutaneous nitric oxide into nitrite and nitrate in rat Biochem J 323 853–858 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXjtFKjur8%3D Occurrence Handle9169622

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • R Clarke AD Smith KA Jobst H Refsum L Sutton PM Ueland (1998) ArticleTitleFolate, vitamin B12, and serum total homocysteine levels in confirmed Alzheimer disease Arch Neurol 55 1449–1455 Occurrence Handle10.1001/archneur.55.11.1449 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M%2FjvFCgtw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9823829

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Consensus Report of Working Group on: ‘Molecular and biochemical markers of Alzheimer’s disease’ (1998) Neurobiology of Aging 19: 109–116

    Google Scholar 

  • EH Corder AM Saunders WJ Strittmatter J Haines MS Pericak-Vance AD Roses (1993) ArticleTitleGene dose of apolipoprotein E type 4 allele and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in late onset families Science 261 921–923 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXmtVWjur8%3D Occurrence Handle8346443

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • CA Cuenod A Denys JL Michot P Jehenson F Forette D Kaplan A Syrota F Boller (1993) ArticleTitleAmygdala atrophy in Alzheimer’s disease. An in vivo magnetic resonance imaging study Arch Neurol 50 941–945 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK3szntFajtA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle8363448

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • VL Dawson TM Dawson (1996) ArticleTitleNitric oxide in neuronal degeneration Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 211 33–40 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK28XlslejtQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle8594616

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • VL Dawson TM Dawson (1998) ArticleTitleNitric oxid in neurodegeneration Prog Brain Res 118 215–229 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXnvFynsbY%3D Occurrence Handle9932444

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • M Folin S Baiguera MT Conconi R Liddo ParticleDi E Carlo ParticleDe PP Parnigotto GG Nussdorfer (2004) ArticleTitleApolipoprotein E as vascular risk factor in neurodegenerative dementia Int J Mol Med 14 609–613 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXovFWntL0%3D Occurrence Handle15375590

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MF Folstein SE Folstein PR McHugh (1975) ArticleTitleMini-Mental State – A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician J Psychiatr Res 12 189–198 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0022-3956(75)90026-6 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaE28%2FntFKjtw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle1202204

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • NC Fox WR Crum RI Scahill JM Stevens JC Janssen MN Rossor (2001) ArticleTitleImaging of onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease with voxel-compression mapping of serial magnetic resonance images Lancet 358 201–205 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0140-6736(01)05408-3 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MvivV2itA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11476837

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • K Iqbal (1991) Prevalence and neurobiology of Alzheimer disease: Some highlights K Iqbal DRC McLachlan B Winblad HM Wisnieski (Eds) Alzheimer’s Disease: Basic Mechanisms, Diagnosis and Therapeutics Strategies Wiley Intersciences Chichester 9–12

    Google Scholar 

  • CR Jack SuffixJr RC Petersen Y Xu PC O’Brien GE Smith RJ Ivnik BF Boeve EG Tangalos E Kokmen (2000) ArticleTitleRates of hippocampal atrophy correlate with change in clinical status in aging and AD Neurology 55 484–489 Occurrence Handle10953178

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • E Joosten E Lesaffre R Riezler V Ghekiere L Dereymaeker W Pelemans E Dejaeger (1997) ArticleTitleIs metabolic evidence for vitamin B12 and folate deficiency more frequent in elderly patients with Alzheimer’s disease? J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med 52 M76–M79 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK2s3hsVGqsQ%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • II Kruman C Culmsee SL Chan Y Kruman Z Guo L Penix MP Mattson (2000) ArticleTitleHomocysteine elicits a DNA damage response in neurons that promotes apoptosis and hypersensitivity to excitotoxicity J Neurosci 20 6920–6926 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXmvVGhs78%3D Occurrence Handle10995836

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • II Kruman TS Kumaravel A Lohani WA Pedersen RG Cutler Y Kruman N Haughey J Lee M Evans MP Mattson (2002) ArticleTitleFolic acid deficiency and homocysteine impair DNA repair in hippocampal neurons and sensitize them to amyloid toxicity in experimental models of Alzheimer’s disease J Neurosci 22 1752–1762 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XhvValtbw%3D Occurrence Handle11880504

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • SA Lipton WK Kim YB Choi S Kumar DM D’Emilia PV Rayudu DR Arnelle JS Stamler (1997) ArticleTitleNeurotoxicity associated with dual actions of homocysteine at the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 94 5923–5928 Occurrence Handle10.1073/pnas.94.11.5923 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXjsFOks7g%3D Occurrence Handle9159176

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • R Mayeux AM Saunders S Shea S Mirra D Evans AD Roses BT Hyman B Crain MX Tang CH Phelps (1998) ArticleTitleUtility of the apolipoprotein E genotype in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease N Engl J Med 338 506–511 Occurrence Handle10.1056/NEJM199802193380804 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1c7islCltA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9468467

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • A McCaddon G Davies P Hudson S Tandy H Cattel (1998) ArticleTitleTotal serum homocysteine in senile dementia of Alzheimer type Int J Ger Psych 13 235–239 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1czhtVWiug%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1002/(SICI)1099-1166(199804)13:4<235::AID-GPS761>3.0.CO;2-8

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • SP McIlroy KB Dynan JT Lawson CC Patterson AP Passmore (2002) ArticleTitleModerately elevated plasma homocysteine, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genotype, and risk for stroke, vascular dementia, and Alzheimer disease in Northern Ireland Stroke 33 2351–2356 Occurrence Handle10.1161/01.STR.0000032550.90046.38 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38Xntlamsr4%3D Occurrence Handle12364720

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • H Moshage B Kok JR Huizenge PLM Jansen (1995) ArticleTitleNitrite and nitrate determination in plasma: a critical evaluation Clin Chem 41 892 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXmtV2mtbk%3D Occurrence Handle7768008

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • H Moshage (1997) ArticleTitleNitric oxide determinations: much ado about NO-things? Clin Chem 43 553 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXitlymsLY%3D Occurrence Handle9105253

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • D Religa M Styczynska B Peplonska T Gabryelewicz A Pfeffer M Chodakowska E Luczywek B Wasiak K Stepien M Golebiowski B Winblad M Barcikowska (2003) ArticleTitleHomocysteine, apolipoproteine E and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase in Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 16 IssueID2 64–70 Occurrence Handle10.1159/000070677 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXkt12qtr0%3D Occurrence Handle12784029

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • GC Roman TK Tatemichi T Erkinjuntti JL Cummings JL Masdeu JH Garcia L Amaducci JM Orgogozo A Brun A Hofman (1993) ArticleTitleVascular dementia: Diagnostic criteria for research studies. Report of the NINDS-ARIEN International workshop Neurology 43 250–260 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK3s7ntlaqsQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle8094895

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • GC Roman (2001) ArticleTitleDiagnosis of vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease Int J Clin Pract Suppl 120 9–13 Occurrence Handle11406927

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • M Salter C Duffy J Garthwaite PJ Strijbos (1996) ArticleTitleEx vivo measurement of brain tissue nitrite and nitrate accurately reflects nitric oxide synthase activity in vivo J Neurochem 66 1683–1690 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK28XhslGhsLc%3D Occurrence Handle8627326

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • P Scheltens B Kittner (2000) ArticleTitlePreliminary results from an MRI/CT-based database for vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease Ann NY Acad Sci 903 542–546 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c3nvVCqsw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10818550

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • ML Selley (2003) ArticleTitleIncreased concentrations of homocysteine and asymmetric dimethyl arginine and decreased concentrations of nitric oxide in the plasma of patience with Alzhemier’s disease Neurobiology of Aging 24 903–907 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0197-4580(03)00007-1 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXmsVeis7g%3D Occurrence Handle12928048

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • S Seshadri A Beiser J Selhub PF Jacques IH Rosenberg RB D’Agostino PW Wilson PA Wolf (2002) ArticleTitlePlasma homocysteine as a risk factor for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease N Engl J Med 346 476–483 Occurrence Handle10.1056/NEJMoa011613 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XhtFCktrw%3D Occurrence Handle11844848

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • E Tarkowski A Ringqvist K Blennow A Wallin A Wennmalm (2000) ArticleTitleIntrathecal release of nitric oxid in Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 11 322–326 Occurrence Handle10.1159/000017261 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXotlyrurk%3D Occurrence Handle11044777

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • P Vallance A Leopne A Calver J Collier S Moncada (1992) ArticleTitleAccumulation of an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis in renal failure Lancet 339 572–575 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK387mslOisw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle1347093

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • P Ventura R Panini C Verlato G Scarpetta G Salvioli (2001) ArticleTitleHyperhomocysteinemia and related factors in 600 hospitalized elderly subjects Metabolism 50 1466–1471 Occurrence Handle10.1053/meta.2001.28079 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXptVGhtLk%3D Occurrence Handle11735095

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Departments of Biology, University of Padua, I-35121, Padua, Italy

    Marcella Folin & Silvia Baiguera

  2. Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Padua, I-35121, Padua, Italy

    Maria Teresa Conconi, Rosa Di Liddo & Pier Paolo Parnigotto

  3. Ca’ Foncello Hospital, Treviso, Italy

    Maurizio Gallucci

  4. Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, Ca’ Foncello Hospital, Treviso, Italy

    Andrea Zanardo

Authors
  1. Marcella Folin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Silvia Baiguera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Maurizio Gallucci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Maria Teresa Conconi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Rosa Di Liddo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Andrea Zanardo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Pier Paolo Parnigotto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marcella Folin.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Folin, M., Baiguera, S., Gallucci, M. et al. A Cross-sectional Study of Homocysteine-, NO-levels, and CT-findings in Alzheimer Dementia, Vascular Dementia and Controls. Biogerontology 6, 255–260 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-005-2622-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-005-2622-3

Keywords

  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • apolipoprotein E
  • cognitive impairment
  • homocysteine
  • neuroimaging
  • nitric oxide
  • vascular dementia