Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) levels, blood pressure (BP) variables, renal function, and measures of cognitive performance in older people. DESIGN: Initial cross-sectional analysis of a prospective cohort. SETTING: United Kingdom (Oxfordshire) community sample. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred fifty-eight community-dwelling volunteers aged 60 to 91. MEASUREMENTS: Neuropsychological tests (Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders of the Elderly-Cognitive Section (CAMCOG), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Geriatric Depression Scale), biochemical studies (tHcy, serum folate, vitamin B12, and serum cystatin C), BP, and other vascular risk factors. RESULTS: tHcy, age, systolic BP (SBP), and CAMCOG performance were significantly interrelated. tHcy was negatively associated with total CAMCOG score independent of years of education, serum folate, vitamin B12, and cystatin C levels. Older participants with higher tHcy levels had lower CAMCOG scores-especially men aged 70 and older. Higher tHcy levels were associated with poorer performance on the memory and perception subscores of CAMCOG but not with the other cognitive subscales or MMSE score. SBP also demonstrated a significant negative association with total CAMCOG and MMSE scores. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest independent associations between tHcy (modified by age and sex) and SBP and cognitive performance in older people. Further longitudinal study will define whether optimization of tHcy and systolic BP contributes to the maintenance of cognitive performance with successful aging.

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Am Geriatr Soc

Publication Date

12/2002

Volume

50

Pages

2014 - 2018

Keywords

Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Blood Pressure, Cognition, Female, Homocysteine, Humans, Intelligence Tests, Male, Memory, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Perception, Prospective Studies, Sex Factors