title: Homocysteine and cognitive function in institutionalised elderly A cross-sectional analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several cross-sectional, case-control and prospective studies revealed a relation between homocysteine and cognitive function or dementia. These studies included either patient populations or healthy, community- dwelling elderly people.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study we tested the hypothesis that homocysteine was inversely associated with cognitive function in a population of institutionalised elderly (aged >/= 60 y; n = 157).
  
  
  METHODS
  For testing this hypothesis baseline data of a recently conducted intervention study in institutionalised elderly (median age 83 years) were used. Cognitive function was evaluated by the cognitive subscale of the Alzheimer's disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog). The association between fasting plasma homocysteine level and cognitive function was investigated by multiple linear regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the crude model homocysteine concentration was not significantly related to ADAS-cog score (beta = 0.061; p = 0.45). Age was found to be related to ADAS-cog score (beta = 0.161; p < 0.05). Adjusting for age did however not result in a relation between homocysteine and cognitive function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study no association was found between homocysteine and cognitive function in a population of very old institutionalised subjects.
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, 8129, 6700, EV Wageningen, The Netherlands. marleen.manders@wur.nl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manders
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vasse
authors.forename: L C P G M
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: van Staveren
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Bindels
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Blom
authors.forename: W H L
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Hoefnagels
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006710:Homocysteine