Homocysteine, vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
There is some evidence from recent observational studies that hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for cognitive dysfunction, including Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. There are only a few intervention studies, and the results are disappointing for such a frequent disease. Prospective double-blind and placebo-controlled intervention studies are not available. If homocysteine-lowering therapy will be in the running for the prevention and treatment of dementia, we must be able to diagnose the disease at a preclinical stage (i.e. 5 or 10 or 20 years before the disease becomes clinically overt for Alzheimer's disease). At the moment, there are insufficient data to support a vitamin B12, B6 or folate therapy in the prevention or treatment of patients with dementia.
Joosten
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Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospitals K.U.Leuven, Belgium. etienne.joosten@uz.kuleuven.ac.be
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications*; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000150:complications*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000627:therapeutic use
D010919:Placebos; D006710:Homocysteine; D025101:Vitamin B 6; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12