A recent study suggests that high levels of
homocysteine in the blood may be associated with a higher risk of cognitive
impairment in older people.
Homocysteine is a naturally occurring, sulfur-containing amino
acid in the blood that requires enzymes, vitamin
B12, folic
acid, and other vitamins to be converted to the essential amino acid
methionine. Deficiencies in folic acid (folate), vitamin
B6, vitamin B12, or betaine may lead to hyperhomocysteinemia,
a medical condition characterized by high levels of homocysteine in the blood.
The concentration of homocysteine in the blood may decrease after appropriate
supplementation with the deficient vitamins.
In a recent study,
researchers from the University of Western Australia and Royal Perth Hospital
recruited 358 people over the age of 50 to determine if homocysteine levels may
be associated with cognitive impairment in older adults with depressive
symptoms. About 70 percent of the participants met the criteria for major
depression. The researchers collected blood samples to determine levels of
homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folate, and administered cognitive tests to
assess verbal and visual recall and memory.
The researchers found that people who had major depression and
high homocysteine levels performed significantly worse on the cognitive tests.
Participants who had high homocysteine levels without major depression had lower
scores than those with normal homocysteine levels. Furthermore, those with high
homocysteine levels were almost twice more likely to show cognitive decline on
several tests.
The researchers concluded that high blood levels of
homocysteine may be linked to weaker performance on cognitive tests, compared to
normal levels, independent of the presence or severity of depressive symptoms.
The authors suggested that B-vitamin supplementation may be an effective way to
lower homocysteine levels and reduce the impact of cognitive deficits in older
adults.
Source: NaturalStandard
Source: NaturalStandard
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