Plasma homocysteine is elevated in elderly patients with memory complaints and vascular disease.
BACKGROUND
There is an association between elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) and vascular disease in elderly patients suffering from organic and non-organic mental disease. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between plasma tHcy concentration and vascular disease in elderly patients with memory complaints.


METHODS
In 108 patients with memory complaints the concentration of plasma tHcy was related to the presence of vascular disease. Furthermore, different determinants of plasma tHcy concentration were measured.


RESULTS
Patients with confirmed memory complaints (CMC, n = 86) which fulfilled the criteria of mild cognitive impairment were divided into two categories, with and without vascular disease. The CMC group without vascular disease showed similar biochemical and brain imaging findings to patients with subjective memory complaints (SMC, n = 22). The group of CMC patients with vascular disease had higher age, higher plasma tHcy, lower serum folate and lower renal function than patients without vascular disease.


CONCLUSIONS
The finding of two subgroups of patients with CMC supports the notion that mild cognitive impairment is a heterogenous clinical entity with multiple aetiological factors. The elevated plasma tHcy in the group of CMC patients with vascular disease is likely to be associated with vascular disease.
Nilsson
Karin
K
Department of Psychogeriatrics, Clinical Science and Laboratory Medicine, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
Gustafson
Lars
L
Hultberg
Björn
B
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications
D006710:Homocysteine