Influence of insulin-like growth factor-1 and hepatocyte growth factor on carotid atherosclerosis and cognitive function in the elderly.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the relationship between serum levels of two neurotrophic factors, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and carotid atherosclerosis and cognitive function in the elderly.


METHODS
Serum levels of IGF-1 and HGF, carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were determined in 60 subjects over 65 years old (35 patients with vascular dementia and 25 without dementia).


RESULTS
In all subjects IGF-1 levels showed a significant positive correlation with the MMSE score (r = 0.262, p = 0.0427) and a negative correlation with the IMT (r = -0.284, p = 0.0277) and the HGF level (r = -0.422, p = 0.0007). HGF levels were significantly correlated with IMT (r = 0.259, p = 0.0455) and lipoprotein(a) levels (r = 0.279, p = 0.0372). Mean MMSE scores and IGF-1 levels were significantly lower in patients with vascular dementia than in the non-demented controls. Mean IMT and the frequency of atherosclerotic plaque in the carotid arteries as well as the serum levels of HGF, LDL cholesterol, lipoprotein(a) and lipid peroxides were significantly increased in the demented patients compared with the non-demented controls.


CONCLUSIONS
A decrease of IGF-1 along with an increase of HGF may reflect an underlying biological process that influences cognitive decline as well as carotid atherosclerosis in the elderly.
Watanabe
Takuya
T
Division of Internal Medicine, Showa University Karasuyama Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. watanabemd@med.showa-u.ac.jp
Yamamoto
Hideki
H
Idei
Tsunenori
T
Iguchi
Takashi
T
Katagiri
Takashi
T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000523:psychology*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D058225:Plaque, Amyloid / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I